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Ivan van Zyl points down for his attempt (Gallo Images)
The Bulls’ media department called their team’s final Super Rugby Unlocked game against the Pumas “The Last Dance,” a valiant attempt to fix an event that was not really going to live up to expectations.
The Jake White defendants, who were confident of lifting the tournament trophy even before a ball was kicked in anger, duly claimed a 21-5 win at Loftus on Saturday, but that was the only highlight.
The home team had played good percentage-based rugby in the first 40 minutes, predominantly using their dominant group to establish a 21-0 cushion, which would eventually prove enough when their effort wore off.
Winger Kurt-Lee Arendse opened the scoring with a nifty dart from close range after the Bulls made good progress with an efficient line-out and patient phase play.
They kept things pragmatically tight five minutes later again, going into touch and dominating the collision area before a flat pass from influential scrum-half Ivan van Zyl to inside center Cornal Hendricks created momentum for Chris Smith.
The flyhalf, who got a first start in the absence of the experienced Morne Steyn, still did well to push his way between three defenders to score.
Power was on display during the Bulls’ third try, where a second push from their front row put the Cougars under pressure to a defensive scrum.
Effective phase play allowed Van Zyl to detect a gap and score.
However, as dominant and precise as the Bulls in the first half, so they were fractious after delivery.
They were on the back of the foot for the first ten minutes as the Lowvelders showed renewed intent, late out of the battle forward and putting their hosts’ defense under pressure.
They were rewarded with an attempted maul for the prostitute HP van Schoor.
But the Pumas failed to translate that into a comeback as the Bulls regained enough initiative without proving a major threat.
However, mentor Jimmy Stonehouse will be delighted with an improved defensive effort, illuminated by excellent breakdown work.
Meanwhile, the Bulls would have regretted a missed opportunity for the bonus point, but they can still look forward to a solid foundation in the Currie Cup, which begins next week.
Scorers:
Bulls – (21) 21
Attempts: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Chris Smith, Ivan van Zyl
Conversions: Smith (3)
Cougars – (0) 5
Test: HP van Schoor
