The Bulls have secured a narrow 34-31 victory over Munster at Loftus Versfeld, but the Pretoria faithful will be the first to admit they were lucky to clinch the result.
It was a classic game of two halves where the home side seemingly stopped playing after the break, allowing the Irish giants to claw their way back into a contest that should have been buried.
The early spark came from individual brilliance out wide as Embrose Papier and Cheswill Jooste provided the highlight reel moments.
“The tries by Embrose Papier and Cheswill Jooste were absolute class, arguably the best of the match and exactly what the Bulls needed to break Munster’s resolve.” – Jay | JPS
Papier was particularly influential for the Pretoria outfit, crossing for a vital brace that showcased his electric speed and anticipation. However, the real hero of the afternoon was the man wearing the number ten jersey.
Handre Pollard was the definition of total perfection, finishing the day six from six off the tee to provide the crucial points that ultimately decided the match. If it were not for Pollard’s clinical kicking performance, the Bulls would have almost certainly lost this encounter given their stagnant second-half display.
The home side was fortunate to survive after Munster dominated both possession and territory for the final forty minutes. It took a moment of pure veteran instinct in the 71st minute to prevent a total collapse on the scoreboard.
With Munster threatening to snatch the lead, captain Marcell Coetzee produced a massive steal at the breakdown to win a turnover and clear the danger.
“Marcell Coetzee stepped up when it mattered most; that turnover in the 71st minute essentially saved the Bulls’ bacon when Munster were throwing everything at the line.” – Jay | JPS
The match also saw the welcome return of Cameron Hanekom, who provided much-needed impact off the bench with the number 20 on his back. His appearance is a major boost for the squad after spending nine months on the sidelines following a serious hamstring injury.
While the Bulls take the log points, they will know they were lucky to survive a spirited Munster comeback after failing to show up for the second half.
📸 Photos via URC / Sydney Seshibedi / Gallo Images
