The Vodacom Bulls scored six tries in a convincing win against Cardiff at Loftus on Friday night.
The 40-7 victory saw Johan Ackermann’s men leapfrog the Lions into seventh place on the Vodacom URC log.
It was just the result the Bulls needed after last week’s disappointing loss to the Stormers, keeping their playoff fate in their own hands with five league-stage matches remaining.
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The Bulls made a poor start when a handling error from fullback David Kriel on halfway gifted a try to Cardiff centre Harri Millard.
You lose it there… it’s over.
Harri Millard had a clear run.
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But Cardiff flank Alun Lawrence was yellow-carded shortly after for a cynical breakdown infringement and the Bulls made the Welsh club pay, with loose forward Marcell Coetzee and hooker Johan Grobbelaar going over from lineout mauls.
Lock Cobus Wiese’s try, against 15 men, was ruled out because of obstruction, but Kriel then dotted down to make amends for his earlier mistake.
Late in the half, the Bulls countered from a Cardiff box kick that went too far, with winger Kurt-Lee Arendse putting scrumhalf Embrose Papier away for the bonus-point try.
Papier
KLA
Magic from the Vodacom Bulls to score the bonus point
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On the stroke of half-time, Elrigh Louw collected an innovative cross-kick from fellow loose forward Nizaam Carr to score the Bulls’ fifth try and Handré Pollard’s fourth conversion made it 33-7 at the break.
Nizaam channeled his inner Messi with that kick
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The highlight of a scoreless first 15 minutes of the second half was the introduction of Cameron Hanekom off the bench after a nine-month injury absence. And the No 8 made an immediate impact, gaining ground from the back of a scrum before another replacement, Ruan Vermaak, went over.
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The game became disjointed as both sides emptied their benches, with Cardiff showing great character to prevent any further damage.
The Welsh club now travels to Durban to face the Sharks next Friday, while the Bulls host Munster next Saturday.
BULLS – Tries: Marcell Coetzee, Johan Grobbelaar, David Kriel, Embrose Papier, Elrigh Louw, Ruan Vermaak. Conversions: Handré Pollard (4), Kriel.
CARDIFF – Try: Harri Millard. Conversion: Callum Sheedy.
Photo: @BlueBullsRugby/X
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