Bulls put heat on frontrunners in nine-try rout over Zebre
MATCH REPORT: The Bulls were in a ruthless mood at Loftus Versfeld, beating Zebre 63-24 in the United Rugby Championship Round 14 match on Saturday.
The Pretoria-based franchise put nine tries past the visitors for the impressive win.
*To recap all the action, CLICK HERE!!!
Wing Sergeal Petersen scored a brace of tries, while flyhalf Keagan Johannes added 14 points (seven conversions) with the boot.
Zak Burger, Stravino Jacobs, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Marco van Staden, Marcell Coetzee, Harold Vorster, and David Kriel were the other try-scorers.
For Zebre, Jacopo Trulla, Giovanni Montemauri, and Tommaso Di Bartolomeo crossed the line, while the flyhalf Montemauri also added three conversions, and Alessandro Fusco added the drop-goal to the tally.
The Bulls are third on the URC table with 50 points.
The side briefly moved to second place thanks to the victory but slipped back to third after Glasgow Warriors’ win over the Lions.
🔥 Chemistry on point 🏉
Devon Williams feeding Sergeal Petersen in full flight? Yes please! 😮💨🔥 @Vodacom #URC | #BULvZEB pic.twitter.com/DgRNJbttdW
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) March 29, 2025
It was important for the Bulls to make a fast start, and they certainly did that as they race to a 14-0 lead after tries by Petersen and Burger.
Johannes got the game underway and showed pinpoint accuracy, executing an incredible 50-22, which got the Bulls inside the Zebre half.
From the line-out, the Bulls shifted the ball wide before Devon Williams found Petersen, who dived over for the first try of the match.
Johannes added the conversion for a 7-0 lead after four minutes.
Celebrating his 50th Bulls cap in style, scrumhalf Zak Burger scored the team’s second converted try.
Zebre showed glimpses of their attacking flair, but their final pass just failed them.
The Italians finally broke their duck when a grubber bounced kindly for Trulla, who scored. Montemauri converted the try for the full seven points.
Minutes later, Fusco’s incredible drop goal took Zebre into double figures and cut the Bulls’ lead to four.
The Bulls hit back almost immediately. After a failed line-out, the hosts managed to gather possession before Jacobs beat a couple of defenders and dived over. It was 21-10 after 30 minutes.
Before the break, hooker Wessels powered through a gap for the bonus-point try. Johannes added the conversion for a comfortable 28-10 advantage as the team headed to the locker room.
It was a dream start to the second half for Zebre. The Bulls’ exit kick was neatly collected by flyhalf Montemauri, who showed incredible footwork before dotting down. He converted his own try, narrowing the score to 17-28.
The Bulls tapped into their power game. A powerful scrum was followed by some strong carries before Van Staden powered over, handing the team a comfortable 35-17 lead.
With the Bulls down a forward after JF van Heerden was handed a yellow card, Zebre took full advantage with Tommaso Di Bartolomeo scoring at the back of a maul.
The Bulls responded quickly. After a powerful scrum, Marcell Coetzee went over for the converted try.
Vorster also got his name on the scoreboard with a try under the posts. Johannes extended the lead to 49-24.
In the last 10 minutes, it was really scrappy from Zebre, and the Bulls took full advantage.
The hosts scored two tries courtesy of Petersen and David Kriel. Boeta Chamberlain converted both for a comfortable win.
Match Summary
Man of the match: Our nod goes to Bulls back Keagen Johannes. The 25-year-old showed great maturity at flyhalf, dictating proceedings. He also has a 100 percent conversation rate, kicking 7 from 7 conversions.
The scorers:
For Bulls:
Tries: Petersen 2, Burger, Jacobs, Wessels, Van Staden, Coetzee, Vorster, Kriel
Cons: Johannes 7, Chamerlain 2
For Zebre:
Tries: Trulla, Montemauri, Di Bartolomeo
Cons: Montemauri 3
Drop Goal: Fusco
Yellow card: JF van Heerden (Bulls, 48 – foul play)
Teams:
Bulls: 15 Deon Williams, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Celimpilo Gumene, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni
Replacements: 16 Simphiwe Matanzima, 17 Akker van der Merwe, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Nizaam Carr, 22 Embrose Papier, 23 Boeta Chamberlain
Zebre: 15 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 14 Jacopo Trulla, 13 Fetuli Paea, 12 Enrico Lucchin, 11 Alessandro Gesi, 10 Giovanni Montemauri, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Davide Ruggeri, 7 Iacopo Bianchi, 6 Guido Volpi, 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Muhamed Hasa, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Luca Rizzoli
Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Paulo Buonfiglio, 18 Juan Pitinari, 19 Francesco Ruffolo, 20 Bautista Stavile, 21 Ratko Jelic, 22 Giacomo Da Re, 23 Filippo Drago
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa), Sean Muller (South Africa)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
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