The Vodacom Bulls snapped a seven-match losing streak by beating Pau in Friday night’s Investec Champions Cup clash at the Stade du Hameau.
The 26-24 bonus-point win moved Johan Ackermann’s team up to fourth in Pool 3 on seven points, ahead of Pau (five) and the Scarlets (two).
The Scarlets face the already-qualified Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday, with only a bonus-point win for the visitors enough to deny the Bulls a place in the round of 16.
It was the Bulls who made a promising start to their final pool match, rewarded when loose forward Mpilo Gumede crashed over in the corner after just three minutes. The try came from a turnover and then a beautiful skip-pass from hooker Akker van der Merwe that set Gumede up for the five-pointer. Handre Pollard couldn’t convert.
The try seemingly spurred Pau into life, as they starting stringing some good phases together. Their set-piece was strong and it produced a maul try courtesy of hooker Youri Delhommel.
The Bulls lost fluidity and made some costly errors. Pollard failed to kick a penalty into touch which would’ve set them up to strike from the lineout, and he also fired a bad pass to centre Harold Vorster, which then led to another turnover from a promising position.
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At the 30-minute mark, the Bulls breached Pau’s line once again as Van der Merwe powered over the line from a maul. Pollard was successful with the conversion.
But the hosts again turned on the intensity, which led to tries by lock Jimi Maximin and a second of the night for Delhommel. The Bulls ended the half with 14 men after lock Reinhardt Ludwig was yellow-carded for repeat infringements.
Conditions worsened in the second half and prevented either team from getting into any rhythm, but it was Pau who again took advantage of ill-discipline from the Bulls, replacement flyhalf Thomas Souverbie kicking a penalty for a 24-12 lead.
But two moments of brilliance – first from outside centre Sebastian de Klerk and then winger Cheswill Jooste – led to the Bulls’ third try.
The Vodacom Bulls create a try out of nothing
Cheswill Jooste brings the visitors right back into this match with just over 10 minutes to play
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The Bulls seemed to find an extra gear and in the 73rd minute No 8 Nizaam Carr burrowed over for the bonus-point try.
Pau finished strongly, taking the ball through 18 phases before, with the clock in the red, Bulls replacement loose forward Jeandre Rudolph won a breakdown penalty.
PAU – Tries: Youri Delhommel (2), Jimi Maximin. Conversions: Cameron Mondimat, Thomas Souverbie (2). Penalty: Souverbie.
BULLS – Tries: Mpilo Gumede, Akker van der Merwe, Cheswill Jooste, Nizaam Carr. Conversions: Handre Pollard (3).
Photo: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
The post Bulls pip Pau to boost playoff hopes appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Vodacom Bulls snapped a seven-match losing streak by beating Pau in Friday night’s Investec Champions Cup clash at the Stade du Hameau.
The post Bulls pip Pau to boost playoff hopes appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
