Embrose Papier scored two tries as the Vodacom Bulls held off Munster at Loftus on Saturday.
The scrumhalf was a surprise omission from the first Springbok alignment camp of the year and sent Rassie Erasmus another reminder of his ability with a Man of the Match performance in sweltering Highveld conditions.
The Bulls’ 34-31 win took them up to seventh on the Vodacom URC log, one point behind their Irish opponents, with four rounds remaining.
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Both sides were guilty of early handling errors, with the Bulls failing to capitalise on a breakdown penalty won by flyhalf Handré Pollard and a scrum penalty earned by centurion Gerhard Steenekamp, who sent Michael Ala’alatoa airborne.
After last week’s 45-0 defeat to the Sharks in Durban, Munster were boosted by the return of Ireland halfbacks Craig Casey and Jack Crowley, with the latter instrumental in their first try at Loftus, scored by winger Seán O’Brien at the end of the first quarter.
The hosts drew level on the 30-minute mark when scrumhalf Embrose Papier broke away from a scrum on halfway to score a stunning try.
“He continues to bring the magic.”
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Embrose Papier with a stunning individual effort
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The Bulls were reduced to 14 men when Bok lock Ruan Nortjé was yellow carded for an illegal ruck cleanout, but it didn’t prevent them from dotting down again through winger Canan Moodie to make it 14-7 at the break.
The visitors hit back early in the second half through flank Tom Ahern, before Nortjé returned to the field having avoided a bunker-review red.
Papier then scored his second try after collecting lock Ruan Vermaak’s kick downfield after Munster had lost possession on the Bulls’ 22.
Look at the speed of Papier
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) March 28, 2026
Tom Ahern made it a double for Munster, but the hosts responded with another 50m individual effort – this time from former Junior Boks wing Cheswill Jooste. Pollard converted the bonus-point try and then added a 49m penalty goal to stretch the lead to 12.
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Munster came back again, with Crowley’s 50:22 leading to a try for fullback Ben O’Connor under the posts.
Pollard’s second penalty goal gave the Bulls some breathing room, only for a Cobus Wiese knock-on from the restart to gift the visitors a scrum. They scored soon after, through replacement lock Edwin Edogbo, with Crowley’s conversion hitting the right-hand upright.
But a clever Le Roux kick enabled the Bulls to finish the game deep in Munster territory and come away with a valuable five-point haul.
BULLS – Tries: Embrose Papier (2), Canan Moodie, Cheswill Jooste. Conversions: Handré Pollard (4). Penalties: Pollard (2).
MUNSTER – Tries: Seán O’Brien, Tom Ahern (2), Ben O’Connor, Edwin Edogbo. Conversions: Jack Crowley (3).
Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
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