In direct contrast to some of South Africa’s other Super Rugby franchises, the Bulls showed very few signs of rust when they raced to an impressive 68-5 victory over an invitational Premier XV side at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday evening.

Article from Supersport and Bulls Official Website

The invitational side consisted of regular members of the Mpumalanga-based Pumas who beat the Blue Bulls at the same stadium during the Currie Cup.

The Bulls’ only new acquisition for the season, former Griquas wing Bjorn Basson, scored a hat-trick on debut while most of the other regulars in the team performed well in their first outing of the year.

It took Basson only five minutes to score his first try and he could not have asked for an easier finish as the Premier XV’s defence was already stretched.

The home side came back with some aggression and, subsequently, enjoyed a brief stay in Bulls’ territory but, instead of taking the three points on offer, they attempted to get past the opposition’s intimidating defence.

Even without line-out specialist Victor Matfield in the squad, the Super 14 champions looked in control of most set pieces.

Lock Danie Rossouw turned the ball over from the defensive line-out and a rejuvenated Bakkies Botha carried the ball right up to the 10 metre line.

With the hosts struggling to hold onto the ball in contact, the Bulls continued to exercise their superiority.

Pierre Spies scored the second try of the match from the first rolling maul near the opposition’s line and, from that point onwards, the Premier XV had very few chances to attack.

Spies, a contact-hungry Botha and the ever-impressive Fourie Du Preez were the stand-out players for the Bulls.

Du Preez, who was out of the action for more than eight months, looked his normal self again and regulated play like only he can.

And through his great vision, the men in blue managed to cross the white-wash a further three times before the halftime break.

Spies scored his second try, probing the Premier defence from the side of a ruck five metres out.

Morne Steyn slipped through the centre for his five-pointer before Basson displayed his brute pace to conclude matters in the first stanza.

Leading 33-0 at the break, it was expected that coach Frans Ludeke would bring on more players off the bench but, apart from an injury to Zane Kirchner, there were no other changes to the team which started the second half.

Kirchner had been solid in defence all night, not that the Bulls’ defence was tested too frequently.

Once again, the visitors dominated territorially and held on to the ball for as long as possible. One lapse in concentration, however, allowed scrumhalf Tian Meyer to score the oppositions’ only try which came as a result of a turnover just inside Bulls’ territory.

Olivier scored his second try late in the second half while flank Deon Stegmann tripped over the line for his before Derick Kuun also added his name to the score sheet.

Attention must be paid to the scrums where they conceded two tightheads but, apart from that, the Bulls will generally be satisfied with their performance on the night.

Scorers:

Premier XV: 5 (0)
Tries – Tian Meyer

Bulls: 68 (33) 
Tries – Bjorn Basson (3), Pierre Spies (2) Morne Steyn, Wynand Olivier (2), Deon Stegmann and Derick Kuun.
Conversions – Morné Steyn (7), Francois Brummer (2)

Scoring update Mbombela: Bulls vs Premier XV

4Th min – Bulls try: Bjorn Basson in the left corner. Steyn converts,  7-0
17Th min – Bulls try: Pierre Spies after a rolling maul, in the right corner. Steyn conversion misses to the left,  12-0
28Th min – Bulls try: Pierre Spies after good phase play by the Bulls. Steyn converts, 19-0
33Th min – Bulls try: Morné Steyn after good drives by the forwards. Steyn converts, 26-0
39Th min – Bulls try: Bjorn Basson scores his second, great chip and chase. Steyn converts, 33-0

55Th min – Bulls try: Wynand Olivier after numerous phases by the Bulls. Steyn converts, 40-0
58Th min – Premier XV try: Tian Meyer in the corner. Conversion missed, 40-5
60Th min – Bulls try: Wynand Olivier scores his second after the Primier XV fumble the ball near their own try line. Steyn converts, 47 -5
Yellow card – for Gerhard van der Heever after an alleged tip tackle on Deon Scholtz
66Th min – Bulls try: Deon Stegmann scores after a strong run by the flanker. Steyn converts, 54-5
73Th min – Bulls try: Bjorn Basson’s hat-trick after good play by Dippenaar and Jaco van der Westhuyzen. Brummer converts, 61-5
78Th min – Bulls try: Derick Kuün scores after good drives by the Bulls pack. Brummer converts, 68 – 5