Grobbelaar hat-trick gets Ackermann era off to winning start
MATCH REPORT: The Johan Ackermann era at Loftus Versfeld got off to a winning start.
The Bulls, coming from behind after a scrappy first half, outscored the Ospreys 53-40 in a 15-try feast in the opening round of the United Rugby Championship.
The win was based on more clinical control in the second half and their renowned forward power.
From the early stages of the encounter, the Bulls players were visibly frustrated by the decisions of Italian referee Federico Vedovelli.
Captain Marcell Coetzee repeatedly questioned the referee about his decisions and a number of ‘late’ hits on his players. Even when they started to dominate after the half-time break, the Bulls still seemed confused by the calls.
The one aspect where there was no doubt was in the scrums, with a rash of penalties awarded to the Bulls in the set pieces.
Coetzee admitted that it was not the best start, but after a half-time talk by new coach Johan Ackermann, they tightened up their game, made fewer mistakes and won the penalty battle.
That also gave them control of the scoreboard.
* To recap all the drama, CLICK HERE!
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It was the perfect start for Ospreys. From a solid scrum, the ball went wide to the wing, where Keelan Giles strolled over for the first try after just two minutes. The conversion attempt was wide of the mark, but the visitors held a 5-0 lead.
That became 12-0 minutes later when the Ospreys’ South African import Dan Kasende pounced on a stray ball and exposed the Bulls’ defence, to send Keiran Williams over. Dan Edwards added the conversion.
That awoke the Bulls from their slumber, as a line-out maul and a few forward charges allowed flank Marcell Coetzee to go over. Flyhalf Keagan Johannes added the conversion to narrow the gap to five points, 7-12.
The Bulls captain, Coetzee got his and his team’s second try when he charged over from a maul five metres out. Johannes was wide with his conversion attempt, 12-all.
Just short of the half-hour mark, Bulls fullback Devon Williams was yellow-carded for cynically slapping the ball away.
The numerical advantage allowed Ospreys to create an overlap for fullback Jack Walsh to go over on the left. Edwards added the conversion for a seven-point lead, 19.12.
Still a man up, Keiran Williams got his second, and the team’s bonus-point try, in the 35th minute. The Edwards conversion made it a 14-point lead, 26-12.
The Bulls returned to their strength, forward power, with hooker Johan Grobbelaar finishing off a series of brutal forward charges. Johannes made it a seven-point game (19-26) with the conversion.
It was a different story in the second half, with the Bulls upping the ante, and the referee forced to speak to the visitors about repeatedly conceding penalties.
From that, the Bulls launched a powerful maul, with the hooker, Grobbelaar, getting his second and his Bulls’ bonus-point try. Johannes was wide with the conversion attempt, 24-26.
In the 50th minute, from a line-out, Keagan Johannes combined with Cheswill Jooste, for the 19-year-old wing to stroll over for a try. Johannes’ conversion was again wide, but the Bulls had the lead for the first time in the match, 29-26.
Ospreys were down a man when lock James Fender was yellow-carded for repeatedly coming in at the side of a maul. From a subsequent line-out and maul, Grobbelaar got his third try. Johannes finally found the target, 36-26.
Jan Serfontein was then put over by Johannes, who missed the conversion attempt, as the Bulks started putting daylight between themselves and the visitors, 36-26.
Ospreys were not going to go away, and No.8 Morgan Morse wormed his way over after several penalties close to the Bulls’ line.
However, replacement hooker Juann Else scored next, as the home team looked to increase the tempo. Johannes added the conversion, 48-33.
Willie le Roux, on as a replacement, sent Jooste over for his second try with a floating pass. David Kriel, having taken over the kicking duties, was wide of the mark with the conversion, but the Bulls were past the 50-point mark, 53-33.
Coach Johan Ackermann cleared the bench and the home team’s game started to become fractured.
On the stroke of full-time wing Keelan Giles went over and Edwards converted to make the score 53-40 in favour of the home team.
Man of the match: Ospreys’ South African wing Dan Kasende was a constant thorn in the flesh of the Bulls. For the home team scrumhalf Embrose Papier had some great game management and kick-execution. The Bulls’ best players were forwards, with captain Marcell Coetzee one of the best. My vote goes to Bulls hooker Johan Grobbelaar, not just for his hat-trick, but his overall workrate and numerous powerful carries.
The scorers
For the Bulls
Tries: Coetzee 2, Grobbelaar 3, Jooste 2, Serfontein, Else
Cons: Johannes 4
For Ospreys
Tries: Giles 2, Williams 2, Walsh, Morse
Cons: Edwards 5
Yellow card: Devon Williams (Bulls, 27 – cynical foul, slapping the ball away), James Fender (Ospreys, 57 – repeated infringements, coming in at the side of a maul)
Teams
Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 David Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Juann Else, 17 Alu Tshakweni, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Nicolas Janse van Rensburg, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Willie le Roux.
Ospreys: 15 Jack Walsh, 14 Dan Kasende, 13 Phil Cokanasiga, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 8 Morgan Morse, 7 Harri Deaves, 6 Ross Moriarty, 5 James Fender, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 1 Garyn Phillips.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Steffan Thomas, 18 Rhys Henry, 19 Huw Sutton, 20 James Ratti, 21 Luke Davies, 22 Tom Florence, 23 Harri Houston.
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
Assistant referees: JD Jadezweni (South Africa), Dylen November (South Africa)
TMO: Peter Martin (Ireland)
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