Munster fly half Charlie O'Shea took the headlines from Limerick, with a coming-of-age performance from the 20-year-old.
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With Jack Crowley side-lined until the new year through injury, O'Shea looks like the man to lead the Red Army's back-line.
He scored twice and bagged an assist, in a phenomenal performance that may well earn Andy Farrell's attention for an Ireland squad call-up for the Nations Championship Northern Series this November.
After a stalemate for the first 15 minutes, the Bulls drew first blood. Repeat infringements from Jeremy Loughman had Munster pinned on their own try-line, before Ruan Vermaak wrestled across the whitewash with a powerful rolling maul.
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However, Munster responded shortly thereafter. Stand-out performer Charlie O'Shea delivered a pinpoint cross-field kick and found Diamuid Kilgallen in the far corner. The 20-year-old out-half then nailed a tough conversion from out wide, to draw the Red Army level.
O'Shea then bagged his second try in as many Munster matches, having only debuted in red this past weekend against Glagow Warriors. A poor clearence from Zak Burger clattered into the back of O'Shea, and the Irishman was quickest to ground the loose ball. He then converted his own try for a seven-point advantage.
However, the South African side drew level, as Francois Klopper battled his way over the line from close range, following a stellar break down-field by ex-Munster wing Thaakir Abrahams. Bosch's successful conversion made it 14-points a-piece as the sides headed to the sheds.
The Bulls took a slender lead after the break, as Curwin Bosch sent a penalty through the sticks at 43 minutes. However, the man of the moment O'Shea would bag his brace, with a tight finish in the corner despite boundless Bulls pressure.
Munster followed this up with a bonus point score, that established a neat buffer with the win in sight. Impact sub Alex Kendellen exploded onto a crash ball, and bagged the fourth to send the Thomond faithful into a frenzy. O'Shea converted for a neat nine-point advantage with 10 left.
But the Bulls would not lie down. Jeandre Rudolph raced along the touch-line for a stunning individual effort in the 74th minute, to set up a tense finale under the Limerick lights. However, it would be Munster's night at the end.
MUNSTER: 26
TRIES: 4 (Kilgallen 19', O'Shea 31', 55', Kendellen 69')
CONVERSIONS: 3 (O'Shea 19', 31', 69')
BULLS: 22
TRIES: 3 (Vermaak 14', Klopper 35', Rudolph 73')
CONVERSIONS: 2 (Bosch 14', 35')
PENALTIES: 1 (Bosch 43')
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
CHARLIE O'SHEA (MUNSTER)
Ireland fans need to remember the name Charlie O'Shea, as a new fly half looks destined to enter into the clustered out-half discussion in years to come.
With Jack Crowley not expected to return until the new year with a problematic leg injury, O'Shea started tonight over JJ Hanrahan, after the young gyun made his senior Munster debut off the bench last weekend.
At just 20-years-old, O'Shea played with confidence beyond his years, with tremendous feet to find touch and pin the Bulls back down field. He provided an inch-perfect cross-field kick for Diamuid Kilgallen's try. O'Shea then nailed the conversion to draw Munster level in the first half.
His lightning quick pace was on full display to score his first try, as he won the foot-race against Zak Burger to ground the ricocheted clearence kick. He followed this up with a second at 55 minutes, with grit to out-muscle two Bulls defenders, and stay in touch to score in the corner.
O'Shea departed to a standing ovation at the 69th minute, with his last act being a well-struck conversion for Alex Kendellen's try.
After the match, Munster coach Clayton McMillan said: "Look phenomenal. Don't want to blow too much smoke up the backside, it's early days. But, he's had a couple of runs now, and he's taken to it like a duck to water.
"A lot of lot of confidence for a young man. But, it comes from doing the homework during the week and getting over what he knows the team needs him to do. He's done that with aplomb."
Munster scrum half Craig Casey added: "My God, he found his voice all week. To be fair, he's a great kid. Like [McMillan] he said, he works very hard and so diligent, and he just feeds confidence to the rest of the group. So hats off to him. I thought he was awesome, and he has been for the last six, seven weeks in pre-season as well. He's a very impressive kid."
BIGGEST UNDERPERFORMER
MICHAEL MILNE (MUNSTER)
It was a devastating way for Michael Milne to mark his return to Munster red, as the Ireland prop only lasted a matter of minutes on the pitch before being forced off with an injury.
Whilst the exact extent of the injury is yet to be confirmed, the issue looked to have taken place when the loose-head was clattered into touch by a Bulls defensive pair, with Milne is some visible discomfort on the deck.
Jeremy Loughman entered the match less than 10 minutes into the first half to replace the injured prop. Exact details of the injury are yet to confirmed, but Andy Farrell will hope that Milne will be back fit and firing within the next few weeks, ahead of the November tests,
PLAYER TO WATCH
SEAN EDOGBO (MUNSTER)
The back row powerhouse was ever-present at Thomond Park, with an unfaltering desire to get his hands on the ball and battle his way across the hard-hitting Bulls gain-line.
After watching his older brother Edwin earn his Ireland debut against Italy in the Six Nations, Sean looks like a real candidate to follow in his footsteps for a run out in the green jersey.
The Cobh man emptied the tank with a tremendous effort across both sides of the ball, and also showcased astute set-piece work as a line-out leader. Edogbo also drew double duty in the match against the Bulls, as he only had a brief stint on the bench before being sent back on to replace Gavin Coombes for his HIA.
