VIDEO: Bulls destroy Sharks in Pretoria
SUPER RUGBY UNLOCKED REPORT: The Bulls climbed to the top of the Super Rugby Unlocked standings after they thumped the Sharks 41-14 in Pretoria on Saturday.
Jake White’s side outscored their opponents by six tries to one in the match with heavy rain pouring down on the players in the final 15 minutes.
The Bulls are now one point ahead of the Cheetahs at the top of the standings. The Cheetahs’ Round Three match with the Lions was called off due to COVID-19 protocols.
After dominating possession in the opening minutes, the Bulls had a chance to open the scoring. However, Morne Steyn’s long-range penalty kick went wide.
Instead, it was the Sharks who got the first points after Curwin Bosch converted a penalty into three points in the 11th minute.
The Bulls finally got their opening points in the 19th minute with Steyn finding direction with an easier penalty kick before Bosch put his team back in front with a penalty of his own in the 23rd minute.
However, the Bulls went in front a few minutes later when centre Stedman Gans evaded a few defenders deep inside the Sharks’ half to run in for the first try of the game. Steyn converted the score for a four-point lead.
The home side extended their lead in the 32nd minute when Ivan van Zyl spotted a hole near a Sharks’ ruck. The scrumhalf drew a couple of defenders before offloading to Elrigh Louw who then put Marco van Staden into space to sprint in for a try. Steyn again added the extras with the conversion.
Bosch reduced the Bulls’ lead to eight points with a penalty in the 36th minute.
At half-time, it was 17-9 to the Bulls.
The Bulls took control of the game early in the second half when Van Staden scored his second try of the game after a powerful driving maul deep inside the Sharks’ 22. Steyn converted the score to give his team a 15-point lead.
The Sharks needed to be the next to score and they did it when Dylan Richardson crashed over the Bulls’ tryline from close range in the 52nd minute after sustained pressure from the visitors. Bosch failed with his conversion attempt.
However, the Sharks’ hearts were crushed again a few minutes later when Kurt-Lee Arendse gathered the ball after a neat grubber from Steyn before offloading the ball to Gans who ran in for an easy try.
With 15 minutes left in the game, heavy rain poured down onto Loftus Versfeld and there were plenty of dropped balls.
But the Bulls were not done scoring with replacement Marco Jansen van Vuren sliding in for a try after the home side were camped inside the Sharks’ 22. Replacement flyhalf Chris Smith pushed his conversion attempt wide.
The Bulls scored another try via Embrose Papier after the full-time hooter.
Man of the match: The award goes to Bulls captain Duane Vermeulen who was outstanding in the physical exchanges. He was a dominant force with ball in hand and on defence. Vermeulen was also a nuisance at the breakdown.
The scorers:
For Bulls:
Tries: Gans 2, Van Staden 2, Jansen van Vuren, Papier
Cons: Steyn 4
Pen: Steyn
For Sharks:
Try: Richardson
Pens: Bosch 3
Teams:
Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Replacements: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Marco Jansen van Vuren.
Sharks: 15 Manie Libbok, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Marius Louw, 11 Werner Kok, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Phepsi Buthelezi, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nché.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Jeremy Ward, 23 Yaw Penxe.
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, Paul Mente
TMO: AJ Jacobs
