Rather than dwell on the defeat, coach Johann van Graan has accepted Munster’s loss to the Vodacom Bulls as “a good advert” for the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
The Bulls held a commanding 26-3 half-time lead over Munster in this past Saturday’s clash at Loftus Versfeld, only to narrowly avoid defeat and hang on for a 29-24 win.
“We came to Loftus believing that we can win,” Van Graan said. “We didn’t adapt to the referee well enough in the first 20 minutes and it was literally penalty on penalty and that gave them field position and they built a score.
“[But] we’ve got a massive belief in not only this squad but also at the club that we are never out and with two minutes to go, I was disappointed that we didn’t keep the ball to go and win this game.
“It was a good advert for the URC with two very good teams.”
Next up for Munster is a trip across the Jukskei to face a reinvigorated Lions side at Ellis Park on Saturday.
“It’s not going to get any easier for us,” the Munster boss added. “Facing the Lions at Ellis Park with an early kick-off is going to be a real challenge. But that is why I think this competition is going to be so good in the long run.”
