Get Newsletter

Bulls smash sloppy Griquas

The Bulls outscored Griquas by eight tries to two to moved into second place on the standings – even though the Sharks have a chance to overtake them on Saturday.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Bulls outscored Griquas by eight tries to two to moved into second place on the standings – even though the Sharks have a chance to overtake them on Saturday.

After 10 minutes, Griquas led 10-0 and looked competitive. After 70 more playing minutes the final whistle went and the score was 57-20 to the Blue Bulls. Griquas were well and truly beaten.

They scored their first try after six minutes, their second a playing hour later.

When the Blue Bulls grabbed control they did so with unrelenting intensity and speed. From 15 to 1 they looked a great side.

The mascot that dashed out onto the field was a blue bull with fire shooting from his horns, presaging, it seems, what was to come.

There was silence while all at Loftus paid respects to Tiaan Joubert, a centre for the Blue Bulls who died of a heart attack last Saturday at just 42 years of age.

ADVERTISEMENT

Initially the Blue Bulls were subdued and when RG Snyman failed to hold onto a pass, Johnathan Francke grabbed the ball, steeped twice and gave to Elgar Watts on his left. With Ashaun Bock outside of him, Watts hoofed the ball more than 60 metres downfield with Bock leading the chase for the ball, which sat up obediently for a try to start the scoring. Clinton Swart converted and then, when the Blue Bulls backs were offside at the line-out, the sturdy inside centre goaled from the half-way line, and Griquas leg 10-0 after 10 minutes. Griquas attacked from inside their own 22 as they looked the livelier of the two teams but then the Blue Bulls grabbed the ball and settled down to win the match.

The Blue Bulls went through 10 advancing phases till flank Nic de Jager scored. 10-7 after 16 minutes.

Back the Blue Bulls came into the Griqua 22. Jaco Visagie threw in to Marvin Orie at a line-out. In line-outs before this the Blue Bulls had mauled. This time  Piet van Zyl gave to Visagie who passed to Tiaan Schoeman who immediately passed inside to Jamba Ulengo who went easily through, untouched, to score at the posts, and after 20 minutes the Blue Bulls led 14-0. From now on the kept increasing their lead.

When Griquas overthrew a line-out, Van Zyl got it and sped many metres down the middle of the field. When he was stopped the Blue Bulls went wide right where Snyman stretched and placed the ball on the line for the try. 21-10 after 25 minutes.

ADVERTISEMENT

After hitting the upright with a penalty Swart goaled one when Orie was penalised at a tackle. 21-13 after 31 minutes, not an embarrassing situation but cracks were certainly starting to show while the Blue Bulls tackled with harsh efficiency.

When Mzwanele Zito was penalised for a 'grasscutter' tackle – armless with shoulders into shins, he was sent to the sin bin and Schoeman made the half-time score 24-13.

Less than a minute of the second half had gone when Snyman won a turnover at a tackle on Bock and gave to Dries Swanepoel who gave to Van Zyl who stepped and raced away for a try in the right corner. 29-13.

Ulrich Beyers went over soon afterwards but at the 'clean-out, Snyman was seen to attack Bock with a swinging arm to the face. The try was cancelled and Snyman had a chance to sit out in the sin bin.

Griquas were freekicked at a scrum. Van Zyl tapped and gave to Schoeman who had three fairly close together on his left. He picked the third and Beyers sped clean through the gap for a try under the posts. 36-13 after 54 minutes.

Griquas were penalised twice in quick succession. Van Zyl tapped the second time and managed to get over near the posts, 43-13 after 59 minutes.

Griquas got some ball and – alleluia – scored a try. Renier Botha, the substitute scrumhalf, tapped, ran down the left and gave to substitute Wandile Putuma who wandered over for a try which Swart converted. 43-20 with 15 minutes to go.

When Blue Bulls handling went awry André Swart went on a long run and Griquas were in foreign territory inside the Blue Bulls 22. They threw in at a line-out, the ball bobbed about and Snyman grabbed it. Away he raced, a magnificent sight, till brave André Swart dived to tackle him at this flaying boots at the Griqua 22. The Blue Bulls went wide left but were held up over the goal-line thus producing a five metre scrum. The Blue Bulls pushed the Griquas back at speed, the scrum disintegrated and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try. 50-20 with 7 minutes to play.

The Blue Bulls forwards  forced a turnover, the final siren sounded and Bjorn Basson went racing down the left wing. He beat two defenders, mostly with strength, and scored in the left corner. Schoeman converted from touch and the final whistle went at 57-20.

Man of the Match: There were several Blue Bulls, especially Piet van Zyl, creative and efficient, and loosehead Pierre Schoeman with his storming runs, destructive scrummaging, strong tackles and force at the breakdown. By a tiny margin we chose Pierre Schoeman who first played for the Blue Bulls as a twenty-year old in 2014.

The scorers:

For the Blue Bulls:

Tries:Basson, Beyers, De Jager, Snyman, Ulengo, Van Zyl 2, Penalty try

Cons: Schoeman 7

Pen: Pen

For Griquas:

Tries: Bock, Putuma

Cons: Swart 2

Pens: Swart 2

Yellow cards: Mzwanele Zito (Griquas, 37 – foul play, dangerous tackle), Rudolph Snyman (Blue Bulls, 46 – foul play, swinging arm to the neck)

Teams:

Blue Bulls: 15 Ulrich Beyers, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Hanro Liebenberg (captain), 7 Nic de Jager, 6 Roelof Smit, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rudolph Snyman, 3 Martin Dreyer, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Pierre Schoeman.

Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Jon-Roy Jenkinson, 18 Jason Jenkins, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 André Warner, 21 Joshua Stander, 22 Bjorn Basson.

Griquas: 15 Adriaan Coertzen (captain), 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Johnathan Francke, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Alshaun Bock, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Rudi van Rooyen, 8 Jason Fraser, 7 Sias Koen, 6 Wendal Wehr, 5 Jonathan Janse van Rensburg, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Stephan Kotze , 2 Abraham le Roux, 1 Liam Hendricks.

Replacements: 16 Marius Fourie, 17 Devon Martinus, 18 Wandile Putuma, 19 Jonathan Adendorf, 20 Renier Botha, 21 André Swart, 22 Eric Zana.

Referee: Quinton Immelman

Assistant referees: Stephan Geldenhuys, Jaco Pretorius

TMO: Johan Greeff

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Write A Comment