Springbok winger Canan Moodie scored a brace and the Vodacom Bulls forwards put on a masterclass as they outshined the Emirates Lions, winning the return Vodacom United Rugby Championship Jukskei Derby 31-19 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
In many ways the Lions will be kicking themselves as they allowed the Bulls to dictate matters for most of the match, and were never in the lead for the entire 80 minutes in a game that went almost according to plan for Jake White.
The Bulls scored three early tries to lead 17-0, before a yellow card to Stedman Gans became very costly, allowing the Lions to claw back to 17-14 at the break. The second half, though, belonged to the Bulls as they powered their way to the bonus point win.
So, are the Bulls back on track? All indications would say yes, but they once again suffered from a late game hysterics where they were once again warned for over-talking to the referee, with the Lions having two tries disallowed late in the game that could have changed the complexion of it all.
Yet on the face of the entire 80 minutes you would say they actually did. After the disappointment of the way they lost to the Sharks, White said they would rectify some things and they certainly did.
It is always difficult on the face of it to decide if the opposition were played into submission, or if the Bulls were that good. But while they did have their flaws, and the late game slump still seems to be one of them, they were incredible up front, even missing players of the likes of Ruan Nortje, Elrigh Louw, Cameron Hanekom and Marcell Coetzee.
The scrum was, as has become their custom, simply unstoppable, milking penalty after penalty almost at will as they dominated the setpiece.
PHYSICAL BATTERING
But it was in the forward exchanges, the physical battering that the Lions took up front will be something they will remember for a long time. Marco van Staden, captain Reinhardt Ludwig and hooker Johan Grobbelaar stood out, but it was the impressive presence of Cobus Wiese and JF van Heerden that raised eyebrows. Wiese on his return showed just what the pack has been missing while Van Heerden continues to grow into a top class international player.
That being said, the other topic of the week - the flyhalf role of Willie le Roux - was also left moot after a forward performance that set the backline up to revel in attacking ball. Le Roux, ever the magician and in circumstances where he can exploit defences, was a maestro at times, commanding his orchestra of runners, ensuring the Bulls stayed on the front foot.
The introduction of Sebastian de Klerk remedied the lack of pace the Bulls had, but it was the midfield dreadlocks of Stedman Gans that were by far the biggest backline bonus for the Bulls. Gans has had little opportunity this season with injury, but his burst of pace and elusive running in the backline made any ball he got a nightmare for the Lions.
LIONS DANGEROUS BUT NOT CLINICAL
It wasn’t to say that the Lions weren’t dangerous. The Bulls coughed up enough broken field for them to run with, and at times they looked like they were going to steal the game away. Yet for the most part they were exactly what you would expect from this Lions side. Dangerous with ball in hand, yet not clinical enough to trouble a top class defence.
The Lions continue to be a conundrum. They have so much attacking ability but when it matters most they can’t seem to beat the bigger sides. The same coaching team has been at Ellis Park for a while now, so surely doing the same thing over and over again is not solving the problem? Perhaps a new approach is needed at some point.
That isn’t saying the Lions are out of it. But this loss means their road to the top eight is a lot tougher, and if they can’t win at least one of their next two derbies against the Sharks, it may be they say goodbye to the hopes of a top eight in totality.
Either way the trip down the N1 will leave much food for thought as their tests aren’t going to get much easier as the tournament heads to the business end.
GANS BREAK STARTED BULLS RUN
Back to the game though, and it wasn’t a surprise when Gans broke his first tackle, got the first line break that would ultimately lead to Moodie’s first try.
The recycled ball was sent wide to the Bok winger, but he still had a lot to do. Dancing inward from the touchline, he twisted and turned his way past two tackles to go over with two more on his shoulder to score.
Le Roux stepped in on the next attack, taking the ball and slipping between two front row players with ease to run in untouched, while the third showed who dares wins as Devon Williams eased into a linebreak, chipped ahead and watched as De Klerk beat two Lions defenders to poach the bouncing ball out of their hands and score.
At 17-0 it looked as if the Bulls would run away with it. But the first Lions attack saw Henco van Wyk quick tap a penalty and Gans tackled him within 10 metres, ultimately going over as the midfielder scored.
The indiscretion cost Gans a yellow and a few minutes later PJ Botha had powered his way over the line to narrow the scoreline to three points.
The Bulls had a chance on the stroke of halftime, but television evidence didn’t support Celimpilo Gumede going over from close range. What did happen though was fullback Quan Horn was given a yellow for a professional foul close to the tryline with the preceding attack.
The Bulls exploited that early in the second half as Le Roux drew the defence and the backline hands put it into Moodie’s grasp to run in untouched for his second.
Ten minutes later the Bulls sealed the game with Marco van Staden going over from close range after a brutal tap and go penalty by the Bulls forwards.
LIONS HAD TWO TRIES DISALLOWED
The Lions replied three times, although only one counted when Richard Kriel went in at the corner.
But it never seemed as if they had the confidence and killer blow to make the Bulls sweat.
As the game wound down, it was the same result as the previous derby. The Bulls took all five points on offer and the Lions were kicking themselves for chances missed.
Scorers
Vodacom Bulls - tries: Canan Moodie (2), Willie le Roux, Sebastian de Klerk, Marco van Staden. Conversions: David Kriel (3).
Emirates Lions - tries: Henco van Wyk, PJ Botha, Richard Kriel. Conversions: Gianni Lombard (2)