Bulls pip Bordeaux in Loftus thriller

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Marcell Coetzee scored a brace of tries as the Vodacom Bulls beat Bordeaux Begles in a thrilling clash in Pretoria on Saturday to qualify for the Champions Cup playoffs.

Four first-half tries and 10 points from the boot of flyhalf Johan Goosen set up Jake White’s charges for success, after they raced into a 26-14 lead at half time, and dug in after the break for a 46-40 bonus-point win at Loftus Versfeld.

French outfit Bordeaux scored five tries and secured a valuable losing bonus point to secure top spot in Pool 1, and the Bulls await the outcome of Saturday’s late match between Lyon and Saracens to determine if they host a home clash in the round of 16.

Skipper Coetzee crashed over from close range in the sixth minute, after SA-born Bordeaux prop Carlu Sadie earned 10 minutes in the sin bin for not rolling away at a ruck, yet the visitors soldiered on and levelled matters with a converted try from fullback Romain Buros.

But, in-form outside back Devon Williams strolled over out wide for the Bulls’ second try after an excellent set-piece attack before the close of the first quarter, and Coetzee barged through to complete his double with less than 15 minutes to go until the interval.

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Bulls loosehead prop Gerhard Steenekamp then saw yellow for illegally playing the ball on the ground, and Bordeaux lock Adam Coleman touched down next to the uprights for Zach Holmes to convert his second strike of the stanza to make it a seven-point game, until Man of the Match David Kriel secured the bonus point with a great finish on the stroke of half time.

The home side struck first after the restart when fullback Willie le Roux cruised in under the sticks for Goosen to add the extras and extend the gap to 19 points.

Former Bulls speedster Madosh Tambwe, loose forward Tevita Tatafu and scrumhalf Paul Abadie touched down inside the third quarter as Bordeaux bagged an all-important bonus point, with Bulls No 9 Embrose Papier also crossing the whitewash.

Two penalties from Bulls replacement Jaco van der Walt either side of Tatafu’s second five-pointer put the result beyond doubt for the men in blue.

The Bulls will regroup for a blockbuster Jukskei derby in the Vodacom URC at Loftus next Saturday against the Lions.

Photo: @BlueBullsRugby/Twitter

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