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the The bulls faced the sharks in the only Super Rugby game unlocked on Saturday after the cancellation of the early game between the Lions and the Cheetahs.
Super Rugby Unlocked: Bulls vs Sharks – team news
The Sharks welcomed back in shape Springboks wing Sbu Nkosi to their starting lineup for their third-round clash with the Vodacom Bulls.
Nkosi, a member of the Springboks Rugby World Cup winning team, started in place of JP Pietersen. Up front, Kerron van Vuuren (hooker) and Henco Venter (loose forward), both fit to play again, are ready to come off the bench, along with Yaw Penxe, who is on loan from the Southern Kings.
Big Marcel van der Merwe has his first outing at Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked since returning to Pretoria from France earlier this year.
Bulls Rugby Director Jake White has made some changes to his squad for this clash after his narrow loss to the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein last weekend.
Up front, Van der Merwe and Elrigh Louw replace Trevor Nyakane and Arno Botha respectively, while White also made a number of changes to the Vodacom Bulls’ baseline, adding some rhythm and excitement to their rear division. .
Super Rugby Unlocked: Bulls 41-14 Sharks – Relive the Action
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Super Rugby Unlocked: Bulls 41-14 Sharks
This game was always likely to be decided by the smallest errors and in the first half it was the Bulls who took the greatest advantage.
Curwin Bosch gave the Sharks the lead off the tee after Morne Steyn missed an early shot on target.
Steyn would eventually put the Bulls on the board, but not before they rejected an objective kick to set up a lineout only to be repelled by the Sharks.
The Bulls Flyhalf tied the score in the 19th minute of the game, but shortly after the Bulls infringed and Bosch made it 6-3.
But the complexion of the game changed when a brilliant piece by Stedman Gans broke through the Sharks’ determined defense. He fought his way through the Sharks, hitting three men before diving for the first try.
Then there was a deft attacking game as Ivan Zyl shot and unloaded Louw before putting Marco van Staden on the try under the sticks.
Bosch closed the gap to 17-9 with another penalty goal five minutes before halftime, but the Sharks desperately needed to find a way to mount an offense.
Halftime
After the break, the Bulls continued to do well on the balls and would score early in the second half.
The Bulls moved in to allow Marco van Staden to score his second and extend their lead to 15 points.
The Sharks finally mounted an offense shortly thereafter and Dylan Richardson would take over after a succession of penalties.
However, the Bulls showed better execution and scored great team attempts like the one that seemed to end the game just before the hour.
Steyn found Arendse with a starter, then set up Gans with a slick volley after eliminating two defenders.
The Bulls then repelled multiple attacks from the Sharks without damaging the scoreboard and the visitors appeared to lose heart with 15 minutes to go.
The home team effectively enforced the choke and kept the game in the Sharks half until the game was beyond the visitors.
The Bulls got muscular for a fifth try scored by Marco Janse van Vuuren.
In the later stages of the game, many players were concerned that a storm was coming.
The Bulls scored after the horn with the Sharks rolling the dice again, but the Bulls’ Embrose Papier read the play and ran to score, making it 41-14.
Super Rugby Unlocked: Teams
Bulls
15 David Kriel, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje , 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Replacements: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Marco Jansen van Vuren.
Sharks
15 Manie Libbok, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Marius Louw, 11 Werner Kok, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Phepsi Buthelezi, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Jeremy Ward, 23 Yaw Penxe.
Super Rugby Rankings Unlocked
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