Embrose Papier was the star of the show as the Bulls beat Munster at Loftus.
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The Bulls were outplayed by Munster in their United Rugby Championship match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon, but their blushes were spared by individual brilliance as they hung on to win 34-31.
Former Springbok Embrose Papier and Junior Bok Cheswill Jooste were the heroes, while deadly goal-kicking from Handré Pollard helped nudge the Bulls over the line.
Munster surprised the Bulls with their speed to the breakdown and the quick ball they generated. There was certainly a greater urgency about the men in red compared to their recent defeat against the Sharks. One of their dangerous early attacks required a brave Pollard turnover at a breakdown to save his team from conceding points.
However, a clear area where the Bulls enjoyed a significant advantage was the set scrum. Gerhard Steenekamp — celebrating his 100th cap — dominated Michael Ala’alatoa, leading to three scrum penalties in the first 20 minutes.
The Bulls intended to get the ball wide to dangerous wings Canan Moodie and Kurt-Lee Arendse, but Munster had done their homework and shut them down quickly. It was a Munster wing, Seán O’Brien, who scored the first points at the 20-minute mark following wave after wave of attacks.
As the Bulls creaked under the pressure, it was Papier who relieved the tension with a sensational solo try. Currently in the form of his life, the scrumhalf showed blistering speed and nifty footwork to outstrip the defence.
Unfortunately for the Bulls, Ruan Nortjé — usually a tireless toiler for his team — recklessly dived into an attacking ruck. He not only left his feet but also made head-to-head contact with a Munster defender and was yellow-carded. Remarkably, the Bulls scored next through a lovely finish by Moodie, who finally found space.
The half-time score was 14-7 to the Bulls, but Munster struck first in the second half when scrumhalf Craig Casey broke cleanly for Tom Ahern to finish. Jack Crowley missed the conversion.
Papier soon had the blue flags flying again with another brilliant try out of nothing. After Munster lost possession deep in the Bulls' half, Elrigh Louw kicked downfield and Papier turned on the afterburners to beat everyone to the ball.
But the Bulls could not shake the determined Irishmen. In the 53rd minute, sustained pressure produced a second try for Ahern, making it a two-point game at 21-19.
It was substitute Cheswill Jooste who broke the game open with a memorable try. The 19-year-old stepped inside a defender out wide and screamed towards the posts, skirting past cover defenders with ease. Pollard soon followed with a penalty from the halfway line, making it 31-19 with a quarter of the match remaining.
Still, Munster refused to lie down. Crowley nailed a stunning 50-22, and from the resulting lineout, full-back Ben O’Connor scythed through to score. Pollard added another long-range penalty, but in a "coach-killer" moment, Cobus Wiese spilled the restart, allowing Edwin Edogbo to crash over.
Crowley missed the final conversion, leaving the score at 34-31 as the Bulls held on for a vital URC victory.
Scorers
Bulls — Tries: Embrose Papier (2), Canan Moodie, Cheslin Jooste. Conversions: Handre Pollard (4). Penalties: Pollard (2).
Munster — Tries: Sean O’Brien. Tom Ahern (2), Ben O’Connor, Edwin Edogbo. Conversions: Jack Crowley (3).