Video

Details

Date Time Competition Season
15 October 2022 7:35 pm United Rugby Championship 2022/23

Match Report

Coombes inspires Munster to crucial win against Bulls in Thomond

Munster have gained some much-needed points, as they edged out the Vodacom Bulls in a physical bonus point win at Thomond Park this evening.

A day for the forwards it has to be said as three of their forward line all crossed for tries, Joey Carbery also having a great day from the boot to add those extra points that kept Munster ahead.

Some errors still in their game, turnovers, defensive howlers and coming short of the line allowing for an easy turnover, the result was well deserved and the win will give them a boost as this tie certainly became a must win.

It was a slow start in the opening half of the tie, Munster again pressuring their opponents but failed to get over, landing just sort a couple of times as the Bulls forced them into mistakes, the visitors would land the first score after ten minutes, Johan Goosen with a long range penalty.

Munster took their time to come back into the tie but once they did the Bulls failed to reply, Carbery landed a short range penalty after 21 minutes, before Gavin Coombes drove over asn Munster laid siege to the Bulls line, the number 8 smartly moving well to score from the back of the ruck, Carbery giving Munster a 10-3 lead with another close range effort before the half hour mark.

Coombes added almost a carbon copy of his first score minutes later as he crossed for their second, Carbery was not missing from the tee as he landed his third kick of the night, Munster ahead 17-3 at the interval.

A bonus point looked on the cards after Jermey Loughman crossed three minutes into the second half, he chased a lovely kick in behind from Carbery which Chris Smith failed to clear, Loughman tapped the ball through with his foot before touching down, Carbery’s third conversion put daylight between them.

WJ Steenkamp reduced the deficit as he crossed for their first try after 50 minutes, a calamitous defensive error from Munster allowed the Bulls to pressurise their line and Steenkamp touched down well in the corner.

The Munstermen would get their bonus point try, again it was another of their forwards as Tadhg Beirne forced his way over as Munster’s camping on the opposition line was proving fruitful.

Yet another lapse in concentration allowed the Bulls to get over for a second try, Munster turned over possession with David Kriel racing through, the conversion making it 31-17 after 65 minutes.

To their credit Munster worked hard to prevent the Bulls leaving with a losing bonus point, soaking up the pressure well toward the later stages of the game, a result they needed a performance they will look to replicate.

Munster

15Shane Daly Winger
14Calvin Nash 22 Winger
13Malakai Fekitoa Centre
12Dan Goggin Centre
11Liam Coombes Winger
10Joey Carbery Fly-Half 29', 36', 44', 62'
21'
9Craig Casey 21 Scrum-Half
1Jeremy Loughman 17 Prop 43'
2Niall Scannell Hooker
3Stephen Archer 18 Prop
4Jean Kleyn Lock
5Edwin Edogbo 19 Lock
6Tadhg Beirne 20 Flanker 61'
7Peter O’Mahony 23 Flanker
8Gavin Coombes No. 8 28', 36'
16Diarmuid Barron 3 Hooker
17Dave Kilcoyne 1 Prop
18Roman Salanoa 3 Prop
19Thomas Ahern 5 Forward
20Jack O’Donoghue 6 Flanker
21Conor Murray 9 Scrum-Half
22Jack Crowley 14 Full-Back
23John Hodnett 7 No. 8

Vodacom Bulls

15Kurt-Lee Arendse Full-Back
14Cornal Hendricks 23 Winger
13Lionel Mapoe Centre
12Harold Vorster Centre
11Wandisile Simelane Winger
10Johan Goosen 22 Fly-Half 10'
9Embrose Papier 21 Scrum-Half
1Simphiwe Matanzima 17 Prop
2Jan-Hendrik Wessels 16 Hooker
3Mornay Smith 18 Prop 47'
4Walt Steenkamp 19 Lock
5Ruan Nortje Lock
6Marcell Coetzee 20 Flanker
7WJ Steenkamp Flanker 50'
8Elrigh Louw No. 8
16Bismarck du Plessis 2
17Dylan Smith 1
18Jacques van Rooyen 3
19Ruan Vermaak 4
20Marco van Staden 6 Flanker
21Zak Burger 9 Scrum-Half
22Chris Smith 10 Fly-Half 51', 65'
23David Kriel 14 Centre 64'

Past Meetings

(Round 6)
29 - 24
United Rugby Championship
Loftus Versfeld

Vodacom Bulls v Munster

Ground

Thomond Park
Thomond Park, Limerick City, County Limerick, V94 PD28, Ireland

Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.