Rookie flyhalf stars as Munster edge Bulls in Limerick
by Craig Taylor · KickOffMunster have beaten the Bulls 26-22 in their second-round United Rugby Championship clash on Saturday evening.
It was a frustrating night for the visitors, with unforced errors and some poor decision-making not helping their cause.
Munster started well, spending the first five minutes in the Bulls’ 22m area as they looked for the opening score.
The visitors, however, defended well, keeping Munster out, and eventually turning the ball over through a handling error from the home side, which allowed them to relieve the pressure.
The Bulls didn’t make the same mistake, and took a 7-0 lead with their first entry into the Munster red zone when lock Ruan Vermaak scored a converted try in the 15th minute.
Munster didn’t waste their next opportunity and it was a brilliant score for the Irish side as a cross-kick on a penalty advantage found winger Diarmuid Kilgallen, who plucked the ball out of the air to score just before the dead-ball line.
Charlie O’Shea converted from the right-hand touchline to tie the scores at 7-7 in the 20th minute.
The match continued at breakneck speed, with both sides willing to give the ball air whenever the occasion warranted it. The Bulls were also effective at the breakdown, with Jeandre Rudolph a standout as he won two penalties for the visitors by getting over the ball, with Munster unable to clean him out effectively.
Munster, however, kept up the pressure, and 25 minutes into the half, they were bossing possession with 64%.
They extended their lead in the 31st minute when O’Shea charged down a Curwin Bosch clearance and beat the Bulls cover defence to the ball, which had just rolled over the try line.
He converted his own score to put Munster up 14-7.
The Bulls hit back just before half-time, after they were stopped just short of the line following some quick hands in the backs. Prop Francois Klopper, however, picked up and drove over from close range, and with Bosch adding the extras, the teams went into the break level at 14-14.
The Bulls broke the deadlock early in the second half courtesy of a Bosch penalty to take a 17-14 lead.
Munster hit the front again, and it was their young flyhalf O’Shea, who was having the game of his life, who scored his second of the night as he took the ball on the blindside to beat a poor Bulls defensive effort and open up a 19-17 lead in the 56th minute.
Munster kept the pressure on the Bulls, who weren’t doing themselves any favours as poor decision-making and handling errors began to creep into their game.
One of those handling errors in their own 22 handed Munster an attacking scrum, and they extended their lead through replacement Alex Kendellen. Casey converted for a 26-17 lead, meaning the Bulls had to score twice in the final 10 minutes if they wanted to come away with a win.
They gave themselves a chance with seven minutes to go when Rudolph scored in the right-hand corner after showing some great pace out wide.
Curwin Bosch couldn’t convert, leaving Munster with a 26-22 lead. The Bulls had plenty of the ball in the final few minutes, but Munster’s defence held out to secure the win.
Scorers
Munster 26 (14)
Tries: Diarmuid Kilgallen, Charlie O’Shea (2), Alex Kendellen
Conversions: Charlie O’Shea (3)
Bulls 22 (14)
Tries: Ruan Vermaak, Francois Klopper, Jeandre Rudolph
Conversions: Curwin Bosch (2)
Penalties: Curwin Bosch