The nightmare is over, the curse has been lifted! Bulls fans can finally rejoice after the Pretoria side ended a seven-match losing streak against the Stormers with an excellent 40-22 United Rugby Championship victory at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday night.
Even though the 50 026-strong crowd had to wait 59 minutes longer for the kickoff due to a thunderstorm threat, it was all worth it for the home supporters as the Bulls produced a bonus-point triumph to go temporarily to the top of the URC log.
The Bulls are now on 40 points, level with Glasgow – who beat Benetton 19-9 in Treviso earlier on Saturday – but have a better points difference.
The log could look different later on Saturday night as Leinster, who are third with 39 points, face Cardiff in Wales.
Bulls director of rugby Jake White will be delighted that all the hard work that his players and coaches have put in this season has paid off at last against their great Cape rivals.
TOTAL ATTENDANCE FOR TODAY IS 50 026.
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) March 2, 2024
Thank you Mzansi🙏![CDATA[]]>🏾
💙![CDATA[]]>🐃 #BULvSTO @Vodacom #URC #BackTheBulls #LoftusIsFull pic.twitter.com/If7MYJRojX
The hosts charged into a 19-5 lead after just 24 minutes as the Bulls capitalised on an indifferent start from the Stormers, who gave away several penalties and lacked the necessary accuracy across the pitch.
It was an almost perfect beginning for the Bulls as hooker Johan Grobbelaar scored from a lineout drive in the second minute that saw a number of backs also joining the maul.
Flyhalf Johan Goosen added the conversion and four penalties to create a 14-point advantage, with the Capetonians only having a Ben Loader try to show for their early efforts.
The Bulls displayed the greater composure this time around, which was in stark contrast to their seven defeats in a row against the Stormers, who were guilty of making unforced errors, were second-best in the scrum contest and lacked their usual spark on attack.
Coach John Dobson, though, would have been proud to see his Stormers team stay in the fight, and they clawed their back into the contest with an Evan Roos touchdown after a yellow card for a deliberate knockdown to Bulls centre Stedman Gans.
Suddenly it was all to play for at 19-15 to the Bulls at halftime, and the Stormers had a few chances to take the lead just after the break.
Alternative angles of the 2nd highest ever crowd for a single #URC game 🤪
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) March 2, 2024
Congrats to the Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby family for bringing fans closer to the game 💙![CDATA[]]>🐃#BKTURC | #OriginRound #GrassrootsToGreatness | #BULvSTO pic.twitter.com/q5ptWHuEPT
But the Bulls forwards showed tremendous fighting spirit to thwart the visitors close to the tryline, and then had some luck go their way as Stormers fullback Warrick Gelant was unfortunate to receive a yellow card for making head contact in a tackle on Kurt-Lee Arendse.
Just a penalty to the Bulls may have been a fairer call, but referee Marius van der Westhuizen felt otherwise.
The hosts made their one-man advantage count soon afterwards when Grobbelaar rumbled over from another five-metre lineout to make it 26-15.
The Stormers battled to match the Bulls’ lineout prowess, with both hookers Joseph Dweba and André-Hugo Venter making throwing errors, with Venter’s skew throw in the 53rd minute particularly costly as it came about seven metres away from the tryline.
In addition, Springbok stars Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie chased the box-kicks from Embrose Papier all night long with great determination, supported by centres Gans and David Kriel.
One such Papier kick saw Moodie tap it back and Kriel kick it ahead, with the ball sitting up perfectly for Moodie to score.
Moodie time! 1⃣4⃣
Can the DHL @TheStormers find a way back? 👀#BULvSTO | @Vodacom #URC | #UnitedWeRise pic.twitter.com/GU2yUGI0gS
Venter pulled one back for the Stormers by scoring his own five-pointer off a maul, and the Cape outfit camped in the Bulls’ half with about 15 minutes left.
Gelant also came up with a few magical moments on the counter-attack, but it was not enough.
But captain Deon Fourie’s team failed to convert their opportunities into points, due to a mix of their own mistakes and outstanding Bulls defence.
The home side held the Stormers at bay, and were rewarded right at the end as Papier snapped up a loose ball to grab the bonus point.
Papier picks up the scraps and secures the win for the @Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby! 🔥#BULvSTO | @Vodacom #URC | #UnitedWeRise pic.twitter.com/fkvKU1AdO5
Points-Scorers
Bulls 40 – Tries: Johan Grobbelaar (2), Canan Moodie, Embrose Papier. Conversions: Johan Goosen (4). Penalties: Goosen (4).
Stormers 22 – Tries: Ben Loader, Evan Roos, André-Hugo Venter. Conversions: Manie Libbok (2). Penalty: Libbok (1).
The buzzer goes and that is a 18-point bonus point win for the @Vodacom Bulls against the DHL Stadium.
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) March 2, 2024
🐃40-22🌩️
💙![CDATA[]]>🐃 #BULvSTO @Vodacom #URC #BackTheBulls #LoftusIsFull pic.twitter.com/jwhqdf938v