Coetzee floors old pals Ulster as Connacht snatch win
MARCELL COETZEE emerged as Ulster’s chief tormentor by blasting over for the crucial try against his old teammates as the Vodacom Bulls ran out 34-16 winners in Pretoria.
Few thrills were produced in a first half dominated by the defences and the whistle of referee Andrea Piardi that allowed Nathan Doak to kick the Irish province into a 9-3 interval lead.
But in 25 degree heat at Loftus Versfeld, the Bulls then ignited, with powerful flanker Coetzee crossing in the 44th minute to wrestle the advantage away from Ulster before Madosh Tambwe, Johan Grobbelaar and Kurt-Lee Arendse added further tries to complete a bonus-point victory.
A late yellow card for a dangerous tackle cast a minor shadow on Coetzee’s afternoon, but he had already left his mark on the side where he spent five seasons until 2021.
Meanewhile, Tietie Tuimauga rescued a vital win for Connacht after they looked to have thrown away victory in a 21-17 triumph at Benetton.
The westerners led 14-3 at the end of the first quarter but fell 1714 behind with 11 minutes to play.
However, Tuimauga forced his way over under the posts in the 75th minute for a win that preserves Connacht’s play-off hopes.
Andy Friend’s men came into the weekend trailing the top eight by nine points and having played a game more than all of their rivals for a place in the end-of-season knock-out.
They got off to a dream start when Cian Prendergast touched down in the first minute and Niall Murray also went over before halftime.
However, Edoardo Padovani hauled Benetton back into the contest in the second period and Toa Halafihi put the home side in front for the first time before Tuimauga settled it in Connacht’s favour, with Jack Carty converting all three of the visitors’ tries.
In Super Rugby, The Queensland Reds overcame a red card to end the ACT Brumbies’ unbeaten start to the season and move level with their Australian rivals at the top of the Super Rugby Pacific standings after seven rounds.
A 21-7 triumph yesterday ensured the hosts continued their seven-year unbeaten run against the Canberra side in Brisbane. The Reds and Brumbies each have 26 points from six wins and a loss, including two bonus points, and have identical points differentials of 62.
The victory came despite a 33rdminute red card to Reds backrower Tuaina Tualima when he hit James Slipper high.
Earlier yesterday, hooker Kurt Eklund scored three tries as the Blues beat Moana Pasifika 46-16, prevailing over their Aucklandbased neighbor for the second time in five days.