The young Blue Bulls team started their campaign in the SA Rugby u.21 Championship on a high note by beating Western Province 36-25 this past weekend at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg. The championship is currently being completed in its entirety at this stadium. Although the defending champions managed to score six tries in the process, the foundation for this performance was laid by their dominating pack of forwards. A blistering second half start and a powerful display by their pack of forwards eased the young Blue Bulls to a comfortable win in this opening match of the 2020 SA Rugby Under-21 Championship on Sunday. The Pretoria side held a slender 12-6 lead at the break in Johannesburg but scored three tries in quick succession early in the second half to take a 29-6 lead after 55 minutes, which all but sealed the deal for them. The Capetonians came back gamely from that salvo, with three tries by their Blitzboks winger, Angelo Davids, some reward for their scratchy effort. In the end, the Blue Bulls outscored their opponents six tries to three, a fair reflection of the dominance they enjoyed. Flyhalf Ruben Beytell missed six kicks at goal that prevented a total blow out score. The first half saw Beytell and WP’s Ruan Mostert both missing with opening penalties, before Mostert put his side ahead after 12 minutes.

Five minutes later, the men in blue scored a beautiful try as Stravino Jacobs (wing) was worked over in the corner, following a strong scrum, with Beytell converting from the touchline. Mostert kicked a long-range penalty goal after 22 minutes to cut the lead to one. Beytell missed a long-range effort of his own, but the Bulls’ lead was extended after a powerful rolling maul by his pack saw Joe van Zyl (hooker) scoring. The conversion was wide, leaving the Pretoria side with a six-point margin at the break. Three tries in ten minutes at the beginning of the second half broke the Cape side’s back. Diego Appolis (centre) got the first of those from a storming run by Jan-Hendrik Wessels (prop) before a mighty scrum from Wessels and company allowed Johan Mulder to score after darting around the blind side which caught the defence napping. Not to be outdone by Wessels, Eduan Swart (tighthead prop) scored the third of the second half following a power run. He was put in possession 30m out and bulldozed his way over the line. Beytell converted for a 29-6 lead. A rash of replacements by both coaches halted the rhythm of the match and as fatigue set in, mistakes increased. The impact from the bench added some direction to the Cape side’s attack and Davids finished off a sustained attack with a fine try in the left corner. One of those replacements, Kade Wolhuter, kicked a good conversion to close the gap. The Blue Bulls regrouped quickly. Another powerful scrum by their pack forced WP on the backfoot and Jacobs got his second after good interplay with fullback Richard Kriel. WP realized their best chances were in their winger’s hands and Davids did not disappoint. He got his second after a good backline attack and his third after a good 40-meter run, with an inside swerve beating the cover defence. On Thursday 8 October the Bulls will meet Free State in their second game of the tournament. Kick-off is at 12:00.  

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