Bulls rack up eight tries but rue missed opportunities in dominant display

Handré Pollard’s match kick-off was won back immediately, and 20 seconds later, leftwing Cheswill Jooste scored the Bulls’ first try in their Champions Cup tournament opener against Stade Francais yesterday.

The Bulls won 56-20.

Stade Francais are traditionally one of France’s big-name clubs, but the match 23 that paraded in the delightful pink colours that scream Parisian lacked pedigree.

Just six of the match-day 23 — three starters and three on the bench — played Montpellier in the Top 14 a week ago.

The Bulls, mindful that home game wins are a must in the group stages, picked a potent match 23, including former Sharks sensation and current South Africa’s under-20 fullback Luan Giliomee.

It was the young No 15, slotting in at No 10 from phase play, who sparked the early fluency that led to Jooste’s score, which is second by three seconds to the tournament’s fastest ever five-pointer.

This 17-second record belongs to Clermont’s Fijian international winger Napolioni Nalaga against the Scarlets in 2013.

Rightwing Sebastian de Klerk was denied an equally impressive five-pointer by inches after a spectacular 50m chase from one of Pollard’s pinpoint cross kicks.

Bulls remained dominant

The Bulls, having won a penalty from their first scrum feed in the fourth minute, remained dominant. However, in the searing Pretoria heat — where temperatures reached 32°C when the game started at 2pm — it required calm from the Bulls to avoid being lulled into a free-flowing touch rugby exhibition.

Unfortunately, for the hosts, the composure wasn’t always there in the opening quarter. The biggest surprise was the makeshift Stade line-up limiting the damage to just two converted Bulls tries when the first water break was called after 20 minutes.

Stade’s previous visit to Loftus was a one-sided whipping, with the Bulls winning 48-7. And when the team line-ups were announced for this season’s fixture, it did not need hindsight to expect a similar result.

Giliomee, who relocated from the Sharks a fortnight ago, was comfortable at fullback, and outside centre Sango Xamlashe showed intent in wanting to have a go.

The Bulls, willing to attack from the turnover ball, were enthusiastic with the ball in hand but inaccurate in execution and decision-making.

They scored eight tries but butchered as many. They averaged less than three points for each of their 22m red-zone entries.

Early afternoon kick-offs

Impatience when on the ball was the Bulls’ biggest opponent, and, throughout the match, it proved to be a difficult customer to counter.

These early afternoon kick-offs sap the energy, but they also test the minds when play becomes too easy.

The Bulls’ set piece is a weapon, and they had to be disciplined to keep reminding themselves that even in these one-sided matchups it makes sense to attack from the set piece.

It is easier said than done.

Bulls No 8 Cameron Hanekom got the third try a few minutes before half time to extend the lead to 21-6, and the Bulls had two tries disallowed after the Television Match Official (TMP) intervened.

Once again, the TMO intrusions were longer than the water break.

The second half followed a similar pattern, which was particularly frustrating for the Bulls supporters.

The hosts had the early momentum, all the field position and conceded the first try, ironically to the 19-year-old former Monument High and Lions under-18 lock, Jacques Botha, who weighs 128kg and is 2.02m tall.

Four late Bulls tries, two to Jooste and a fine effort to replacement loose-forward Jeandre Rudolph, ensured a try-scoring bonus point, with the new rules rewarding teams who score three more tries and not just four tries.