Strauss stars as Rebels no match for rejuvenated Bulls
The Bulls scored two early tries and were always in command in getting a 28-10 try-scoring bonus point win against the Rebels in Pretoria.
Bulls hooker and former Springbok captain Adriaan Strauss, a veteran in every sense, is playing with the joy and freedom of a teenager.
Strauss scored his fifth try of the season after some skilled attacking from the Bulls lock duo of RG Snyman and Lood de Jager. The score came within five minutes of the kick-off and the Bulls thereafter were never troubled.
The Bulls led 21-3 at half time but had to wait until the 73rd minute to secure the try-scoring bonus point.
Bulls flyhalf Handre Pollard kicked all four conversions and centre Jesse Kriel was also prominent in attack and in defense, while Warrick Gelant was again very good at fullback.
Scorers:
Bulls 28 (21)
Tries: Adriaan Strauss, Jesse Kriel, Divan Rossouw, Andre Warner
Conversion: Handre Pollard (4)
Rebels 10 (3)
Try: Michael Ruru
Conversion: Jack Debreczeni
Penalty: Jack Debreczeni
Bulls vs Rebels – Loftus Versveld, 3:05pm
OPTA STATS
- This was the sixth meeting between the Bulls and Rebels, with the South African side having won five times.
- The Rebels have never won in South Africa (D1, L13).
- The Bulls’ last four home games against Australian sides have seen a total of 33 tries scored, crossing for 21 themselves and conceding 12.
- Amanaki Mafi is the only player to make over 100 carries so far (101), he has also made the most metres of any forward (574, 2nd most overall)
Teams:
Bulls
15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Johnny Kotze, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain), 11 Divan Rossouw, Handre Pollard, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Marco van Staden, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Roelof Smit, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Pierre Schoeman
Substitutes: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Shaun Adendorff, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Duncan Matthews
Rebels
15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Tom English, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Michael Ruru, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Angus Cottrell, 6 Ross Haylett-Petty, 5 Adam Coleman (captain), 4 Matt Philip, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Anaru Rangi, 1 Tetera Faulkner
Substitutes: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Fereti Sa’aga, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 Richard Hardwick, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Billy Meakes, 23 Sefa Naivalu
