Sport Reporter
The Bulls were handed a sobering reminder of the All Blacks’ attacking threat on Saturday night as New Zealand swept to a 50-19 victory at Loftus Versfeld in the latest match of their Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour.
The All Blacks scored eight tries and led 24-0 at half-time, with the Bulls unable to match the visitors at the breakdown or contain their ability to turn loose possession into attacking opportunities.
It was a difficult night for the Pretoria side, who had been expected to provide New Zealand with their sternest provincial examination after earlier victories over the Stormers and Sharks. Instead, the visitors established control during the opening 40 minutes and never seriously surrendered it.
There were opportunities for the Bulls early on. Hooker Juan Else went close near the New Zealand line and Hanro Liebenberg appeared to have scored after chasing his own kick, only for the effort to be ruled out because Willie le Roux had knocked the ball on earlier in the move.
New Zealand were far more ruthless when their chances arrived.
Wing Josh Moorby scored twice in the opening 20 minutes as the All Blacks found space outside the Bulls defence and punished turnovers and defensive errors.
The Bulls’ task became more difficult when prop Francois Klopper was shown a yellow card around the half-hour mark. New Zealand captain Codie Taylor then scored from close range before adding his second try shortly after the half-time hooter had sounded, with the score awarded under advantage, sending the visitors into the break with a commanding 24-0 advantage.
For the Bulls, that first-half deficit proved decisive. They produced a much more competitive response after the restart, with lock Ruan Vermaak powering over for their opening try.
Referee Nika Amashukeli awarded the score despite television match official Eric Gauzins raising doubts over whether the ball had been properly grounded, with the referee sticking to his original decision after reviewing the incident.
But any hope that the try might spark a sustained Bulls comeback was quickly extinguished.
Leroy Carter crossed almost immediately for New Zealand before Rieko Ioane added another as the All Blacks continued to capitalise on turnovers and move the ball quickly when the Bulls defence became unsettled.
One of the Bulls’ best attacking moments arrived through Stravino Jacobs, who finished a move started by a strong break from Jeandre Rudolph, with Curwin Bosch providing the final pass to the wing.
Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee later forced his way across for the home side’s third try as the hosts showed considerably more fight in the second half. Curwin Bosch converted two of the Bulls’ three tries.
New Zealand, however, had another gear.
Carter completed his brace before replacement loose forward Wallace Sititi scored beneath the posts late in the contest to bring up the visitors’ half-century.
Moorby, Taylor and Carter each finished with two tries, while Ioane and Sititi scored one apiece. Beauden Barrett kicked one conversion and Josh Jacomb added four as New Zealand finished with 50 points.
The result will be disappointing for the Bulls, particularly because the All Blacks were able to impose themselves physically at Loftus, an area in which South African teams traditionally expect to challenge touring sides.
SuperSport reported that the Bulls missed 42 tackles and noted that the home side struggled to match New Zealand’s pack during the opening half.
But the Bulls were not at full strength and are still in their pre-season, while several frontline South African internationals were unavailable. Elrigh Louw and Johan Grobbelaar, two Springboks released to play in the fixture, helped the Bulls achieve greater parity after coming off the bench.
The All Blacks will face the Springboks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, 22 August, in the opening Test of their four-match series.
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