Bulls on rampage as Cardiff crumble

By ROB COLE

Bulls………………… 45pts

Tries: Moodie 30, 69, Arendse 39, Goosen 41, Nortje 59, Louw 76

Conversions: Goosen 31, 40, 43, 60; Smith 69, 78

Penalties: Goosen 4

Cardiff…….. ………… 9pts

Penalties: Evans 1, 12, 31

Springboks superstar Kurt-Lee Arendse cast his spell and weaved his magic to help the Bulls record a bonus-point victory over Cardiff at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

The scrum-capped full-back, fresh from his heroics against England at Twickenham, scored a try and made a try for his wing Canan Moodie in this top of the table URC clash.

Wing Moodie ended with two of the Bulls' six tries, along with Arendse, Johan Goosen, skipper Ruan Nortey and No. 8 Elrigh Louw. But it was Arendse's ability to unsettle the Cardiff defence that proved the difference between the sides.

The Bulls talismanic full-back and fly-half Goosen were a constant threat to Cardiff and tormented the visitors with their vision, passing and range of kicking.

Fly-half Jarrod Evans slotted three penalties for the visitors and Cardiff will return home from their tour of South Africa having achieved more than any other Welsh region in the URC.

Coach Dai Young saw his side become the first Welsh side to beat one of the South African sides in the URC on their home patch since the tournament began.

The Blue and Blacks dominant 35-0 victory over the Sharks caused shockwaves in South Africa with coach Sean Everitt being sacked in midweek.

The Bulls response to the Welsh side's victory in Durban was to make 10 changes to the side that beat the Ospreys 43- 26 and to draft in a host of Springboks from their autumn tour of Europe.

Cardiff kept faith with the bulk of the side that beat the Sharks but drafted in teenager Cameron Winnett at full-back to make only his third start.

Held: Cardiff's Mason Grady can't break through

PICTURES: Huw Evans

Fly half Evans and his opposite number Goosen swapped early penalties in a cagey opening with the visitors taking a 6-3 lead. The Bulls scored the game's first try after finally breaking down a well-organised Cardiff defence when Goosen combined with Springboks flyer and full back Arendse on the right flank to put wing Moodie in for the score. Goosen added the conversion and Evans landed his third penalty after a late tackle on his halfback partner Lloyd Williams to narrow the gap to a single point.

Moodie nearly had a second chance after a kick to him on the left wing but the bounce of the ball evaded him and the opportunity was gone.

But it was Goosen and Arendse who stretched the Bulls lead after a period of pressure in the shadows of the Cardiff posts saw the pair combine to put the full-back in for the try. The Bulls fly-half added the conversion to make the score 17-9 to the home side at half-time. After the break, Goosen got in on the act when he waltzed through some weak tackling by inside the Cardiff ‘22 to cross for the Bulls third try.

Skipper and Bulls lock Ruan Nortje crashed over from short-range for the Bulls fourth try before wing Moodie regathered a high-kick to cross for his second of the night.

The floodgates had opened when backrower Louw crossed from shortrange after a driving lineout by the home side to secure a comfortable win.