PLAYER RATINGS
MUNSTER
15. SHANE DALY 7
14. DIARMUID KILGALLEN 6
13. SEAN O'BRIEN 6
12. DAN KELLY 6
11. SHAY MCCARTHY 7
10. CHARLIE O'SHEA 10
9. CRAIG CASEY 8
1. MICHAEL MILNE 3
2. MARNUS VAN DER MERWE 7
3. JACK AUNGIER 6
4. TOM AHERN 5
5. EVAN O'CONNELL 6
6. SEAN EDOGBO 7
7. JOHN HODNETT 8
8. BRIAN GLEESON 8
MUNSTER REPLACEMENTS
16. KIERAN BROOKES 6
17. JEREMY LOUGHMAN 5
18. RONAN FOXE 5
19. GAVIN COOMBES 4
20. ALEX KENDELLEN 7
21. BEN O'DONOVAN 5
22. JJ HANRAHAN 5
23. GORDAN WOOD 4
BULLS
15. HAKEEM KUNENE 6
14. SEBASTIAN DE KLERK 7
13. STEDMAN GANS 5
12. STRAVINO JACOBS 5
11. THAAKIR ABRAHAMS 8
10. CURWIN BOSCH 6
9. ZAK BURGER 6
1. ALU TSHAKWENI 6
2. JUANN ELSE 7
3. FRANCOIS KLOPPER 7
4. RUAN VERMAAK 7
5. REINHARDT LUDWIG 6
6. MARCELL COETZEE 7
7. HANRO LEIBENBERG 6
8. JEANDRE RUDOLPH 8
BULLS REPLACEMENTS
16. JANCO UYS 5
17. STI SITHOLE 4
18. KHUTA MCHUNU 5
19. JF VAN HEERDEN 5
20. NIZAAM CARR 5
21. PAUL DE WET 6
22. CHESWILL JOOSTE 7
23. WILLIE LE ROUX 6
AUTUMN WATCH: IRELAND & SPRINGBOKS HOPEFULS WHO IMPRESSED
1. CHARLIE O'SHEA (MUNSTER & IRELAND)
It is rare to see a such a young player take control of a match the way Charlie O'Shea did tonight.
With such tremendous all-round performance, O'Shea must keep this momentum rolling, should he wish to earn a spot in Andy Farrell's squad for the Nations Championship Northern Series.
Having already discussed his excellent on-field performance, lets assess the feasability of a debut in green for the twice-capped Munster man.
Ireland take on Fiji, Argentina and South Africa at home this November, and Farrell could well send O'Shea out against the Pacific Island side in the perceived 'more winnable' match of the series.
With Sam Prendergast expected to take hold of the keys to the Ireland back-line this November, and his Leinster teammate Harry Byrne and new Connacht man Ciaran Frawley in support, O'Shea may have to settle for an 'apprentice' role this time around. However, any involvement will bring opportune learning from the new-coming playmaker.
2. THAAKIR ABRAHAMS (BULLS - SOUTH AFRICA)
There was a personal battle within the war out on the Thomond Park turf, as former Munster wing Thaakir Abrahams returned to Limerick to take on his old side.
The Bulls man was a tremendous threat out in the wide channels, with his electric pace and dynamic footwork fondly missed by the Munster faithful.
Those very same fans went from giving Abrahams a warm welcome home, to ruing his return to the province. Abrahams skipped free from several tackle attempts in the lead up to Francois Klopper's first half try, and once again staked a claim for a long awaited Springboks call-up.
Five times capped by South Africa U20s, Abrahams has never been able to maintain the momentum for a test level crack in green and gold.
However, now in his second stint with a South African club, following a prior run with the Sharks, Abrahams looks to be ticking all the boxes for a spot upon Rassie's squad for their Northern tour.
3. MARNUS VAN DER MERWE (MUNSTER & SOUTH AFRICA)
A slight deviation from the script now, with the spotlight upon a Springboks hopeful who was actually running out against the visitors from South Africa.
One of the best bits of business in the URC transfer window, Marnus van der Merwe arrived at Thomond Park with plenty of expectation, following a solid two-year run with the Scarlets.
The former Cheetahs man came up with a clutch turnover to get all eyes on him in the first half, as he also led the strong Munster set-piece with accurate throws and strong work at scrum-time, against the revered Bulls front row.
Whilst van der Merwe has a long way to go to unseat the likes of Malcolm Marx or Bongi Mbonambi, it was a solid performance from the man long overdue a crack at the international stage.
4. JOHN HODNETT (MUNSTER & IRELAND)
A red scrum cap would not be the easiest thing to spot amidst a sea of Munster jerseys, however John Hodnett's iconic headwear was ever-present around Thomond Park.
Hodnett was a real live-wire for Munster, with an contagious 'never-say'die' attitude that inspired a similar defiant go-forward from his tiring teammates.
Hodnett took the fight straight to the Bulls gain-line, and was especially impressive on the shoulder in support, to make extra yards following an off-load
However, what stands in Hodnett's way the current Ireland back row squad depth - regarded as one of the world's best in it's own right.
5. JEANDRE RUDOLPH
There could still be time left for a Springboks run in the career of Jeandre Rudolph. The 32-year-old Bulls man is a verteran of the elite club game, but whether it be a matter of timing, competition for places or ill-timed injuries, he has never recieved a Test cap in the famous South African colours.
Having starred for the Pumas, Cheetahs and the Bulls, it's not as if Rudolph has been away from the land of green and gold.
Tonight was another defining reason as to why a Springboks run remains on the cards, as he was the Bulls' best attacking option from the forward pack, and was upmost impressive against a resolved red wall. Rudolph capped off his night with a stunning solo try, as he raced along the right touch-line to showcase some rather unforseen wheels from the towering number eight.
As they say, it's better late than never. Will the back row battering ram finally get his Springboks reward this coming November, if Rassie looks to shuffle the deck once more for the Nations Championship?
