Bulls break Ellis Park curse

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The Vodacom Bulls hammered the Lions 30-12 on Saturday to claim their first win at Ellis Park since 2012. JON CARDINELLI reports.

The result sees the Bulls’ ending their seven-year drought at the Lions’ stronghold. It also marks the Bulls’ first win over their Gauteng rivals since 2015.

The Lions have failed to impose themselves to any telling degree since producing an emphatic performance against the Jaguares in round one. Their status as the best Vodacom Super Rugby franchise in South Africa is now in question following their losses to the Stormers and Bulls.

The Bulls should be commended for the manner in which they bounced back from a disappointing defeat to the Jaguares. The loss of captain Lood de Jager to injury, as well as a long-haul journey from Buenos Aires back to Gauteng did little to drain their physicality levels or detract from their set-piece efficiency.

If anything, the Bulls should have led by more than 14 points at the break. They dominated territory and possession for much of the first half, and yet their poor handling as well as desperate Lions defence kept the visitors relatively honest.


Handré Pollard opted to kick for goal at every opportunity, and so the Bulls earned some reward for their endeavour. Duane Vermeulen eventually crashed over the line following a patient buildup. By half-time, the Bulls were 14-0 up.

Pollard slotted another goal after the break to extend the visitors’ lead. The Lions hit back in the 48th minute, though, with Elton Jantjies identifying a mismatch on the blindside. Tighthead prop Carlu Sadie was always going to smash through the diminutive Rosko Specman from point-blank range.

The Bulls maintained their composure, however, with Pollard sinking another penalty shortly before the hour-mark. Trailing by 15 points, the Lions were in desperate need of some magic.

Schalk Brits, who was at his lively best over the course of the contest, won a penalty at the breakdown in the 62nd minute. Pollard added another three points to increase the Bulls’ lead to 18.

Lions prop Dylan Smith scored late in the piece to give the hosts some hope. The Bulls had the final say, though, with Warrick Gelant rounding off a counter-attack and ensuring that the men from Pretoria claimed an emphatic win.


Lions – Tries: Carlu Sadie, Dylan Smith. Conversion: Elton Jantjies.
Bulls – Tries: Duane Vermeulen, Warrick Gelant. Conversion: Handré Pollard. Penalties: Pollard (6).

Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies 9 Nic Groom, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Kwagga Smith, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Rhyno Herbst , 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx (c), 1 Dylan Smith.
Subs: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Vicent Tshituka, 21 Gianni Lombard, 22 Franco Naude, 23 Courtnall Skosan.

Bulls – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Dylan Sage, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Handré Pollard (c), 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Hanro Liebenburg, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Subs: 16 Corniel Els, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Tim Agaba, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Divan Rossouw.

Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix

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Jon Cardinelli