Duncan Matthews
The Bulls overcame a slow start to finish strongly and post a 30-13 triumph over the Cheetahs in a Super Rugby pre-season friendly at Polokwane.
Scrumhalf Piet van Zyl bagged a second half double as the men from Pretoria ran away with the match which was separated by just 3 points midway through the second half.
Duncan Matthews also found the line thanks to a well-timed intercept while Jesse Kriel dictated the game from fullback, looking very much at home in the No 15 jersey.
New recruit, Trevor Nyakane, was a late withdrawal due to a strained neck muscle, but in more positive injury news, Arno Botha completed the match without incident in what was his first appearance since damaging his ACL a year ago.
Frans Ludeke would be pleased with how his squad stepped up to meet its first challenge of the new campaign before the team head to London to meet Saracens on the weekend.
New Bloemfontein recruit, Willie Britz, was a stand-out for the Cheetahs, but there will be some concern in the overall performance for Naka Drotské with less than 3 weeks until their Super Rugby opener against the Sharks in Durban on 15 February.
Scorers:
Bulls (30):
- Tries: Piet van Zyl (2), Duncan Matthews (1)
- Conversions: Tiaan Schoeman (3)
- Penaltiess: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (3)
Cheetahs (13):
- Tries: Francois Venter (1)
- Conversions: Francois Brummer (1)
- Penalties: Joe Pietersen (1)
- Drop Goal: Joe Pietersen (1)
NEVER, ever read too much into pre-season warm-up results….
Glad some of the youngsters came through well… Jesse Kriel, Duncan Matthews… and of course Arno Botha who has been out injured for a year (and before that for monts and months).
I hope Piet van Zyl stays super sharp as well, as scrumhalf worries me for the Bulls in 2015.