Bulls survive Pumas' fightback
MATCH REPORT: The Bulls continued their unbeaten run in the Currie Cup with a 40-24 victory over the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday.
In what was a first round cross pool clash – both teams started the match by feeling each other out with box-kicks and high-balls.
Both sides soon after showed their intent to run the ball – with the Pumas running it from their own 22 that saw flank Fisanti making a break into the Bulls 22 – with scrumhalf Braude next to him, but he squandered a sure scoring opportunity to not get the pass away in time and losing the ball forward.
The Pumas soon paid the price in the seventh minute when Chris Barend Smit intercepted an inside pass by Clinton Swart and kicked it forward, with the Pumas tracking back and wing Darren Adonis failing to secure the ball on the ground which saw Cornel Smith pounce on the ball and going over for the opening try.
The Bulls secured a lineout with Smit kicking and turning Adonis inside his own 22 which Adonis tried to gather and ended up gifting the Bulls an attacking lineout as his knee hit the ball into touch.
The Bulls made sure they get full value from their bonus possession as they attacked off the lineout and worked it wide quickly to wing Novuka who went into the corner for the score in the 13th minute.
Former Pumas hero Devon Williams soon after slotted a perfect 50/22 kick, five metres from the Pumas line to set an attacking lineout for the Bulls.
The result was almost inevitable when the lineout was won and the maul set-up perfectly that saw hooker Joe van Zyl go over in the 18th minute for the Bulls’ third score.
The Bulls had back to back penalties in the Pumas half and had another lineout maul set up which saw Joe van Zyl get a brace and the bonus point in the 24th minute of the match.
The Pumas squandered plenty of opportunities to score in the first half – such as missing touch with penalty kicks, handling errors (7) and not capitalising on the Bulls’ errors despite having the bulk of the territory (59 percent) and 50 percent possession.
The Pumas had numerous opportunities in the final 10 minutes of the first half inside the Bulls 22 – with Cornel Smith receiving a yellow card for cynical play after playing the ball on the ground while the Pumas were on the attack.
The hosts opted for a lineout maul but the the Bulls showed their mettle defensively to stop the maul successfully through Sintu Manjezi who collapsed it.
The Pumas had one final attacking scrum before the half ended after Chamberlain almost managed to intercept a pass by Clinton Swart but knocked it on – with wing Coetzee getting the hosts inside the Bulls’ 22 with good footwork before they played it wide but the pass from Lungisa to Adonis was forward.
Referee Jadezweni had played a penalty advantage which they came back to as the Pumas went for the corner to set the driving maul and managed to go into the sheds with points on the board when hooker Swart went over for the try after the half-time siren.
The Pumas started the second half as they finished the first – with the Bulls conceding a penalty for a high tackle and the Pumas going for the lineout inside the Bulls 22.
The Pumas showed great patience on attack after the maul was collapsed and that set up Darren Adonis for the score.
The Pumas changed the tempo when they had a penalty inside their own half and Braude took it quickly – winning a good 15-odd metres in the process before kicking it ahead and finding touch inside the Bulls’ 22.
There was some concern when a good tackle by Brink on Dimaza saw the No.8 go down and the match stopped immediately to attend to him as he was stretched off the field – signalling with a clap of hands that he was okay.
The Pumas dominated the scrum that followed and attacked with new intent under penalty advantage but it wasn’t needed as Braude got his cut out pass away to Clinton Swart who went over for the Pumas’ third score of the evening.
The bonus point score soon followed when wing Tino Swanepoel regathered a contestable kick by Braude and dotted down to bring his side back within two points after Swart converted the try.
The Bulls struck back moments later – displaying great skill as Carr offloaded to Manjezi who got his pass away to Moodie and he ran to the inside and got his offload away on the outside to Williams who went over to score against his former team in the 54th minute.
The hosts had plenty of opportunities yet again inside the Bulls’ red zone and ended up losing possession five metres from the line and conceding the penalty for holding on as Nama Xaba went in over the ball.
The Bulls started to get momentum back in the final quarter of the match – getting a free kick at the scrum and Mchunu going quickly, followed by a good dart by Van Der Linde to get the visitors on the front foot and from almost out of nothing Jaco van der Walt got his offload away to Smit who went over for the Bulls to ensure some breathing space on the scoreboard.
The Pumas were denied a try through Godlen Masimla which would have made the last couple of minutes interesting after TMO Marius van der Westhuizen ruled that the pass from David Brits to Sobahle was forward in the build up to the score.
Both sides had scoring opportunities in the final 10 minutes but in the end but neither side could get over the line as Bernard van der Linde kicked the ball to touch as the siren sounded to end the clash.
Scorers:
For the Pumas:
Tries: E.Swart, Adonis, C.Swart, Swanepoel
Cons: C.Swart 2
For the Bulls:
Tries: Novuka, Williams, C.B.Smit, C.Smit Van Zyl 2
Cons: Van der Walt, Johannes 4
Yellow cards: C.Smit (Bulls, 34′ – Cynical play, playing the ball on the ground while the Pumas were on the attack in the red zone)
Teams:
Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 David Brits, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Anele Lungisa, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Shane Kirkwood (captain), 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Etienne Janeke.
Replacements: 16 Darnell Usuagwu, 17 Deward Maritz, 18 Munashe Mhere, 19 Jeandre Leonard, 20 Andre Fouche, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Danrich Visagie, 23 Phiko Sobahle.
Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Cornel Smit, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Sibongile Novuka, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Keagan Johannes, 8 Nizaam Carr (captain), 7 Merwe Olivier, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Jannes Kirsten, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Joe van Zyl, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Juan Else, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Khuthazani Mchunu, 19 Cyle Brink, 20 Celimpilo Gumede, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Katlego Letebele.
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen
Photo credits: Johan Orton Photography
