Winger Canan Moodie scored a hat-trick of tries as the Vodacom Bulls punished outgunned Zebre to claimed a vital bonus-point victory at Ellis Park on Saturday afternoon.
The 78-12 result sees the Bulls all but guarantee their place among the eight teams that will advance to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship playoffs after the final round of league matches next week.
Scrumhalf Embrose Papier and lock Ruan Vermaak each crossed for two tries and Moodie added three more as the Bulls ran riot to score 11 tries in total.
The hosts got off to a flyer, crossing the whitewash twice before the clock hit five minutes through Moodie and Papier off the back of some enterprising backline play.
Kurt-Lee Ardense helping Canan Moodie skip the braai queue ♨️ @Vodacom #URC | #BULvZEB | Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby pic.twitter.com/vsa9RloEqe
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) April 15, 2023
Zebre struck back shortly after when fullback Richard Kriel, the younger brother of Bulls counterpart David, went over in the corner rather easily, as the tourists cut through the defence.
Papier and Moodie then each grabbed their second of the afternoon, Papier showing a clean pair of heels to regather a chip-kick and score before Moodie claimed the bonus-point try, running an excellent line after some patient attack.
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It was then the forwards’ turn to get involved, Vermaak barging across the try-line and flyhalf Johan Goosen adding a penalty on the hooter to give them a 36-5 lead at the break.
The first half in snaps?#BULvZEB
?? #TrueToTheBlue #BullsHeard @Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/pTWmDW0JHS— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) April 15, 2023
The Bulls continued their dominance after the restart, hooker Johan Grobbelaar breaking the line on halfway before drawing and passing to prop Gerhard Steenekamp to bag his first URC try.
Zebre then grabbed their second of the afternoon, replacement scrumhalf Chris Cook sniping successfully to go over before Vermaak dotted down again, taking the score to 50-12 after the third quarter.
The floodgates were wide open at this point and Moodie cantered over for his third before Marco Van Staden, Bismarck du Plessis and replacement back Chris Smith added their names to the scoresheet, bringing an end to a truly dominant display.
The Bulls will now turn their attention to a tough clash against table-toppers Leinster at Loftus Versfeld next week.
Photo: Gallo Images