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Bulls youngsters secure top spot

rugby06 January 2021 16:38| © SuperSport
By:Brenden Nel
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Embrose Papier © Gallo Images

The Vodacom Bulls secured top spot in the Carling Currie Cup with a clinical 22-15 win over the Xerox Lions at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.

The Bulls took the top spot with a game to spare, and will complete their fixtures this weekend against the Phakisa Pumas in Nelspruit on Sunday, but the match will serve as a massive confidence boost for Jake White’s side.

With a number of players not available due to Covid, the Bulls fielded a young and inexperienced side, and while they initially struggled in the scrums and went down 9-0 after the opening quarter, it was the same young players who showed grit and determination to rally back and secure the victory against a Lions side that was building momentum before the game.

The result is that the Bulls will host the Lions again in the semifinal in a week’s time, and will probably field a much stronger line-up for that game.

The most relieved person in the competition though would probably be WP coach John Dobson, whose team secured a home semifinal thanks to the result and will host the Sharks in the other semi after the league game between the two sides was called off because of Covid positive tests.

Still, the Bulls will treasure this game, initially postponed because of the virus, and rescheduled midweek to allow the fixture to go ahead, and will know that their young stars stood up and were counted.

While the old hands such as Duane Vermeulen were always going to stand out, the youngsters in Stravino Jacobs, David Kriel, Jay-Cee Nell and Marnus Potgieter all played their part in the victory.

Flyhalf Chris Smith was rock solid and the pack, with Ruan Nortje growing in every game, held their own.

But it wasn’t plain sailing for the Bulls in the opening stanza, as the Lions enjoyed the bulk of possession and territory, and their scrum made the Bulls setpiece look weak.

While both sides enjoyed some leeway from the officials in this part of the game, the opening three scrums led to three penalties by Tiaan Swanepoel, who opened up the 9 point lead for the Lions early on.

The Bulls started turning the tide when Trevor Nyakane won a penalty back that Smith slotted, and slowly they started regaining confidence and chipping away at the lead. Three points doubled, and Smith made no mistake with every chance he got.

By the end of the first half the Bulls held a narrow 12-9 lead, which would have had the Lions coaches shaking their heads given their early dominance.

The Bulls put down the hammer early in the second half, and Vermeulen popped a pass from a scrum close to the line to Embrose Papier, who darted and reached to score, taking his team into a commanding 10 point lead.

But the Lions weren’t done, and Swanepoel pulled back two more penalties to give them hope.

Replacement flyhalf Morne Steyn sealed the match five minutes out with a penalty of his own, and the Lions, try as they might, could not break the Bulls resolute defence.

There was enough to give the Lions hope for the semi, but considering the Bulls selection policy, it is obviously White who would be smiling a lot more as the semis were decided.

 

VODACOM BULLS – try : Embrose Papier. Conversion: Chris Smith. Penalties: Smith (4), Morne Steyn.

XEROX LIONS – penalties: Tiaan Swanepoel (5)

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