| Bulls (31) |
| Tries: Moodie, Coetzee 2, Brink, Grobbelaar 2, Louw, Nortje, Hunt Cons:Smith 5, Steyn |
| Scarlets (7) 12 |
| Tries: Kalamafoni, R Evans Con: Patchell |
Scarlets were defeated 57-12 in Pretoria by Bulls. They won in nine attempts for a narrow victory.
Johannes Grobbelaar, a hooker, and number eight MarcellCoetzee crossed the road twice each in mostly one way traffic. Sione Calamafoni (late in either half) and Rob Evans (late in the other half) replied.
Bulls’ speed and power at altitude was unmatched by the depleted visitors.
Bulls moved up to sixth place in the table, while Scarlets are currently at number four in the table. Scarlets won four games from 11 during a stop-start campaign.
Canan Modie, former Ulster player Coetzee (ex-Ulster player Coetzee), Cyle Bik, Grobbelaar, Elrigh Louw and Cyle Brink all scored first-half tries to give the home team a 31-7 lead at intermission. Rob Hunt, Ruan Notje, Grobbelaar, Coetzee and Coetzee turned the screw during the second period. Chris Smith converted five goals and Morne Stewart one.
Scarlets were defeated 37-20 by Sharks seven day earlier. They had to return to South Africa for the fixture after being trapped by a Covid-19 epidemic in November and December.
The Bulls didn’t suffer from the three-game streak of seven games they played, and struck just 80 seconds after Louw’s attack on a scrum gave way to Moodie.
Full-back Kurt Lee Arendse was unable to make a remarkable attempt for a forward pass. Tourists were relieved, however, when another lightning move down the right ended in Captain Coetzee plowing over.
Aaron Shingler, Scarlets flanker, was removed with a knee injury in 12 minutes. After that, the contest was one-sided with flanker Brink scoring close-range attempts to make it 24-0 within 25 minutes. Grobbelaar scored the bonus point.
Louw continued to be a force for the Bulls as he powered over at the half-hour mark. Before the visitors managed to mount an attack, Ryan Conbeer was halted just short of the goal and replacement Kalamafoni ran over to Patchell to convert.
Welsh hopes of matching Munster’s heroic comeback against Bulls last week were crushed in the first minute and a half of the second period when full-back Ioan Nick was sin-binned after he attempted an aerial challenge on Tambwe.
Bulls raised the bar with a spectacular interception by Nortje, a giant lock who picked up a Dane Blacker pass. Grobbelaar completed a brilliant team attempt from deep.
Both teams had to use replacements on the soft surface, but the Bulls were able to close the game with a flourish thanks to late efforts by Hunt and Coetzee. Evans was unable make the last move of his comeback.
The match was a strong reminder of the potential title challenge from the Southern Hemisphere with South African sides now being able to stage home matches.
Bulls: Kurt-Lee Arendse; Canan Moodie, Cornal Hendricks, Harold Vorster, Madosh Tambwe; Chris Smith, Zak Burger; Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Jacques van Rooyen, Walt Steenkamp, Ruan Nortje, Marcell Coetzee (capt), Cyle Brink, Elrigh Louw.
Replacements: Joe van Zyl, Simphiwe Matanzima, Robert Hunt, Reinhardt Ludwig, Arno Botha, Keagan Johannes, Morne Steyn, Lionel Mapoe.
Scarlets:Ioan Nicholas, Steff Evans; Johnny Williams, Scott Williams (capt), Ryan Conbeer, Ryan Conbeer, Dane Blacker, Rhys Patchell; Kemsley Mathias; Javan Sebastian; Sam Lousi; Jac Price; Aaron Shingler; Tomas Lezana; Blade Thomson
Replacements:Shaun Evans and Rob Evans, Harri Owen, Morgan Jones, Sione Kafoni, Archie Hughes and Sam Costelow, Joe Roberts.
Referee:Chris Busby (IRFU).
Assistants: Cwengile Jadezweni & Griffon Colby (SARU)
TMO:Sam Grove-White (SRU).