Cameron Hanekom Star No 8 Cameron Hanekom was back to his destructive best for the Bulls against Munster. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
The jaw-dropping 20-phase defence set by the Bulls to hold Munster at bay will hopefully be the “catalyst” that sees them go all the way in the United Rugby Championship.
That was the view of proud coach Jake White after the Pretoria somehow managed to keep out the Irish province in the final move of the game to register a historic 16-13 victory in Limerick on Saturday evening.
The Bulls remained third on the log after second-placed Glasgow pulled off a scrappy 14-6 win over Zebre in Italy on Saturday night.
The defending champions moved up to 58 points, four ahead of the South Africans ahead of their much-anticipated clash against the Bulls in Scotland on Friday (8.35pm start).
Replacement flyhalf Keagan Johannes booted over a superb penalty from over 40 metres on the angle in the 73rd minute to silence the partisan Thomond Park crowd and put the Bulls 16-13 up – having missed an easier attempt just two minutes earlier.
But soon after that, fullback Devon Williams and then Johannes himself kicked the ball out on the full to ramp up the pressure for the Bulls.
Munster showed great composure to maraud upfield, holding onto possession despite a desperate Bulls defence, and then coming close to the opposition 22.
But Bulls wing Sebastian de Klerk made an excellent tackle on Munster No 14 Sean O’Brien, which saw the ball spill loose.
Centre David Kriel picked it up and fed Mornay Smith, who offloaded to Canan Moodie, with the Springbok wing booting the ball into touch to claim the first victory by a South African franchise at Thomond Park.
It also meant that the Bulls completed an ‘Irish Grand Slam’ this season, having beaten Ulster, Connacht and Leinster as well.
“It’s massive, not just because we’ve beaten all four (Irish teams). I don’t think it’s happened before we have ever beaten the four Irish provinces in one season,” a delighted White said in the post-match press conference.
“It was the first time that I think Munster’s lost to a South African side at home. But more importantly, I just think the way we played, we had to play... I knew it was going to be an 80-minute slog.
“I knew it was going to be one of those games that goes to the wire. And we needed this sort of momentum going into the playoffs now.
“Next week, it doesn’t get any easier. We play Glasgow, who beat us in the (2024) final.
“What we couldn’t afford is to go and play badly today and then go into next week, having played and lost to Edinburgh and then lost to Munster.
“So, from a momentum point of view, from a confidence point of view, from a log position point of view, we’re obviously very, very happy.”
After slipping several tackles in the Challenge Cup quarter-final loss to Edinburgh last week – and even in the first half against Munster – the Bulls displayed much better physicality and intensity this time around on defence.
They also carried the ball up with greater conviction, with the stand-outs on both attack and defence being Player of the Match Marcell Coetzee – who made an amazing 31 tackles, nine carries and scored a try – and No 8 Cameron Hanekom.
Flyhalf Johan Goosen and scrumhalf Embrose Papier’s kicking games were excellent as they kept Munster under pressure in trying to claim the high ball in the wet conditions, where Moodie also contested the ball in the air with aplomb.
But nothing could compare with that incredible defensive effort right at the end to win the game.
“I just said to those players, can’t you do me a favour and just kick the ball infield? It was like we almost capitulated (by kicking the ball out on the full),” White stated.
“And that’s why I say to you, usually those capitulations have led to us giving the game back.
“We capitulated – kicked the ball out, then we kicked it out again.
“But then we defended probably the best defensive set we’ve had for a long, long time.
“I just was looking at my phone. I wasn’t being rude, but since when last have Munster scored one try (through SA fullback Thaakir Abrahams)?
“So, to keep Munster you know, scoring one try against you, and that try was pretty (well executed), is obviously something that we’ll also make sure that it’s a massive positive for our team.
“The first time Munster got into our 22 was in the 34th minute, which again showed how much control we had in the beginning and made sure that we didn’t give them entries into our 22.
“Especially that last block... We had to keep them out and just by not giving a penalty away, by showing discipline, by all the things we’ve been speaking about...
“I don’t want to say in the past... I don’t want to be negative about that, but in the past, we would have maybe made one or two mistakes there and let ourselves down.
“So, that will be the catalyst of what we need to do there.
“We need to defend like that in the next month-and-a-half before the competition ends against really good teams. We’re going to have to do that for 80 minutes, not for four.”
Points-Scorers
Munster 13 – Try: Thaakir Abrahams. Conversion: Jack Crowley (1). Penalties: Crowley (2).
Bulls 16 – Try: Marcell Coetzee. Conversion: Johan Goosen (1). Penalties: Goosen (2), Keagan Johannes (1).