Coetzee sees red as Edinburgh edge Bulls
MATCH REPORT: The Bulls concluded their European tour with a 23-31 defeat to Edinburgh in Round Five of the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship.
Captain Marcell Coetzee was shown a red card in the second half for a dangerous shoulder charge which basically shifted the momentum of the contest.
*To recap all the action CLICK HERE!!!
The Bulls also went down to 13 men after Cameron Hanekom was handed a yellow card in the 43rd minute.
Prior to the cards the Bulls were in full control of proceedings. They dominated the match and took a 13-11 lead at the break.
Johan Goosen flexin’ top of the league behaviour 😎🔥🐃#BKTURC #URC | #EDIvBUL pic.twitter.com/FsCi7tG7qU
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) November 17, 2023
However, ill discipline proved to be costly as they failed to secure the final win on tour.
The Bulls started the match in fine fashion and was the first team on the board. Instigated by a strong carry by Hanekom, a Goosen grubber found Devon Wiliams, who went over for the first try of the match.
The lethal Williams has been in great form, slotting in seamlessly since he joined the Bulls from the Pumas at the start of the season.
Goosen added the extras for the 7-0 lead.
The flyhalf had a chance to extend the lead with a penalty but pushed his kick wide from 40 metres out.
Minutes later, Edinburgh were rewarded with a penalty after a Goosen knock-on. Ben Healy stepped up and got his team on the board.
The two flyhalves exchanged penalties before the Bulls took a 13-6 lead.
Edinburgh gradually worked their way back into the contest and from the back of the line-out drive, Ewen Ashman powered over. Healy missed the conversion and the chance to level the matters – leaving his team trailing 11-13.
With halftime fast approaching, Edinburgh squandered another opportunity with a knock-on inside the Bulls’ 22.
The Bulls introduced the former Edinburgh star, Jaco van der Walt.
The 29-year-old replaced Goosen as Jake White’s team took a slender 13-11 lead at the break.
The second half started horribly for the South Africans. Captain Coetzee was shown a red card for a shoulder charge, while two minutes later Hanekom was sent to the bin with a yellow card.
Down to 13 men, the Bulls really struggled without their captain and strong carrier.
Edinburgh piled on the pressure as Ashman scored his second try in the absence of Coetzee, while Duhan van der Merwe joined the try-scoring party, giving the Scotland side a 21-13 lead.
The Bulls returned to 14 men as Hanekom was back on the park, but the damage was certainly done.
Edinburgh secured their bonus-point try thanks to No.8 Viliame Mata. Healy added the conversion for the 28-13 lead.
The Bulls immediately pulled one back with a quick tap to send Elrich Louw over. Van der Walt cut the deficit to eight with a conversion.
It was a very dramatic conclusion as Mata received his marching orders after a high tackle on Stedman Gans.
Van der Walt slotted over the penalty narrowing the deficit to just four points.
The Bulls got inside the Edinburgh 22. However, a great steal saw all their efforts halted.
Instead, it was Edinburgh who ended strong with Healy slotting over a three-pointer at the end of the match.
Man of the match: Our nod goes to the Edinburgh flank Jamie Ritchie. The No.6 returned from injury and really impressed. He made a crucial line-out steal, while in defence he made nine tackles.
The scorers:
For Edinburgh:
Tries: Ashman 2, Van der Merwe, Mata
Con: Healy
Pens: Healy 3
For Bulls:
Tries: Williams, E.Louw
Cons: Goosen, Van der Walt
Pens: Goosen 2, Van der Walt
Yellow cards: Cameron Hanekom (Bulls, 43 – collapsing the maul), Viliame Mata (Edinburgh, 73 – dangerous high tackle), Sergeal Petersen (Bulls, 79 – deliberate knockdown)
Red card: Marcell Coetzee (Bulls, 41 – dangerous shoulder charge)
Teams:
Edinburgh: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 James Lang, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Ben Healy, 9 Ben Vellacott, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Connor Boyle, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Glen Young, 3 WP Nel, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Dave Cherry, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Marshall Sykes, 20 Tom Dodd, 21 Ali Price, 22 Cammy Scott, 23 Chris Dean
Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 David Kriel, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (Captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Simphiwe Matanzima, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 24 Cyle Brink
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Ru Campbell (Scotland), Michael Todd (Scotland)
TMO: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
