A drizzly evening at Thomond Park played host to a hugely physical battle between Munster and the Vodacom Bulls.

The score was even at half-time after a superb try from Thaakir Abrahams and five points from the tee thanks to Jack Crowley. In the second half Bulls edged out the home side finishing the 80 minutes with just a three-point margin.

Next Munster will take on Cardiff Rugby on Friday, April 26^th, 7.35pm kick-off.

The first points of the game came from Jack Crowley as he slotted a superb long-range penalty in the first 10 minutes.

The visitors were the first to get a try as they flooded the Munster defence. They inched closer building phases until Marcell Coetzee dived over. Fly-half Johan Goosen converted putting the Bulls in the lead. They added three more points from the tee to extend the gap just after the first quarter, 3-10.

Seán O’Brien made a vital interception as Bulls looked to score. A well-weighted cross-field kick from Goosen found Canan Moodie who was unable to get there. Thaakir Abrahams’ fast feet put Munster on the front foot giving them a chance to attack.

Munster won two penalties in quick succession close to the Bulls line with the South African defence holding firm. Just two minutes before the break Abrahams and Crowley added another 7 points to Munster’s total after a superb try in the left corner. Alex Nankivell and Crowley combined to get the speedy full-back over. The scores were level heading into the second 40, 10-10.

The first moment of the second half came as Embrose Papier was sent to the bin reducing the Bulls to 14 men with Munster deep in their half. Despite their personnel disadvantage, the visitors won a penalty, and Goosen dispatched another three points. Crowley added another three after a high tackle shortly after, and the scores were level again, 13-13.

A flurry of replacements came at 51 minutes. Diarmuid Kilgallen took to the field to replace Andrew Smith, his first appearance since February. Lee Barron also came on for his first Munster appearance after arriving this week from Leinster, replacing the injured replaacement tighthead prop Stephen Archer.

With no tighthead prop, the game had to go to uncontested scrums. Alex Kendellen also came off with Munster erroneously reduced to 14 men for 13 minutes. Since starting tighthead Oli Jager had departed for a HIA earlier in the game, Munster were entitled to play on with 15. The mistake was corrected by the officials after Munster played until the 65^th minute with 14.

Keagan Johannes missed a big opportunity to put the Bulls in the lead, as a kick through the posts drifted wide with just ten minutes to go, the scores still even 13-13. They succeeded with a second penalty minutes later, under huge pressure Johannes expertly split the uprights from long-range edging the Bulls ahead 16-13 and that’s how it stayed.

Munster: Thaakir Abrahams; Seán O’Brien, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell (Rory Scannell ’73), Andrew Smith (Diarmuid Kilgallen ’51); Jack Crowley, Conor Murray (Paddy Patterson ’73); Josh Wycherley, Niall Scannell (Mark Donnelly ’60), Oli Jager (Stephen Archer ’14, Lee Barron ’51); Jean Kleyn (Fineen Wycherley ’66), Tadhg Beirne (C); Tom Ahern (Ruadhán Quinn ’66), Jack O’ Donoghue, Alex Kendellen (’51).

Replacements:  Lee Barron, Mark Donnelly, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Rory Scannell, Paddy Patterson, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Ruadhán Quinn.

Round 15 round-up

Lee Barron earnt his first Munster cap.

Diarmuid Kilgallen made his first appearance since February.