Bulls make statement in 101-point match
PRE-SEASON REPORT: Jade Stighling scored a hat-trick as the Bulls gave early notice of their intentions in the 2020 Super Rugby season.
The men from Pretoria fielded two teams against two university outfits at the Tuks Stadium, in Pretoria, showing no mercy to their younger rivals.
In the first match of the day the Bulls ran out 40-0 winners, but it was the second outing where they really showed their intent – beating the University of Pretoria selection 96-5.
According to reports, the match was stopped ‘early’ by the referee, avoiding an embarrassing 100-point rout.
Apart from the Stighling hat-trick, hooker Jaco Visagie and flank Jeandre Rudolph bagged two tries each in a 14-try rout.
The Bulls raced into a 35-0 lead inside the first half-hour (42-0 at half-time) and continued the rout after the break – scoring another eight tries in the second half.
In the first match, the Bulls scored three tries in each half, Sevens star Rosko Specman bagging a double.
The Bulls will face some sterner tests next week – when they face the Lions, in two matches, at Loftus Versfeld on Friday and at the Super Sunday double-header in Soweto.
Warm-up match one:
Bulls 40 University of Pretoria 0
The scorers:
For the Bulls:
Tries: Specman 2, Ferreira, Kellerman, Jobb, Kotze
Cons: Smith 3, Coetzer 2
For University of Pretoria
None
Teams
Bulls (warm-up match one): 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain), 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Wian Vosloo, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Jaundrè Kruger, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima.
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 18 Ian Groenewald, 19 Marius Verwey, 20 Jean Droste, 21 David Coetzer, 22 Dawid Kellerman, 23 Diego Appolis, 24 Tim Agaba.
University of Pretoria: Andre van der Merwe, Werner Fourie, JP Smith, Louis Meiring, Thomas Meyer, Stephan Smit, Ewart Potgieter, Jaco Bezuidenhout, Cornel Korff, Ethan Wentzel, Kabelo Mokoena, Wian van Niekerk, Zandre Kruger, Irvin Ali, Marco Labuschagne, Keano Hendricks, Dylan Weideman, Mogua Mabokela, Estian Enslin, Keanan Opperman, Leshley October, Cairan Dayaram, Zeillinga Strydom, Lional April, Stephan Coetzee.
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
#BULvTUKS #1stHalf action of #warmup match 1 against UP-Tuks. #BullsFamily pic.twitter.com/fAgPWO7RXZ
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) January 11, 2020
#BULvTUKS A few second half photos of the Vodacom Bulls and UP-Tuks #warmup. #match1 #BullsFamily pic.twitter.com/otW7ReTQOp
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) January 11, 2020
Warm-up match two:
Bulls 96 University of Pretoria 5
The scorers
For the Bulls:
Tries: Visagie 2, Sage, Rudolph 2, Steenekamp, Rossouw, Stighling 3, Naude, Nel, Strauss, Naude
Cons: Libbok 6, Steyn 7
For UP
Try: Lewis
Teams:
Bulls (warm-up match two): 15 Richard Kriel, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Dylan Sage, 11 Divan Rossouw, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Abongile Nonkontwana, 6 Jeandre Rudolph, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ryno Pieterse, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Corniel Els, 17 Madot Mabokela, 18 Andre Smith, 19 Ewan Coetzee, 20 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 21 Morné Steyn, 22 Jay-Cee Nel, 23 Franco Naude, 24 Vaughen Isaacs.
University of Pretoria: Ruan Janse van Rensburg, Llewellyn Classen, Henco Smit, Romano Naude, Clayton Martin, Eduan Lubbe, Mhlali Stamper, Luke Haynes, Ruhan Viviers, Zander Du Plessis, Clyde Lewis, AJ Johnson, Enrique Oranje, Cairan Dayaram, Mangaliso Ntimba, Andrew Reintges, Barry Viljoen, Damain Glaus, Jaryd Scheepers, Jason Schroder, Eduan Smit, Brendon Katzke, Siya Tyuli, Ethan Burger, Franco Saayman.
Referee: Griffon Colby
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#BULvTUKS #1stHalf action of #warmup match 2 against UP-Tuks. #BullsFamily pic.twitter.com/rCaUiOPofS
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) January 11, 2020
#2ndHalf action between the Vodacom Bulls and UP-Tuks in #warmup match 2. #BullsFamily pic.twitter.com/fm4SmChnnp
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) January 11, 2020
