Bulls boss Jake White labelled his team’s victory over Munster “massive” as they completed a clean sweep over the Irish provinces in a season for the first time.
The 16-13 win consolidates the South African side in third position of the United Rugby Championship (URC) on a weekend when all the top four clubs claimed triumphs.
White‘s men battled throughout before coming out on top thanks to Keagan Johannes’ penalty after Marcell Coetzee’s try and eight points off the tee from Johan Goosen.
Clean sweep
Speaking to the media following the match, the Bulls director of rugby could not hide his delight as they bounced back from a recent Challenge Cup defeat to Edinburgh in style.
“It’s massive, not just because we’ve beaten all four (sides). I don’t think it’s happened before we have ever beaten the four Irish provinces in one season,” White beamed.
“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 play-offs 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.”
The Bulls started the URC meeting by flexing their muscles in the carry as a series of carries led to Coetzee, who made 31 tackles, eventually scoring the game’s first try.
However, the win was sealed thanks to a late period of heroic defence from the Bulls as Munster threw the kitchen sink at them, racking up the phases but to no avail.
White though was particularly frustrated with his players’ kicking game as several overcooked efforts cost them vital field position, an issue he has raised to his troops.
“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 (kicking the ball out on the full),” the boss revealed.
Bulls player ratings: Springboks snub produces an ‘outrageous shift’ in famous victory
“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.”
White continued: “I just was looking at my phone. I wasn’t being rude, but since when last have Munster scored one try?
“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.
Bulls control
“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.”
READ MORE: Munster player ratings v Bulls: ‘Leggy’ Lions hopeful not helped by ‘uncharacteristic errors’
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/jake-white-very-very-happy-as-munster-victory-caps-south-african-first-over-irish-provinces
