Munster’s season has come to an end after they suffered a 45-14 loss to the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
Munster, who have been decimated by injuries in recent weeks, put up a brave fight against a powerful Bulls outfit but the home side had too much power and pace at altitude as they ran out comfortable winners in the end.
The Bulls showed their threat in the opening three minutes when a dominant scrum ultimately led to the ball being spread wide to the speedy Stravino Jacobs who looked to have scored the opening try of the game but the play was brought back for a clear forward pass.
The Bulls did get that opening try just moments later as Munster lost the ball on their own scrum put-in. With the penalty advantage, the Bulls went through the phases and their power came to the fore with Embrose Papier eventually receiving the ball and evading the clutches of Niall Scannell to score under the posts. Handre Pollard’s conversion ensured an early 7-0 lead for the home side.
The Bulls went further ahead with their second try just minutes later. A Shane Daly clearance kick failed to find touch which eventually allowed Kurt-Lee Arendse the opportunity to score out wide. There was a delay with the conversion as Tom Ahern received treatment for a head knock and he departed for a HIA to be replaced by Fineen Wycherley. Pollard’s conversion sailed through the posts as the Bulls took a 14-0 lead.
Munster had their first major passage of play soon after that second Bulls try but after some initial postive carries from the visitors, Mike Haley was held up in the tackle which provided a scrum opportunity for the home team.
Some good play from Munster almost resulted in John Hodnett scoring the visitor’s first try but there was a forward pass in the build up. However, Munster were playing with advantage and they decided to kick for the corner. From this lineout, Munster went through the phases close to the line as the Bulls conceded another penalty. From the resulting 5m tap and go, Munster went through a number of close-range phases until Jack O’Donoghue barrelled his way over to get Clayton McMillan’s side back into the game. JJ Hanrahan landed the conversion as Munster got back within seven points.
The Bulls tacked on three points around the 22-minute mark when Munster failed to roll away from a ruck which allowed Pollard the chance to knock over the kick.
With eight minutes remaining in the first half, Munster made a brilliant linebreak from their own scrum put-in which brought play into the Bulls half.
Munster went through the phases and the Bulls conceded a number of penalties. However, Munster kept the ball alive and eventually got their reward when Alex Nankivell collected a loose ball and dived over after Michael Ala’alatoa almost went over for a try. JJ Hanrahan’s conversion went through the posts with just three points separating the sides.
Frustratingly for Munster, they let the Bulls back in immediately. From the kick-off, Munster were pinged for holding on to the ball on ground. The Bulls kicked to the corner and their rolling maul was too powerful for Munster as Johann Grobbelaar went over for a try. Pollard’s conversion sailed through the posts as Bulls reinstated their 10 point lead.
Munster gave the Bulls one last opportunity and the Bulls took it on the stroke of half-time when Cameron Hanekom proved too powerful when he carried off the base of a maul and he barrelled over for another try.
Munster received a let-off at the beginning of the second half when Pollard missed what looked like it was going to be a straight forward shot at the posts.
Munster would have been frustrated with giving up possession in two promising moments. First a Munster lineout close the Bulls’ line was picked off and then moments later Munster had a chance to get back into Bulls territory with a penalty but Craig Casey knocked on when attempting a quick tap and go in midfield.
A brilliant 50:22 from Mike Haley put Munster in a very promising position and although they didn’t execute straight away, they got another chance with a scrum about 10m from the Bulls’ line. Munster had possession in the Bulls’ 22 but unfortunately Papier picked off a Munster pass and ran the length of the field to score under the posts. Pollard’s conversion put the Bulls 38-14 in front.
Stravino Jacobs got another for the Bulls with Pollard’s conversion giving the Bulls a 45-14 lead.
Munster were unable to reduce the deficit any further and similar to the 2024/25 season, Muster’s URC campaign ended at the quarter-final stage on South African soil.
Munster Rugby: Mike Haley; Andrew Smith (Kelly 50′), Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien, Shane Daly; JJ Hanrahan, Craig Casey (C); Jeremy Loughman (Wycherley 60′), Niall Scannell (Barron 33′), Michael Ala’alatoa; Tom Ahern (Wycherley 9′), Evan O’Connell; Jack O’Donoghue (Gleeson 57′), John Hodnett (Kendellen 50′), Brian Gleeson (Coombes 48′).
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, Conor Bartley, Fineen Wycherley, Gavin Coombes, Ben O’Donovan, Dan Kelly, Alex Kendellen.
