Bulls show Saracens who’s boss
Bulls 27 Saracens 16
Scorers: Bulls Tries: David Kriel, Janko Swanepoel, Canan Moodie. Conversions: Johan Goosen (3), Penalties: Goosen (2) Saracens: Tries - Elliot Daly, Theo McFarland. Penalty: Owen Farrell (2)
● The pack mostly marauded, while KurtLee Arendse mesmerised as the Bulls last night provided Saracens sufficient, concrete proof there are blue bloods south of the equator in the Champions Cup.
The Bulls looked set for a runaway victory but they lost their way in the final quarter as the visitors dug deep and gave the home team a few things to mull ahead of future Champions Cup engagements.
In the end, the hosts held on for a 27-16 victory. The Bulls set the tone from the outset and the score could have ballooned more in their favour had they been more accurate with the goalline at their mercy.
On three occasions, their touchdowns were ruled out as a result of imprecision in the lead-up. It is also unlikely to escape eagle-eyed director of rugby Jake White that Saracens made telling advances on the scoreboard when they were down to 14 players after the hour mark.
While Arendse did not get onto the score sheet, he again provided cutting edge to the Bulls’ back division.
For a team that arrived at Loftus as the reigning champions in England and have scaled the highest peaks in Europe, Saracens’ kicking game would have given them much to lament. They often had to apply the boot but did not do so with sufficient foresight or accuracy.
Arendse made some telling incursions after stepping past the first defender and the visitors were left to scramble when he was close to or on the ball.
His breach of the initial Saracens chase line after the ball was booted forward helped set up a try for the equally impressive rightwing Canan Moodie in the 47th minute. It only required two sets of hands to get the job done from inside the home team’s 22.
Saracens, however, tightened up their kicking game after that. Unlike Arendse’s approach, up front, the Bulls did everything but avoid Saracens defenders.
They bashed and barged into the threetime champions with backrowers Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom leading the charge. The Bulls certainly started in a huff. They made their intentions clear not just by being confrontational but by playing with width.
If they were not going to bust the gainline by being direct, they would bust Saracens’ lungs, spreading their defenders thin on the periphery. Indeed, playing with width yielded early profit. They took the ball left and then to the right, eventually leading to an overlap that allowed David Kriel to run in unopposed.
They continued to maraud forward and bossed the gainline but their 62% share of the possession at the break was not commensurate with what reflected on the scoreboard.
Saracens might have had a stronger voice in this game had their discipline not let them down. Fullback Alex Goode was sinbinned in the 26th minute, while Maro Itoje’s temporary banishment in the 39th minute put the visitors at greater peril.
From the ensuing tap penalty Bulls lock Janko Swanepoel barged over as the Bulls again flexed their forward muscle. It was a crucial seven-point addition on the cusp of half-time as it handed the hosts a distinct 20-6 advantage. Saracens’ poor discipline continued to dog them after the break.
No 8 Billy Vunipola was shown red for charging into a ruck leading with his shoulder and, although he made only negligible contact with Hanekom, he paid the ultimate price. It could have condemned the visitors to a painful last half hour but they showed their champion qualities by playing with greater urgency and purpose.
British and Irish Lion Elliot Daly scored in the right hand corner in the 61st minute before Theo McFarland dotted down in the 71st minute.
Saracens continued to play with gusto but their earlier shortcomings eventually caught up with them.