Bulls power past ill-disciplined Lions
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Bulls started their 2019 campaign on a victorious note, beating the Lions 21-17 at the Loftus Versfeld B field in Pretoria on Saturday.
The Bulls dominated the Lions in the set-piece, while they also made the visitors pay for their ill-discipline and unforced errors.
The Bulls were making all the play in the opening five minutes.
A Massive scrum from the Bulls earned them an advantage and from there they went through phases and won the penalty for an infringement from the Lions at the breakdown.
The Bulls chose to scrum again after getting early dominance in the set-piece. The Bulls won another penalty for the Lions stealing the ball illegally at the breakdown, but some good work on defence from the visitors won them the turnover.
JT Jackson dotted down for the first try of the game for the Bulls. Manie Libbok converted and the Bulls were 7-0 after five minutes.
A dangerous tackle from the Lions straight after the try earned the Bulls a penalty. The Bulls set up a line-out inside the Lions 22.
The Lions conceded another penalty, the Bulls setting up the line-out drive five metres out – from which Franco Naude went over after a powerful surge at the line. Libbok converted and the Bulls raced into a 14-0 lead after 18 minutes.
Rosko Specman put on display his Sevens skills, as he pounced on a pass which went to ground inside the Bulls half and beat the cover. Libbok added the conversion and the Bulls had a 21-0 after 26 minutes.
The Lions were awarded their first penalty with 27 minutes played – testament to the Bulls’ discipline on defence.
The Lions set the attacking line-out on the Bulls five-metre line. The Bulls conceded another penalty. The Lions set another line-out, but good defence from the Bulls at the breakdown forced the turnover.
Another opportunity went abegging for the Lions after a handling error from a five-metre line-out.
Scrumhalf Morné van der Berg ran a good line for the Lions’ opening try. Gianni Lombard failed to convert.
The Lions hit back again in the last play of the half, as they counter-attacked down the wing and Stean Pienaar scored the try. Gianni Lombard was unsuccessful with the conversion again – the Bulls leading 21-10 at the break.
The Lions looked to up the pace of their game in the opening minutes of the second half, but more indiscipline cost them – as they conceded a penalty.
The Lions conceded two further scrum penalties, as the Bulls scrum dominance ‘became apparent.
To compound the Lions’ problems they conceded yet another penalty for offside just outside the Bulls 22.
With 77 minutes of the game played the Lions set themselves up to sneak a possible late winner, when James Venter scored a try. Jeanluc Cilliers converted and at 17-21 the game was set up for a thrilling finish.
The Bulls managed to hold on for a well-deserved victory.
The scorers:
For Bulls:
Tries: Jackson, Naude, Specman
Cons: Libbok 3
For Lions:
Tries: Van der Berg, Pienaar, Venter
Con: Cilliers
Yellow card: Ruan Nortje (Bulls, 23 – repeated team infringements)
Teams:
Bulls: 15 Earl Dowrie, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Franco Naude, 12 JT Jackson, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Ruan Steenkamp. 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Ruan Nortje, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Corniel Els, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Matthys Basson, 18 Conrad van Vuuren, 19 Tim Agaba, 20 Nic de Jager, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Tinus de Beer, 23 Jay-Cee Nel, 24 Jade Stighling, 25 Divan Rossouw.
Lions: 15 Sylvian Mahuza (captain), 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Tyrone Green, 11 Wandisile Simelane, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Morné van der Berg, 8 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 MJ Pelser, 5 Rhyno Herbst, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jan-Henning Champher, 1 Nathan McBeth.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Danie Minnie, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 PJ Steenkamp, 20 Roelof Smith, 21 James Venter, 22 Jo-Hanko de Villiers, 23 Dian Schoonees, 24 Bradley Thain, 25 Eddie Fouche, 26 Louritz van der Schyff, 27 Jan-Louis la Grange, 28 Stean Pienaar, 29 Jean-Luc Cilliers.
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
By Josh Isaacson
@isaacson_j
@rugby365com
