Marcell Coetzee of Bulls during the United Rugby Championship match.
Image: BackpagePix
The Bulls did their United Rugby Championship playoff aspirations the world of good on Friday night when they overwhelmed the Dragons 47-7 in Bridgend to harvest five precious log points.
The Welshmen were in the fight in the first half, but the slow poison administered by the powerful Bulls pack took its toll in the second half, and then a Bomb Squad of Springboks ruthlessly finished the job.
The Bulls’ game plan of keeping it tight and not overplaying with their backs worked a treat as they scored seven tries to one.
Coach Johan Ackermann during the week had spoken of being on a “cup final footing,” and his players accordingly delivered a performance of intensity and clinical opportunity-taking.
Next week, the Bulls move across town in Wales to the 14th-placed Scarlets, who will know they are in for a torrid time from the sharply-focused men in blue. The Bulls are clearly a team on a mission.
The Bulls were brilliantly captained by veteran Marcell Coetzee, who led from the front. The 34-year-old made 14 carries and 11 tackles to be deservedly awarded the Player of the Match Award.
Not far behind Coetzee was lock Ruan Nortje. The lanky lock had spoken a week before of his painful decision to depart his beloved Bulls for a career change in Japan. He said he would give his all to the team until his departure at the end of the season, and his actions spoke even louder than his words.
The Bulls’ pack was on top from the first whistle, but tenacious tackling by the Dragons kept them in the game. The Bulls’ two first-half tries — by Embrose Papier and Johan Grobbelaar — were off the back of advancing lineout mauls, and the signs were there that the Dragons would fade in the second half.
And when the Bulls tightened up their game even more to allow the forwards to further their dominance, the floodgates opened.
Ackermann had brought on Marco van Staden as a hooker replacement, and he made a massive impact, scoring twice in quick succession, via unstoppable drives from close quarters.
The backline weighted in with two late tries —Devon Williams followed up a Willie le Roux chip to score, and Sergeal Petersen showed his Blitzboks skills by twisting out of a tackle and surging over the line.
Scorers
Bulls — Tries: Embrose Papier, Johan Grobbelaar, Marcell Coetzee, Marco van Staden (2), Devon Williams, Sergeal Petersen. Conversions: Handre Pollard (3), David Kriel (3).
Dragons — Try: Fine Inisi. Conversion: Cai Evans.