Bulls bully Lyon to book quarters spot
06/04/2024 15:16
Embrose Papier and Sebastian de Klerk scored a brace of tries apiece as the Vodacom Bulls thrashed Lyon on Saturday in Pretoria to progress to the Champions Cup last eight for the first time.
Leading 28-7 at half time, flyhalf Johan Goosen kicked 10 points as the Bulls scored nine tries in a resounding 59-19 win at Loftus Versfeld, and will next week in the quarter-finals face the winners of the clash between the Vodacom URC champions Munster and English Premiership leaders Northampton Saints on Sunday.
Jake White was forced into a late change in the Bulls pack prior to kickoff with JF van Heerden replacing co-captain Ruan Nortje at No 5 due to injury and Janko Swanepoel coming onto the bench.
Right winger De Klerk crossed the whitewash out wide for the opening score inside the first quarter, before scrumhalf Papier and skipper Marcell Coetzee dotted down after the halfway mark in the contest.
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Lyon pulled one back before the interval after No 9 Martin Page-Relo caught the hosts napping with a quick tap from close range, but lock Ruan Vermaak barged over under the uprights for Goosen to slot his fourth conversion of the opening 40 minutes.
The Bulls made a less than ideal start to the second period by conceding a penalty try and losing outside centre Canan Moodie to the sin-bin for a high tackle on Page-Relo, but they rumbled on through touchdowns for fullback Willie le Roux and Papier.
South African hotstepper Thaakir Abrahams soared into the endzone for the visitors with a little over 20 minutes left to play, before De Klerk, inside centre David Kriel and replacement Chris Smith cruised over the tryline to add the final touches to an emphatic result for White's charges.
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
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