At last, the drought is over! The Bulls finally ended a four-match losing streak by thrashing Stade Francais 48-7 in their Champions Cup clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday to secure qualification for the Challenge Cup.
It has been a rough old few weeks for Jake White and his team, who recorded four consecutive defeats – against Saracens (27-5), Northampton (30-21), Sharks (20-17) and Castres (49-10) – across both the United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup.
But on the back of a dominant display in the scrums in particular, the Bulls scored seven tries to bring some cheer to the die-hard 10 369 Pretoria souls who baked in the hot stands – and those supporters would be wondering where this Bulls team has been over the last month or so.
The French visitors, fielding an under-strength side, were already feeling the heat and utilised umbrellas during the water break in the first half, and they were also drilled by the all-Springbok Bulls front row of Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw, who almost walked forward at times in the set-piece.
That gave the dynamic loose trio of Marcell Coetzee, Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom free reign with ball-in-hand, and they punched holes around the fringes and kept the defence busy.
Star French loose forward and Stade captain Sekou Macalou tried hard to stem the tide – and dotted down his team’s only try – but there was no stopping a rampant Bulls that were well marshalled by returning Bok lock Ruan Nortjé.
The hosts started their onslaught as early as the third minute when they were awarded a penalty try following a terrific break by fullback Devon Williams, before Embrose Papier’s pop pass to Sergeal Petersen was knocked down by Stade flyhalf Louis Carbonel, who also received a yellow card.
Papier ➡️ Williams ➡️ Gans ➡️ Petersen ➡️ Williams
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) January 18, 2025
It's starting to click for the Vodacom Bulls 🤌
📺 Stream #InvestecChampionsCup on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/XCVZ2Q6Uuk
Williams got his reward for some incisive running in the 13th minute, where he benefited from a classy grubber inside from Petersen.
Flyhalf Johan Goosen then sparked the third try when he booted a penalty from his own 22 to inside Stade’s red zone, and a penalty led to Papier taking a quick tap and darting over.
Macalou, who made a couple of commanding carries as usual, charged his way over to reduce the deficit to 14 points in the 24th minute, but it wasn’t long before Bulls No 4 Ruan Vermaak grabbed the four-try bonus point to end the match as a contest after 27 minutes.
Then it was just a matter of whether White’s team would be able to claim a winning margin of 22 points and prevent Stade from getting a four-try bonus point to secure their Challenge Cup berth, and they were able to do so in style.
As it stands for the Vodacom Bulls 👇
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) January 18, 2025
The men from Pretoria are close to breaking their losing streak 👀
📺 Stream #InvestecChampionsCup on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNho4A4 pic.twitter.com/oOn5piWz1K
Of concern, though, will be flyhalf Johan Goosen limping off on the half-hour mark and getting treatment on his left knee, with Boeta Chamberlain coming on as a replacement.
Elrigh Louw added the fifth try just before halftime from a trademark tap penalty move, and Chamberlain and Hanekom – who held off two defenders to score – added further touchdowns early in the second half to close out the result. | Independent Media Sport
Cameron Hanekom just doesn't have an off switch 😤🏉
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) January 18, 2025
📺 Stream #InvestecChampionsCup on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/0vIUSBcDqQ
Points-Scorers
Bulls 48 – Tries: Penalty Try, Devon Williams, Embrose Papier, Ruan Vermaak, Elrigh Louw, Boeta Chamberlain, Cameron Hanekom. Conversions: Johan Goosen (2), Chamberlain (2). Penalty: Chamberlain (1).
Stade Francais 7 – Try: Sekou Macalou. Conversion: Louis Carbonel (1).