Bulls put dent in Munster's URC play-off bid in Pretorian try-fest

Munster saw their United Rugby Championship play-off hopes dented after being edged out 34-31 by the Bulls despite a spirited display in Pretoria.

Having lost 45-0 to Sharks in Durban, the Irish province were looking for a response at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium and went ahead after 21 minutes when Sean O’Brien took a wide pass from Alex Kendellen to touch down in the corner, with Jack Crowley adding the extras.

The in-form Bulls – who had won four of their last five URC games – soon rallied through a blistering breakaway try by Embrose Papier. After Ruan Nortje had been shown a yellow card for a head contact tackle on Diarmuid Barro, Canan Moodie also went over following a steal off a line-out to give the home side a 14-7 lead at half-time.

Munster made a fast start to the second half with an early try by Tom Ahern from a break initiated by Kendellen. The Bulls, though, soon reasserted their authority when Papier chased down a high kick upfield to race clear.

Ahern reduced the deficit back down to two points in the 53rd minute when he stretched over before the Bulls secured a bonus-point try ahead of the hour mark as Cheswill Jooste burst through to run in under the posts. Pollard then landed a penalty before another water break as the Bulls opened up a 31-19 lead.

Ben O’Connor gave Munster hope with 13 minutes left when the full-back showed quick feet to dash under the posts. Then after another successful kick by Pollard, Edwin Edogbo made sure of a tense finale when he carried the ball over – with the conversion attempt from Crowley striking the outside of the right post.

Vodacom Bulls: Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Stedman Gans, Harold Vorster, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Handre Pollard, Embrose Papier; Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Francois Klopper, Ruan Vermaak, Ruan Nortje, Marcell Coetzee (CAPT), Elrigh Louw, Nizaam Carr

Replacements: Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Khuta Mchunu, Cobus Wiese, Cameron Hanekom, Zak Burger, Cheswill Jooste, David Kriel

Munster Rugby: Ben O’Connor, Calvin Nash, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey (CAPT); Michael Milne, Diarmuid Barron, Michael Ala’alatoa, Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Brian Gleeson

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Edwin Edogbo, Sean Edogbo, Paddy Patterson, JJ Hanrahan, John Hodnett