Bulls comeback falls short as Pumas claim thrilling Loftus victory

MATCH REPORT: The Pumas won a hard-fought battle at Loftus Versfeld to come away with a narrow 33-31 victory over the Bulls.

In their first outing at home, the Bulls couldn’t clinch their first win in the Currie Cup after four rounds of action. With this victory the Pumas catapulted themselves into third spot in the log standings.

It was an error riddled game feuled by ill-discipline as six yellow cards (one upgraded to red) was dished out.

The Bulls’ defense was tested in the early minutes as the Pumas got within scoring distance from the kick-off.

But the Pumas persisted with the attacking mode, and it resulted in the opening score for the visitors by Alfondso Isaacs. Fleurs added the extras for an early for the Pumas.

*Continues below…

The Lions coaches would have plenty of questions after that performance…

Link to the match report: https://t.co/vlkdef9c5Z

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When Abongile Nonkontwana got his marching orders for a high tackle in front of the uprights, it just gave the Pumas more impetus to got for another try.

It took a lot of defensive effort by the Bulls, and the Pumas went coast to coast. Eventually Willie Engelbrecht was the player who wormed his way over the whitewash. Fleurs made no mistake with the conversion.

After 15 minutes, the Bulls only had 15% of possession.

At the 20-minute mark, they had made 42 tackles compared to the two of the Bulls, indicating just how little ball the home team had in that time.

When the Pumas scored their third try courtesy of JJ Scheepers, the men from Nelspruit had a commanding lead even if the conversion was missed.

After a nice little run by Deon Williams, Isaacs won himself a yellow card for an early tackle and a penalty try was awarded to the Bulls.

Missing one player did not deter the Pumas. They got on their horse and kept on chipping away at the defense.

As the Pumas were driving toward the tryline, Siphosethu Mnebelele got a yellow card after multiple infringements. At this stage, the Bulls had already conceded ten penalties after 30 minutes of rugby.

To make matters worse, Cephas van Biljon also got sent to the sin bin three minutes later and things were falling apart for the hosts.

And to rub salt in the Bulls’ wounds, the Pumas yellow card Isaacs returned to the action, making it a 15 on 13 game.

The Bulls had their first set-piece opportunity in the Pumas’ 22 in the 41st minute of the first half.

The Pumas were defending in earnest, but eventually the hosts managed to get it right, changing the conversation as they headed to the changeroom trailing by only five points at halftime.

Minutes into the second half, the Bulls’ tails were up after Mnebelele scored after a great little inside pass from Johannes. The conversion took the home side into the lead for the first time.

After that, another yellow card was pulled from referee Dylen November’s pocket, this time directed at Ntsika Fisanti.

The Pumas set the maul and escorted the Bulls pack over their line, with Jan-Henning Campher hitting the deck and dotting down for the try.

The Pumas sent one high and were awarded a penalty for obstruction, setting up the 22-metre lineout.

But the Bulls defense stood strong, stopping the driving maul. But the scrum was still coming, five metres out.

It was Sandi Msengana who scored the try from close range for the Pumas. The conversion was wide and the score was 26-26 with eight minutes to go.

*To recap all the action, CLICK HERE!

A penalty to the Pumas offered them the chance to close out the game and Fleurs sent the ball to the corner flag to set up another driving maul.

They fought their way over the tryline but were held up. It was deemed a collapse, and another yellow card was shown, this time to Sintu Manjezi.

In the following movement, Campher grabbed his second try, converted by Fleurs.

Flipping the script, the Bulls went on to score with three minutes to go after Johannes made a beautiful break and ended with Hakeem Kunene. The No.9 couldn’t convert.

The never-say-die Pumas got straight back into attack mode as they won a turnover and then slowed things down to wind down the clock.

Scorers:

For Bulls:
Tries: Penalty Try, Eloff, Mnebelele, Kunene
Cons: Johannes 2

For Pumas:
Tries: Isaacs, Engelbrecht, Scheepers, Campher 2
Cons: Fleurs 3

Yellow cards: Abongile Nonkontwana (Bulls; 12’ – high tackle); Alfonso Isaacs (Pumas, 21’ – early tackle); Siphosethu Mnebelele (Bulls, 30’ – multiple infringements); Cephas van Biljon (Bulls, 33’ – cynical pass interference); Ntsika Fisanti (Pumas, 48’ – high contact); Sintu Manjezi (Bulls, 73’ – intentionally collapsing a maul)

Teams:

Bulls XV: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Riyaad Bam, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 Christiaan Vlok, 11 Lindsey Jansen, 10 Devon Williams, 9 Keagan Johannes (captain), 8 Dieter Schubert, 7 Abongile Nonkontwana, 6 Kebotile Maake, 5 Sintu Manjezi, 4 Johnathan Eloff, 3 Jean Erasmus, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Dylan Smith
Replacements: 16 Jon Hobson, 17 Damian Baker, 18 Dian Coetzee, 19 Jacques Swarts, 20 Cephas van Biljon, 21 Thomas Beling, 22 Brooklyn Newman, 23 Aka Boqwana

Pumas: 15 Jaycee Nel, 14 Alfonso Isaacs, 13 Sango Xamlashe (vice-captain), 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Banie Britz, 10 Nevaldo Fleurs, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 JJ Scheepers, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Chyle van Zyl, 1 Etienne Janeke.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Kudzwai Dube, 18 Junior Banda, 19 Stephan Krugel, 20 Thabo Ndimande, 21 Russwill Fredericks, 22 Tino Swanepoel, 23 Darren Adonis

Referee: Dylen November
Assistant referees: Juan de Bod, Luvuyo Maceba
TMO: Quinton Immelman