The Vodacom Bulls secured a home URC quarter-final with a 45-19 win against Benetton at Loftus Versfeld. Despite a comprehensive win on the scoreboard, the Bulls have a lot to fix if they want to advance to the semi-finals and/or final.
The Bulls started like a house on fire, and Sergeal Peterson scored in the corner, following a 15-man attack. Handre Pollard converted to extend the Bulls' lead to 07-00 after just four minutes of play in the first half.
The Bulls continued their dominance, and Willie le Roux was put into space by a brilliant pass by Handre Pollard to score the Bulls' second try. Pollard converted to extend the Bulls’ lead to 14-00 after 12 minutes of play in the second half.
Benetton absorbed a lot of pressure, and after 18 minutes of play, they were rewarded with an “easy” try by Louis Lynagh to cut the Bulls' lead to 14-05.
With 10 minutes to play in the first half, Johan Grobbelaar scored off the back of a lineout-maul to extend the Bulls’ lead to 19-05.
Following two disallowed tries, Cameron Hanekom took a quick tap, and eventually it was Cobus Wiese who scored the Bulls’ bonus-point try. Polard converted, extending the Bulls' lead to 26-05.
Benetton replied immediately with a try by Rhyno Smith, who also converted the try to cut the Bulls' lead to 26-12 at the halftime break.
Benetton started like a house on fire, and after several attacks, it was Louis Lynagh who cut past several defenders down the middle of the pitch to score Benetton’s third try. Rhyno Smith converted to cut the Bulls' halftime lead to 26-19 after just four minutes of play in the second half.
Great hands and interplay by the Bulls’ backline led to Sergeal Peterson taking an inside pass to score the Bulls’ fifth try. Pollard was on target again, extending the Bulls’ lead to 33-19 and 22 minutes still to play in the second half.
Four minutes later, Mpilo Gumede crashed over following a “failed” lineout maul. Pollard converted, extending the Bulls’ lead to 40-19.
Ruan Nortje scored his try with five minutes still to play in the first half to secure a 45-19 bonus-point win for the Vodacom Bulls.
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Sergeal Peterson, Willie le Roux, Johan Grobbelaar, Cobus Wiese, Sergeal Petersen, Mpilo Gumede, Ruan Nortje. Conversions: Handre Pollard (5).
Benetton: Tries: Louis Lynagh (2), Rhyno Smith. Conversions: Rhyno Smith (2).
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Devon Williams, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sergeal Peterson, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Jeandre Rudolph, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Stravino Jacobs.
Benetton: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Paolo Odogwu, 12 Tomas Medina, 11 Federico Zanandrea, 10 Rhyno Smith, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 7 Lorenzo Cannone, 6 Riccardo Favretto, 5 Federico Ruzza (c), 4 Mattia Midena, 3 Tiziano Pasquali, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro. Replacements: 16 Nicholas Gasperini, 17 Ivan Nemer, 18 Marcos Gallorini, 19 Niccolò Cannone, 20 Giulio Marini, 21 Jadin Kingi, 22 Cristiano Tizzano, 23 Leonardo Marin.