Africa-Press – South-Africa. It was far from comfortable after a roaring start, but Jake White’s perceived selection gamble ultimately paid off with a 42-36 bonus-point win for the Bulls over France’s Lyon in their European Championship Cup debut at Loftus on Saturday.
FT | Bulls 42-36 Lyon
It was a thrilling clash that ended with Lyon throwing everything at a scrambling Bulls defence six minutes after the full-time hooter had sounded in search of what would have been an epic comeback, but somehow the Bulls held on.
White would never refer to his selection as a gamble – he backed Springbok veterans Bismarck du Plessis, Morne Steyn and a host of fringe United Rugby Championship players – and that stance was ultimately proved right as the Bulls ran out to a 28-0 lead inside the opening 25 minutes.
The Bulls looked to be home and dry at that early stage, but a Lyon fightback saw the scoreline reduced to 28-12 at the break and when the visitors scored two early second-half tries – either side of one from Stravino Jacobs – the score suddenly read 35-26 and, with 30 minutes to play, the Bulls had a lot to do.
Former Bulls stalwart Arno Botha scored two tries in Lyon’s comeback, but in the end the French outfit could not recover from that early Bulls blitz.
A side historically pigeonholed as being forwards-driven with an emphasis on out-of-hand kicking, the Bulls were full of energy and expansive intent in that opening 30 minutes.
Scrumhalf Bernard van der Linde, a perfect example of a player outside of the ‘A-team’ conversation, used this chance brilliantly and was a livewire from the base of rucks and from open play.
He scored two tries – one the result of a superbly-executed dummy and snipe that wrong-footed everyone – after wing Sibongile Novuka had started the night with a wonderful finish.
Nizaam Carr, meanwhile, scored the fourth try for the Bulls after he crashed over with big physicality that could not be stopped.
After Lyon had fought back in a frantic opening 50 minutes that had seen nine tries scored, they then knocked over a penalty on 62 minutes through fullback Leo Berdeu that narrowed it down to 35-29, and the Bulls at that point knew that they would have to deliver a clinical final quarter for their early dominance to prove enough.
If there were ever any nerves, they quickly received the right injection of calm as the Bulls struck next.
Carr was instrumental once more as the Lyon defence allowed the Bulls an abundance of running space. His pass found substitute Chris Smith, who had far too much momentum for the Lyon goal-line tacklers, and when Steyn knocked over his sixth straight conversion of the night, the Bulls had a 42-29 lead that looked a lot more comfortable.
Lyon, though, would not go away.
Wallaby Kyle Godwin’s kick ahead and gather allowed him to score his side’s fifth try, and when the conversion went sailing over from the right touchline, it was 42-36 with everything on the line.
Lyon finished strongest and had two rolling maul efforts five metres out from the Bulls line, but the hosts held on.
The Bulls will now turn their attention to Exeter Chiefs, away, in next weekend’s round of Champions Cup competition.
Scorers:
Bulls 42 (28)
Tries: Sibongile Novuka, Bernard van der Linde (2), Nizaam Carr, Stravino Jacobs, Chris Smith
Conversions: Morne Steyn (6)
Lyon 36 (12)
Tries: Arno Botha (2), Liam Coltman, Ethan Dumortier, Kyle Godwin
Conversions: Leo Berdeu (4)
Penalty: Berdeu
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