Louw, Le Roux on song as Bulls pack set up big URC win over Cardiff at Loftus

The Bulls’ imperious march to the United Rugby Championship playoffs continued against Cardiff at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon, thanks to a ruthless performance from their forwards in a commanding first half.

The Bulls took their foot off the accelerator in the second half, but convincingly won 45-21 to continue their quest for a second-place finish on the URC points table.

Cardiff were in sixth position on the log going into kickoff, but the Welshmen were shut out of the game by a home forward pack led inspirationally by veteran Marcell Coetzee, while tighthead prop Wilco Louw was nothing short of monstrous.

The latter has been enjoying a stellar season, and what a boost it will be for the Springboks in the looming international season to have Louw in this form, considering the injury to Frans Malherbe.

The Bulls totally dominated the first half and Cardiff were lucky to be 31-0 down at the break.

There was a cost for the Bulls, though, with flyhalf Johan Goosen picking up yet another injury. Goosen’s ill luck continues, and he left the field on a golf cart with what appears to be another knee problem.

Goosen has played just four matches in this URC season, and the grimace on his face said plenty.

Willie le Roux, of course, has stepped into that role before, but it was Keagan Johannes who took on the job, and he did so admirably.

The Bulls controlled the match strongly in the first quarter and forward domination allowed Goosen to strike home three points, and then Harold Vorster cruised over for a try after relentless phase play.

Louw had been prominent throughout, and he deservedly crashed over for a try on the half hour after having earlier won that penalty for Goosen to convert.

Springbok wing Canan Moodie was excellent in the first half, and when he won the ball in the air from a Johannes up-and-under and Le Roux assist, he cantered home for a try.

The Bulls forwards continued their domination, with Louw in the vanguard, and when he surged forward for a perfect scrum right shoulder near the Cardiff line, No 8 Cameron Hanekom soared over for a well-taken try, and he would have doffed his cap in appreciation to Louw for that one.

But the Welshmen were not done and struck first in the second half, with flank Alex Mann sneaking over at the corner flag.

The Bulls responded with another dose of the medicine that worked for them in the first half – Louw scrummed forward, the backline took the ball at pace, and Le Roux neatly put wing Sebastian de Klerk away for a textbook try.

Cardiff pushed hard to rescue a losing bonus point, but the likes of Le Roux kept the Bulls on top with strategic kicking.

The Bulls will be disappointed that they let the visitors in for three second-half tries, but the truth is that they had put the game to bed in the first 40.

Points-Scorers

Bulls 45 – Tries: Harold Vorster, Canan Moodie, Wilco Louw, Cameron Hanekom, Sebastian de Klerk (2). Conversions: Johan Goosen (1), Keegan Johannes (5). Penalty: Goosen (1).

Cardiff 21 – Tries: Alex Mann, Ben Thomas, Gabe Hamer-Webb. Conversions: Thomas (3).