Rampant Bulls run riot at Loftus
MATCH REPORT: The Bulls moved into the top eight of the United Rugby Championship with a bonus-point 57-12 demolition of the Scarlets at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.
Outscoring the visitors by nine tries to two, the hosts had the bonus point wrapped up in just over 20 minutes – dominating all aspects of the game.
* To recap all the action, CLICK HERE!
Jake White’s hosts had crossed for five tries – through Canan Moodie, Marcell Coetzee, Cyle Brink, Johan Grobbelaar and Elrigh Louw – by the time Sione Kalamafoni got the Scarlets off the mark eight minutes from half-time.
Ruan Nortje and Grobbelaar extended the Bulls’ advantage with the Scarlets temporarily down to 14 men early in the second half, and Coetzee and Robert Hunt carried their side’s try tally to nine before Rob Evans’ late consolation.
The result lifts the Bulls to sixth in the overall table and top of the South African conference ahead of the weekend’s remaining fixtures, while the Scarlets remain 12th.
It took little over a minute for the Bulls to score the game’s first try, with Moodie collecting a brilliant Louw offload to go over out wide.
Dwayne Peel’s men were being given the runaround by their hosts and a wonderful exchange of passes between Kurt-Lee Arendse, Madosh Tambwe and Cornal Hendricks, followed by a Chris Smith cross-kick, put the Bulls deep in Scarlets territory, with Coetzee eventually touching down.
Brink burrowed over for the Bulls’ third in the 14th minute after a driving maul put the home side on the Scarlets’ line.
If there was any crumb of consolation for the visitors, it was that Smith – who ultimately contributed 10 points to the Bulls’ cause – was not taking full advantage from the tee, converting only one of the opening three tries.
But the flyhalf could hardly have asked for an easier kick after Grobbelaar wrapped up the bonus point in the 25th minute by powering over next to the posts.
Louw added a fifth and, although Kalamafoni responded before half-time, a Ioan Nicholas yellow card in the opening minute of the second period was punished with further Bulls tries from Nortje and Grobbelaar – the latter following more great passing from the hosts.
Coetzee wriggled through a fatigued Scarlets defence for the Bulls’ eighth, and Hunt completed the home side’s scoring before returning Wales prop Evans went over with the last action of the match.
Man of the Match
There were plenty of contenders among the home contingent, but it was Nortje who walked away with the individual honour.
The second row capped a magnificent all-around performance with an interception try one of his colleagues among the backs would have been proud of.
* (Continue below ...)
🐃 @BlueBullsRugby score again, and they do it well 👏#URC | #BULvSCA pic.twitter.com/GF2lGBzbf3
— United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) March 18, 2022
Play of the match
The Bulls were irresistible in the first quarter of the match, playing with a confidence and freedom that would have given any side problems.
One of the best illustrations of their flying start was the seamless exchange of passes between Arendse, Tambwe and Hendricks in the build-up to the second try.
From there, Smith’s cross-kick put the Bulls on the verge and Coetzee finished the job.
🤩 Serious Champagne Rugby from @BlueBullsRugby, finished beautifully by @marcell_coetzee 🍾#URC pic.twitter.com/JMYPiYfTIB
— United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) March 18, 2022
The scorers
For the Bulls
Tries: Moodie, Coetzee 2, Brink, Grobbelaar 2, Louw, Nortje, Hunt
Cons: Smith 5, Steyn
For the Scarlets
Tries: Kalamafoni, Evans
Con: Patchell
Yellow card: Ioan Nicholas (Scarlets, 41 – foul play, playing an opponent in the air)
Teams
Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink , 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Jacques van Rooyen, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Lionel Mapoe.
Scarlets: 15 Ioan Nicholas, 14 Steff Evans, 13 Johnny Williams, 12 Scott Williams (captain), 11 Ryan Conbeer, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Dane Blacker, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Tomas Lezana, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Jac Price, 4 Sam Lousi, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Daf Hughes, 1 Kemsley Mathias.
Replacements: 16 Shaun Evans, 17 Rob Evans, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Morgan Jones, 20 Sione Kalamafoni, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Sam Costelow, 23 Joe Roberts.
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Griffon Colby (both South Africa)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
