A sensational three-try performance from winger Cheswill Jooste set the tone at Loftus as the Bulls swamped Stade Français to kick off their Investec Champions Cup run in style.
Adding lethal pace to the Bulls’ suffocating power game, Jooste provided the standout moments in a 56-20 victory on a sweltering afternoon.
Stade Français, who left 18 regulars behind in Paris, fielded a patchwork side that simply had no answers for Jooste’s finishing or the physical barrage from the home pack.
The Bulls scored eight tries and flyhalf Handré Pollard completed a full house of conversions in an uneven performance.
The Bulls were seldom troubled as they dominated both territory and possession, but they were often impatient and over wrought. They could have been out of sight at half-time, but two disallowed first half tries and several squandered opportunities pointed to what might have been.
Their bright start – Jooste scored after just 20 seconds – suggested the Bulls were in the mood, but they made hard work of their chances.
If you blink, you’ll miss it
Harold Voster and Cheswill Jooste cook up a storm inside 20 seconds
Stream #InvestecChampionsCup DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw https://t.co/YZmfEIDpu3
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) October 17, 2026
Their attack was often lateral, but when they rumbled from up close, they had success. Both No 8 Cameron Hanekom and lock Cobus Wiese scored after close-quarter pressure.
Stade Français had their chances, but lacked the required attacking edge. They scored a pair of tries through their forwards, but there was little of the instinctive flair so often associated with French teams.
At one point the visitors moved into range at 28-20 down at around the hour mark, but a wonderful moment of skill by replacement loose forward Jeandré Rudolph finally sealed the deal.
If his chip over winger Aisake Nawaqadrua was cheeky, his follow up kick was masterful, putting him into position to collect and score and put daylight between the sides.
Opening round and there’s an early contender for Try of the Season
Jeandre Rudolph gets Loftus on its feet
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) October 17, 2026
From there the Bulls rumbled in the style of old.
Hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels scored a fine try, collecting a Willie le Roux cross-kick to touch down, and then Jooste crossed for two more tries to add shine to a mostly workaday performance.
BULLS – Tries: Cheswill Jooste (3), Cobus Wiese, Cameron Hanekom, Marco van Staden, Jeandré Rudolph, Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Conversions: Handré Pollard (8).
STADE FRANÇAIS – Tries: Jacques Botha, Petero Mailulu. Conversions: Louis Foursans-Bourdette (2). Penalties: Ihaia West, Foursans-Bourdette.
Photo: Alche Greeff/Gallo Images
The post Jooste hat-trick fires Bulls to flying start appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
A sensational three-try performance from winger Cheswill Jooste set the tone at Loftus as the Bulls swamped Stade Français to kick off their Investec Champions Cup run in style.
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