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Nine-try Bulls thump Zebre

rugby29 March 2025 14:50| © SuperSport
By:Brenden Nel
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The Vodacom Bulls completed a nine-try rout of Italian club Zebre Parma on Saturday to take another massive step towards the Vodacom United Rugby Championship playoffs, easily winning the contest at Loftus Versfeld 63-24.

What was meant to be a tricky game was a much improved performance by Jake White’s side, as they dominated proceedings in all facets and were never in danger of losing.

Compared to their performance against Leinster last week, this was by far an improvement, although it must be said that there is a gulf of difference between the Irish and Italian challenge in the tournament at the moment.

Considering the Bulls are still missing a number of players to injury, the five points they got in the bag and big points difference was mission accomplished, but it was impressive in the way they handled Zebre’s plucky attack.

The Sharks last week struggled to do exactly that and almost paid the price, winning by a solitary point, making this game all the more tricky for the Bulls.

It was precisely the type of game that the Bulls were expected to win comfortably, but it easily could have become a banana peel if they allowed it to.

Luckily there was little of the “stupid play” - as White put it after the Leinster game - and the Bulls' dominance meant they were always on the front foot.

They scored after just three minutes after Devon Williams drifted enough to take the defence with him, making the simplest of switches to give Sergeal Petersen his first of two tries.

INACCURACY PUNISHED

Zebre’s inaccuracy is often punished, as was the case just 10 minutes later, as a dropped pass was plucked up by Zak Burger, allowing the halfback to run 50 metres to score the second try.

But just like their game against the Sharks, Zebre came back at the Bulls as winger Jacopo Trulla, who had an exceptional game in a losing side, had the benefit of a horrible bounce of the ball from a grubber that evaded Stravino Jacobs, and ran in untouched to score.

Alessandro Fusco reduced the deficit with a perfect drop goal from a Bulls goalline dropout, making things a bit more nervous for the home side.

Two more tries before halftime ensured the game was firmly in the Bulls' hands as first Keagan Johannes - who was flawless with the boot and won a deserved man of the match award - put Jacobs through a hole for the winger to run in and score.

Then Jan Hendrik Wessels added his name to the scoresheet, breaking away from a dominant rolling maul to score.

BULLS IN CONTROL AT HALFTIME

At 28-10 halftime, the Bulls were looking at an easy victory, but Zebre hit back from the halftime kickoff, as Trulla ran the ball back, beating four defenders before offloading to Montemauri on his inside to score.

The Bulls weren’t to be outdone and Marco van Staden burst through to run 20 metres and score and re-establish the lead.

JF van Heerden had a moment of madness and knocked his opposite number Francesco Ruffalo off his feet off the ball after the whistle had gone, prompting ref Mike Adamson to give him a yellow for his troubles.

While he was off the field, hooker Tomaso Di Bartolomeo went over from a rolling maul before Marcell Coetzee swung the momentum back towards the home side with a try from close range.

TRY OF THE AFTERNOON

Harold Vorster also scored, but the try of the afternoon came after turnover ball was spread wide, allowing replacement flank Nizaam Carr to split the defence open, offload to Embrose Papier, who pinned his ears back and made it five metres from the line.

A perfect switch play gave Petersen the ball and enough momentum to score the try of the day.

David Kriel couldn’t believe his luck when Zebre tried a quick throw in, with the ball landing at his feet and missing the visiting players, allowing him the final score without doing much to deserve it.

The Bulls know they will have a lot tougher challenges in the coming weeks, but a momentum-boosting victory is never to be scoffed at, and after the jitters against Leinster last weekend, will be welcomed before they head to France for their EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 game against Bayonne.

SCORERS

Vodacom Bulls - tries: Sergeal Petersen (2), Zak Burger, Stravino Jacobs, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Marco van Staden, Marcell Coetzee, Harold Vorster, David Kriel. Conversions: Keagan Johannes (7), Boeta Chamberlain (2).

Zebre Parma - tries: Jacoba Trulla, Giovanni Montemauri, Tomaso di Bartolomeo. Conversions: Montemauri (2), Giacomo da Rea. Drop goal: Alessandro Fusco.

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