Bulls' win dents Sharks' Champions Cup chances
URC REPORT: The Bulls made a big United Rugby Championship statement, beating Leinster 62-7 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The Bulls scored nine tries in the round 18 clash against the Irish giants.
*To recap all the action CLICK HERE!!!
The win moves the Bulls up to fifth, level on points with Munster, who still have to face the Sharks.
Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie and Johan Grobbelaar all helped themselves to a brace of tries with Ruan Nortje, Stedman Gans and Harold Vorster also going in as the South Africans ran in nine tries, with Johan Goosen converting seven and adding a penalty.
Prop Michael Milne scored a consolation try for Leinster.
Leinster had already secured top spot in the table and rested a number of star players but would have been disappointed by the nature of the defeat ahead of next weekend’s Champions Cup semi-final with Toulouse.
Bulls opened the scoring with Goosen sending over a straightforward penalty after concerted early pressure in the Leinster 22.
Their dominance was rewarded after 14 minutes when lock Nortje took a short pass from Embrose Papier from a ruck and crashed over from short range.
They stretched their advantage with a flowing move down the left and David Kriel drew in Tommy O’Brien before playing an inside pass to Arendse to run in unopposed.
Arendse then claimed his second try of the afternoon when Leinster turned the ball over inside their own 22 and Moodie’s kick through was latched onto by the full-back.
Grobbelaar secured the bonus point when he went over from a lineout drive with Goosen adding his fourth conversion.
Bulls began the first half like they ended the second with Papier breaking through a series of poor Leinster tackles before flicking the ball up for Grobbelaar to stroll in for his second try.
With Thomas Clarkson in the sin-bin, Goosen then launched an inch-perfect kick to the corner that was claimed by Moodie to crash over for the sixth try.
Kriel and Arendse combined to send over Gans following a scrum won against the head.
Milne burrowed over for Leinster before Vorster and Moodie added to the rout.
Player of the Match
Arendse epitomised the ruthlessness in attack of the Bulls, who looked like they would create a try with every attack. He joined the line at will and his running constantly put Leinster under pressure and took his two tries with aplomb.
Play of the Match
Arendse’s second try was started deep inside the Bulls’ half when Elrich Louw intercepted a loose Leinster pass in his own 22 and advanced 50 metres before kicking forward and after the Irish province turned the ball over, Moodie sent forward a neat grubber that was latched onto Arendse to touch down.
The scorers:
For Bulls:
Tries: Nortje, Arendse 2, Grobbelaar 2, Moodie 2, Gans, Voster
Cons: Goosen 7
Pen: Goosen
For Leinster:
Tries: Milne
Cons: Predergast
Yellow cards: Thomas Clarkson (Leinster, 44 – repeated infringements), Ruan Vermaak (Bulls, 75 – leading with a forearm)
Teams:
Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 David Kriel, 10 Johan Goosen 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Cornal Hendricks.
Leinster: 15 Chris Cosgrave, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Liam Turner, 12 Ben Brownlee, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Nick McCarthy, 8 Max Deegan, 7 Will Connors, 6 James Culhane, 5 Brian Deeny, 4 Alex Soroka, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Tadgh McElroy, 1 Ed Byrne (captain).
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Temi Lasisi, 19 Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 20 Liam Molony, 21 Ben Murphy, 22 Charlie Tector, 23 Rob Russell.
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Adriaan Jacobs (South Africa) & Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
TMO: Jon Mason (Wales)
*Additional reporting: @URCOfficial
