mens
investec-champions-cup
Bulls player ratings: The Bulls didn’t just win French Stadium in Pretoria they tied them, scoring seven tries in a 56-20 result Investec Champions Cup a dismantling that left visitors chasing shadows for long stretches.
Handre Pollard pulled the strings, Cheswill Jooste ran wide and the Bulls pack spent much of the afternoon imposing themselves on a Stade side that at times looked both disinterested and in disarray.
15. Luan Giliomee – 7
The big Bulls signing had a relatively quiet afternoon compared to some of the fireworks around him, but he was assured under the high ball and gave the Bulls a calm presence at the back whenever Stade threatened to build momentum.
14. Sebastian de Klerk – 6.5
He didn’t get the headline moments that came to Jooste on the opposite flank, but he worked hard throughout and offered a reliable finishing option whenever Pollard moved the point of attack wide. Guilty of a few turnovers.
13. Sango Xamlashe – 8
An excellent trip in the middle of the field. Won two turnovers, carried with intent and consistently drove the Bulls over the line. He asked a lot of questions of Alivereta Duguivalu and looked comfortable in both attack and defence.
12. Harold Vorster – 7.5
The experienced player brought plenty of directness and organization to his midfield efforts, producing some thunderous touches on both sides of the ball. He did the hard, unprecedented work and helped create space for those outside of him.
11. Cheswill Jooste – 9
A nightmare match for Stade Francais. He opened the scoring after barely a minute and came back for a late double try to seal things. Three tries, six line breaks and six defenders beaten tell part of the story. Every time he touched the ball there was a sense of impending brain rot in the Stade defensive system. Stade just couldn’t contain him. Electric.
10. Handre Pollard – 8.5
Seven conversions from seven attempts and complete control of proceedings. The World Cup winner’s game management was impeccable, his play territorial and his distribution sharp. Stade never looked comfortable when Pollard asked questions. A reminder that classes remain permanent.
9. Paul de Wet – 7.5
He moved the ball effectively and ensured the Bulls played at the pace they wanted. He kept Stade’s forwards honest around the rim and provided a smooth connection between the pack and the backs.
8. Cameron Hanekom – 8
Another powerful display from No.8. He grabbed the Bulls’ third try just before half-time and carried it tirelessly. Stade struggled to stop him when he peaked and remained influential throughout the contest.
7. Elrigh Louw – 8
The captain led from the front. He topped the tackle list for the Bulls with 10 completions and brought plenty of the usual upside in the collision area. The kind of performance that set the emotional tone for the home side, even if a couple of penalties marred the ledger.
6. Marco van Staden – 8.5
Typically industrious and got the reward he deserved with a try early in the second half. He was a constant distraction around the breakdown and Stade never found much comfort with him operating around them.
5. JF van Heerde – 7
A solid shift in the second row. Added physicality around the park, got through plenty of invisible tackles and helped the Bulls establish a platform that gradually squeezed the life out of Stade’s challenge.
4. Cobus Wiese – 8
One of the most influential forwards of the Bulls. It was scored after 16 minutes and dealt with real venom. Jacques Botha considered him a tough man to deal with physically and Wiese repeatedly won the battle for the winning line.
3. Khutha Mchunu – 7
A strong afternoon in a tight exchange. He stood up well to Thomas Bue and contributed a set-up attempt that gave the Bulls the ball on the front foot in a big way. A few missed moves against his name.
2. Jan-Hendrik Wessels – 8
He finished the day with a try in the 67th minute and was prominent on the park. The huge Bok whore still looks menacing.
1. Play – 7
He went through a mountain of hard work and helped set the platform for the Bulls’ dominance going forward. He had the better of several exchanges against Mose Alo-Emile and was part of a front row that generally controlled things.
Substitutions – 8
Real impact shift from the bench. Jeandre Rudolph was outstanding upon his arrival, dashing in for tries and injecting fresh energy into the contest. Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, Francois Klopper and Jaco Grobbelaar kept up the physical standards of the Bulls, while Embrose Papier increased the pace when the legs began to tire. Wily veteran Willie Le Roux also provided two try assists after coming on in the 52nd minute.
