URC result: Bulls weather Munster fightback for bonus-point win at Loftus

The Bulls clinched a 34-31 win over Munster at Loftus. Picture: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images The Bulls weathered a second-half fightback by Munster to earn a bonus-point 34-31 win in their United Rugby Championship match at Loftus on Saturday. Munster were desperate to bounce back from their45-0 whitewash defeatto the Sharks last week, making eight changes, including bringing Ireland stars Craig Casey, Jack Crowley and Jeremy Loughman into the side after their Six Nations rest.

But the Bulls, although mediocre at lineout time, were solid in scrums and defence. Individual brilliance in their backline, especially byEmbrose Papier, Stedman Gans and Cheswill Jooste, created important scores. In the end, Handré Pollard’s perfect performance in goal-kicking (6/6) proved the difference as the Bulls won four tries to five.

Munster fought back from two scores behind three times and deserved their two bonus points. The Bullscould not capitalise on a few Munster handling errors early on, and eventually the Irish side opened scoring with a Sean O’Brien overlap try. Jack Crowley converted to give Munster a 7-0 lead after 21 minutes.

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Bulls scrumhalf Embrose Papier scored a brilliant individual try to equalise on the half-hour mark. He side-stepped a defender to find a gap before dancing around the last defender and diving under the posts untouched. Bulls lock Ruan Nortjé received a yellow card right afterwards for head contact during a cleanout.

Still, the home side weathered a Munster attack and scored next when Stedman Gans held a player off to find a gap, drew in the last defender and then offloaded to Canan Moodie to score in the 35th minute. The Bulls held onto momentum despite being a player down. Yet they could not extend their 14-7 lead before the half-time mark.

Munstergot one back early in the second half when Tom Ahern crashed over after a few good carries. Then the Bulls extended their lead to 21-12 after an intercept and kick-chase, Papier outpacing Munster defenders to score his second try in the 47th minute.

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