Bulls run Scarlets ragged in Pretoria
MATCH REPORT: The Bulls produced a powerful display of running rugby on their way to a 63-21 victory over the Scarlets in Round One of the United Rugby Championship on Sunday.
Jake White's side scored nine tries in the match with Johan Goosen producing a flawless kicking display with nine conversions.
No.8 Cameron Hanekom and replacement back Stedman Gans both got two tries in the match.
It was early pressure from the Bulls with ball in hand and they were rewarded with Ruan Nortje stretching over for a try in the third minute. Goosen added the extra two points with the conversion.
The Bulls were in again a few minutes later when Johan Grobbelaar broke away from a powerful driving maul before feeding the Ball to No.8 Cameron Hanekom, who had enough speed to get to the tryline.
Goosen made it a 14-point lead with the conversion.
The Bulls then used their scrum dominance to lay a platform for Hanekom to score his second with a power run.
The bonus point was secured in the 25th minute after hooker Grobbelaar finished off some great attacking play after a turnover inside the Scarlets' half.
The Scarlets finally got their first points of the game with Johnny McNicholl scoring a try after some great interplay inside the Bulls' 22.
Ioan Lloyd added the extras with a beautiful conversion.
The visitors reduced the Bulls' lead further just before half-time when they found some space in the midfield and Taine Plumtree was on hand to finish the play with his team's second try.
Lloyd converted the score and at half-time, it was 28-14 to the Bulls.
Just like in the first half, the Bulls applied the early pressure in the second half and it was David Kriel who finished off a great try-scoring play inside the Scarlets' half. Goosen made it a 21-point lead with the conversion.
It got worse for the Scarlets a few minutes later when Embrose Papier broke through before feeding the ball to Stedman Gans, who sprinted in for a try. It was 42-14 to the Bulls after the conversion.
Gans completed his double a few minutes later after some powerful running from his teammates on the inside.
The Bulls were running the Scarlets ragged in the heat and it was Akker van der Merwe and Wandisile Simelane, a late change for Stravino Jacobs, finishing off some great attacking players to score their team's next two tries.
The Scarlets did have something to celebrate late in the game with Plumtree getting his second try.
Man of the match: The award goes to Bulls No.8 Cameron Hanekom, who was outstanding with ball in hand and on defence. He also scored two tries in the first half.
The scorers:
For Bulls:
Tries: Nortje, Hanekom 2, Grobbelaar, Kriel, Gans 2, Van der Merwe, Simelane
Cons: Goosen 9
For Scarlets:
Tries: McNicholl, Plumtree 2
Cons: Lloyd 3
Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Wandisile Simelane, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8. Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Stedman Gans.
Scarlets: 15 Johnny McNicholl; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Jonathan Davies (captain), 11 Ryan Conbeer; 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Kieran Hardy; 8 Ben Williams, 7 Dan Davis, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Sam Wainwright, 2 Shaun Evans, 1 Kemsley Mathias.
Replacements: 16 Isaac Young, 17 Steff Thomas, 18 Wyn Jones, 19 Jac Price, 20 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Charlie Titcombe, 23 Ioan Nicholas.
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs (South Africa) & Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
TMO: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)