Bulls v Bordeaux: Five takeaways as Springbok brutality helps the ...

Following the Bulls’ 46-40 victory over Bordeaux-Begles in an Investec Champions Cup epic, here are our five takeaways.

A wonderful romp in the sunshine at Loftus Versfled in Pretoria saw the Bulls take five much-needed points as they saw off a quite brilliant display from Bordeaux’s second string as the hosts clinched a victory.

Centre David Kriel scored two and was outstanding for the most part to win the Player of the Match award, but Bordeaux’s forwards and half-backs shone, with a special mention for Romain Buros, who was brilliant at full-back.

Six tries from the Bulls came courtesy of Marcell Coetzee (6′)(26′), Devon Williams (16′), David Kriel (39′), Willie le Roux (42′), and Embrose Papier (52′), whilst an impact cameo from Tevita Tatafu saw Bordeaux grab two to scare the hosts, as the visitors scored five in return, from Buros (13′), Adam Coleman (33′), Madosh Tambwe (49′), Tatafu (54′)(66′) and the outstanding Paul Abadie (60′).

It was a festival match for the spectators, one that both teams will take an awful lot out of, but the key point is that the Bulls are now qualified, and it’s only a matter of where they play that’s currently the main question.

You only have to spend a moment walking around the historic Loftus Versfeld to understand that the Blue Bulls are one of rugby’s greatest and most recognisable brands. From the brass plaques that drop more Springbok great names than our very own Jared Wright to the sheer depth of sky blue at every corner of the ground, this is somewhere that drips history and is steeped in rugby culture.

And on the pitch, that same Pretorian DNA is never far from the way the Bulls play – abrasive, direct and intelligent are their watchwords, and at Loftus on Saturday, those qualities were personified by Bulls captain Coetzee, who was in fine, rumbling form, crossing for two short-range tries courtesy of the Bulls power in their rolling maul and clever tap penalties. The Springbok looked dynamic and full of energy as he drove his team home in a memorable high-scoring match in front of the Loftus faithful.

In the backs, the great Le Roux was in impish form, creating a try for Kriel late in the first half, and grabbing a beauty for himself in the second. And up front, the Bulls were underpinned by a storming display from Ruan Nortje, a powerhouse at lock for the hosts, delivering a performance that highlight precisely the qualities we always associate with this most famous of South African club sides.

???? What a try! @wjjleroux @BlueBullsRugby pic.twitter.com/QpkuYzHXsr

— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) January 20, 2024

A lot was made pre-match with the decision of Bordeaux to travel to South Africa without their stars. Assured of home qualification, Yannick Bru rested his Test half-backs, Matthieu Jalibert and Maxime Lucu, superstar wing Damian Penaud and a number of other recent additions to the French Six Nations squad.

But given the callow youth of some of the Bordeaux performers, there was a lot to be impressed about in the way they took their form on the road despite the loss that eventually came their way.

Whilst Louis Bielle-Biarrey was exposed physically on a couple of occasions by Kriel and wing Sebastian de Klerk, he was unlucky to be denied a try in the first half, in the lead-up to Coleman’s drive to grab the second UBB try. Coleman was at his most abrasive all afternoon, matching Nortje blow for blow in a fantastic performance from the former Wallaby and now Tongan lock.

And at half-back, both Zack Holmes and Abadie showed glimpses of their skills, with their direct running and interplay with Buros being a feature of Bordeaux’s play.

However, the last word has to go to the barrelling backrower replacement, Tatafu, who defined impact firstly to romp home from fully 40 metres. Pretoria likes its abrasive carriers, and even the hardened Bulls fans rose as he smashed his way over.

But when everyone in the stadium expected the Bulls to respond, Tatafu struck once more from short range as Bordeaux delivered a quite brilliant performance given the paucity of their regular first-team starters. It was a statement showing from the Japanese international and one that will impress new Brave Blossoms head coach, Eddie Jones.

At 15, Buros was in scintillating form, often acting as an auxiliary 10 with Holmes, another player who shone, working the loop around him as the second receiver. For all Kriel’s excellence in attack, it was him and Goosen who offered the soft shoulders in D and closed off, leaving Buros a run to the line untouched by a defensive hand.

Buros certainly seems stung by his omission from the French squad, and his break to set up a score for Tambwe was one of the moments of the match as he ripped open the Bulls down the middle, committed the last defender and threw a divine pass for Tambwe to scoot over under the posts.

With Abadie also benefiting from Buros’ industry as he shredded the Bulls to set the scrum half in, it’s absolutely clear that the Bordeaux full-back is standing up and challenging his Test omission in the best manner possible – with massive performances on the pitch.

With five points in the bag despite the impressive performance of Bordeaux, the Bulls will have an anxious wait to find out if the much-vaunted home tie in the last-16. As it stands, any form of win by Lyon away at Saracens will see the French side leapfrog the Bulls and take the home tie away from them.

Bordeaux remains as is, but the wider implication for the club was the brilliant performance in defeat by their second-string team. Buros, Tatafu and Abadie all shone, showing the depth of talent within the Atlantic Coast side and on today’s showing, something very special indeed is forming with their club.

READ MORE: Bulls qualify for Champions Cup knockouts after nervy bonus-point win over Bordeaux-Begles