The Bulls got their URC campaign underway in the best possible way by thrashing Zebre in a ruthless display in Parma on Saturday night.
Last season’s finalists ran in seven tries including a penalty try as they demolished Zebre 47-13, to give the South African teams a clean sweep in round 1.
The hosts controlled much of the opening 20 minutes, with the Bulls struggling to build any attacking rhythm as handling errors repeatedly disrupted their attempts to play with ball in hand.
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Zebre opened the scoring through fullback Tommaso Allan, who converted a 13th-minute penalty, before the Bulls were handed a major opportunity when lock Matteo Canali was yellow-carded for illegally stopping a maul.
The Bulls were awarded a penalty try in the 26th minute which seemingly turned the momentum in their favour. Allan brought the hosts back within a point with another penalty shortly afterwards, but the Bulls began to find their rhythm.
Lock Reinhardt Ludwig then powered over for the Bulls’ second try in the 31st minute, with Curwin Bosch adding the conversion to put the visitors 14-6 ahead.
The Vodacom Bulls are starting to click into gear
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The Bulls continued to apply pressure and were rewarded again just before the break when scrumhalf Paul de Wet intercepted a wayward pass and ran over 40 metres to score. Bosch converted once more to give the Pretoria side a 21-6 advantage at half time.
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It was one-way traffic after the break as Ruan Vermaak and Harold Vorster dotted down to stretch the Bulls’ advantage. Bosch remained perfect off the kicking tee, converting both tries. As play entered the final quarter, there was finally something for the Zebre supporters to cheer about.
Captain Allessandro Fusco stepped his way over the line for Zebre’s first try of the night. Allan made no mistake with the conversion to give the hosts a glimmer of hope. The Bulls continued pounding away at the Zebre line in the dying minutes, and were rewarded when Ludwig crashed over for his second of the night and replacement wing Zak Burger diving over in the corner to seal an accomplished performance on the road for Johan Ackermann’s team.
The Bulls now travel to Limerick where they’ll take on Munster next Saturday.
ZEBRE – Try: Allessandro Fusco. Conversion: Tommaso Allan. Penalties: Allan (2).
BULLS – Tries: Penalty Try, Reinhardt Ludwig (2), Paul de Wet, Ruan Vermaak, Harold Vorster, Zak Burger. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (4), Willie le Roux.
Photo: Bulls
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The Bulls got their URC campaign underway in the best possible way by thrashing Zebre in a ruthless display in Parma on Saturday night.
The post Rampant Bulls complete Italian job in Parma appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
