Airlink Pumas Played Rugby And Vodacom Bulls Did Not

 

The Airlink Pumas showed on Sunday that they are intent and capable to defend their 2022 Currie Cup crown, defeating the Vodacom Bulls 63-15 at Loftus Versveld.

Great trick play by the Airlink Pumas as Eduan Swart finds Deon Slabbert and he takes it down to Fouche who plays it back to Swart who goes in for the TRY!!

A bungled lineout by the Airlink Pumas was controlled by Mihlali Mosi who forced his way over the tryline to level the scores at 08-08.

The Airlink Pumas' answer was quick as they quickly pounded on a mistake by the Vodacom Bulls to launch an attack down the touchline with Giovan Snyman who scored the Airlink Pumas' second try.

The Vodacom Blue Bulls could not control a ball behind the ruck whereafter Tinus de Beer controlled the ball and puts Sebastian de Klerk into space for the third Airlink Pumas. The conversion from Thinus de Beer stretched the Airlink Pumas' lead to 20-08 and five minutes left to play.

The Currie Cup champions were not done yet and scored their bonus point try after the Vodacom Bulls could once again not control a ball after which Ali Mgijima controlled and spread the ball wide to Jade Stighling who scored.

The Airlink Pumas are enjoying themselves in a match where structure and defence are not high on the priority list and led 27-08 going into the second half.

The second half continued in the same manner with the Airlink Pumas pounding on the mistakes by the Vodacom Bulls to score three tries and a converted penalty. Devon Williams, Andre Fouché and Diego Appollis added their names as try scorers as the Pumas led 49-08 with 12 minutes to go.

Francois Kleinhans scored minutes later as he danced through several halfhearted tackles with 17 minutes to go. Airlink Pumas' Diego Appolis score his second try after sloppy defence from the hosts.

The Vodacom Bulls eventually scored a consolation try after Cornal Hendricks goes over in the corner.

The Airlink Pumas showed that they intend to defend their 2022 Currie Cup title with a 9 tries to 2 win over the hapless Vodacom Bulls.

Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Mihlali Mosi, Cornal Hendricks. Conversion: Morne Steyn. Penalty: Morne Steyn.
Airlink Pumas: Tries: Eddie Swart, Giovan Snyman, Sebastian De Klerk, Jade Stighling, Devon Williams, Andre Fouche, Diego Appollis (2), Francois Kleinhans, Brandon Thomson. Conversions: Tinus De Beer (4). Penalties: Tinus De Beer (2).

Teams
Vodacom Bulls: 15. Wandisile Simelane, 14. Sibongile Novuka, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12. David Kriel, 11. Sibusiso Nkosi, 10. Morné Steyn (c), 9. Bernard van der Linde, 8. Mihlali Mosi, 7. Reinhardt Ludwig, 6. Phumzile Maqondwana, 5. Ruan Vermaak, 4. Jacques Du Plessis, 3. Francois Klopper, 2. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1. Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16. Joe van Zyl, 17. Lizo Gqoboka, 18. Mornay Smith, 19. Janko Swanepoel, 20. Cameron Hanekom, 21. Keagan Johannes, 22. Chris Smith, 23. Cornal Hendricks.

Airlink Pumas: 15. Devon Williams, 14. Sebastian de Klerk, 13. Diego Appollis, 12. Ali Mgijima, 11. Jade Stighling, 10. Tinus de Beer, 9. Giovan Snyman, 8. Kwanda Dimaza, 7. Francois Kleinhans, 6. Andre Fouché, 5. Shane Kirkwood (c), 4. Deon Slabbert, 3. Njabulo Gumede, 2. Eduan Swart, 1. Corne Fourie. Replacements: 16. Llewellyn Classen, 17. Etienne Janeke, 18. Simon Raw, 19. Malembe Mpofu, 20. Ruwald van der Merwe, 21. Chriswill September, 22. Brandon Thomson, 23. Lundi Msenge, 24. Ignatius Prinsloo, 25. Jacques Momberg, 26. Jaco Labuschagne, 27. Gene Willemse.