The Vodacom Blue Bulls surged back from 27-3 down to claim a bonus-point 50-34 victory over their arch rivals, DHL Western Province and move clear of the chasing pack at the top of the Currie Cup log at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
After a first 35 minutes which they will want to forget, something changed in the Bulls' game management as they scored either side of halftime and then clawed their way back to the lead before the hour mark, and had enough in the tank despite a game Province side to win comfortably in the end.
Gumede ➡️ Dyantyi ➡️ Van der Walt 🔥
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 27, 2024
Bulls close out a tough game against Western Province with a spectacular try 💪 #CurrieCup pic.twitter.com/jntYiN2DnS
In those first 35 minutes it was Province who were way more clinical - the Bulls had 62 per cent possession and several chances but kept fluffing them, the opposite of what the Cape side did with every chance they got.
Despite losing props Lizo Gqoboka and Sazi Sandi to injury in the first half, Province also won five consecutive scrum penalties against the Bulls side as they took the advantage they were given and build a healthy lead.
Former Scottish international Jaco van der Walt scored a hat-trick of tries as part of a 30 point haul as he starred alongside the likes of Celimpilo Gumede, Chris Barend Smit and SA under-20 lock JF van Heerden.
Also looking at home at this level was Merwe Olivier, the flanker who was all over the park while for Province Jonathan Roche looked class, as did the halfback pairing of Imad Khan and flyhalf Jurie Mathee.
Van der Walt opened the scoring with a penalty, but Mathee quickly negated that with a perfect drop goal that any flyhalf at Loftus Versfeld would be proud of.
But then the Bulls' mistakes crept in, a turnover ball led to Gary Porter crashing over from close range, before Bulls captain Nizaam Carr was yellow carded for a high shot.
In his absence the Bulls conceded twice from tries against the run of play - first it was a grubber by Mathee that beat the defence and which was kicked on by Wandisile Simelane to pounce and score.
Then another dropped ball was turned into attack and Khan took the last pass to score underneath the posts.
From being on attack, the Bulls suddenly were 27-3 down and looking as if they were out of sorts.
But somehow they picked themselves up and started to claw their way back.
It started when Van der Walt finished off a move that saw the ball move through several hands, and started by Smit to get them into double points just before the break.
At halftime they were 27-10 down.
GUMEDE SCCRES A BEAUTY
The Bulls emerged a very different team in the second half and were suddenly making gains on the front foot, and keeping the ball.
Gumede scored probably the try of the match as he picked the ball up at the ruck, darted forward and then faced with three defenders, wrong-footed one and then sprinted wide to pass the other two and score an amazing individual effort.
Francois Klopper went over from close range despite the attention of several Province defenders and Zak Burger darted through shortly afterwards to put the Bulls in the lead for the first time in the game.
Joe van Zyl stretched that lead at the back of a rolling maul before Province finally scored their first points of the second half after a sideline run by Angelo Davids tiptoed past the defenders.
With the clock ticking down, the result was still one score between the sides, but even though his first effort was disallowed as a try, Juann Else claimed his maiden Currie Cup try with his second attempt.
A late try on the final whistle by Van der Walt settled matters and the Bulls left comforted by a half century of points, and the knowledge they now sit three points clear at the top of the log.
WHAT A FIGHT ⚡️🐂#BackTheBulls | #DefendTheHerd pic.twitter.com/YNxf2TJo2A
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) July 27, 2024
SCORERS
Vodacom Blue Bulls - tries: Jaco van der Walt (3), Francois Klopper, Zak Burger, Joe van Zyl, Juann Else. Conversions: Van der Walt (6). Penalty: Van der Walt (1).
DHL Western Province - tries: Gary Porter, Wandisile Simelane, Imad Khan, Angelo Davids. Conversions: Jurie Mathee (4). Penalty: Mathee. Drop goal: Mathee