The Bulls XV suffered their fifth consecutive defeat in this year’s Currie Cup tournament at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday when the Cheetahs beat them 62-52.

As the score indicates, there was not really any talk of proper defence as is expected from two teams in a professional rugby match, with the Bulls scoring eight tries, while the men from Bloemfontein reached the goal line nine times.

The Cheetahs survived a fightback from the Bulls to win the 17-try humdinger, after the visitors led 47-17 at halftime.

A long-range penalty goal by the Free State’s Tiaan Swanepoel in the dying moments of the match also ensured that the Bulls could not even collect a second bonus point, despite the high score.

The Bulls finished sixth in the final standings in the Currie Cup series last year after winning three of their seven matches and they will therefore, regardless of what happens in their last two matches, finish worse this year.

With the four URC franchises currently all occupying the bottom four places in the Currie Cup standings, there can be no doubt that the competition is currently an embarrassment to rugby in South Africa. Serious consideration will need to be given to the future of the tournament.

Bulls XV 52 (17), Cheetahs 62 (47)

Bulls XV – Tries: Riyaad Bam, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Kebotile Maake, Marnus Rademeyer (2), Brooklyn Newman, Nizaam Carr, Devon Williams. Conversions: Keagan Johannes (6).

Cheetahs – Tries: Michael Annies (2), Zander du Plessis, Prince Nkabinde (2), Neels Volschenk, Cohen Jasper (2), Victor Sekekete. Conversions: Jaco van der Walt (7). Penalty goal: Tiaan Swanepoel.

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