Bulls player ratings: Handre Pollard’s brilliance paired with costly mistakes as the Springboks mirror their earlier strong form before a late collapse
After the Bulls were beaten 33-46 by Union Bordeaux-Begles at Loftus Versfeld, here is a comprehensive look at Johan Ackermann’s squad in the Investec Champions Cup first-round clash.
Bulls player ratings
15 Willie le Roux: His sharp distribution helped tee up Jeandre Rudolph’s try and he competed effectively at height. Yet both he and Pollard could take more ownership in shaping the game. 6
14 Canan Moodie: One of the Bulls’ standout performers, echoing his Springbok display in the blue jersey. He nutmegged Romain Buros to score before the break and caused Louis Bielle-Biarrey trouble under the high ball. He provided periodic spark, though teammates around him sometimes squandered the chances. Also produced a crucial try-saving tackle. 8
13 David Kriel: Bordeaux didn’t fully exploit his sin-bin spell, but it did pressure the Bulls at a key moment. Not his strongest outing, but not a disaster either. 5
12 Harold Vorster: Bulls’ defense wavered at times, with Vorster and Kriel bearing much of the responsibility for not organizing it effectively. The inside center coughed up possession after Moodie’s breakthrough late in the game, leading to a decisive try. Some positive moments in the first half, but his influence faded as the match wore on. 6
11 Sebastian de Klerk: A Springbok-in-waiting? It’s easy to understand why Rassie Erasmus kept him on standby earlier in the year. He was the Bulls’ only player to exceed 100 metres and contributed 12 tackles—second only to Coetzee. Excellent in the air, and his breaks and lines unlocked momentum for his side. 8
10 Handre Pollard: A blend of exquisite moments and avoidable errors. He played a superb setup pass for De Klerk to score, yet he also contributed to Bordeaux’s advantage through a questionable defensive lapse on Damian Penaud’s try. A dazzling offload helped Rudolph score, but a needless yellow card and a poor cross-kick from inside the Bordeaux 22 in the second half swung momentum away. 5
9 Paul de Wet: Looks like a smart acquisition for the Bulls. The team’s structure dipped when he left the field, though he earned a late turnover and kicked well from hand. Earlier, his tackle was well below standard. 7
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The forwards
8 Marcell Coetzee (captain): The skipper rarely has a poor game, and today was no exception. He finished as the Bulls’ top tackler, was superb on the gain-line, and dominated at the ruck. Consistently effective. 7
7 Reinhardt Ludwig: Finished off his scoring chance decisively and remained busy for 72 minutes before giving way to Elrigh Louw. 6
6 Marco van Staden: Lasted only 14 minutes before colliding with Jefferson Poirot’s forceful tackle. He tried to shake it off but eventually left the field. 5
5 JF van Heerden: Pressured by Bordeaux’s aggressive lineout contest and by Van der Merve’s inaccurate throws, yet generally rose to the challenge. Finished a strong line off Tshakweni’s shoulder leading to a try. 7
4 Cobus Wiese: Looked uncomfortable and heavily strapped after halftime, which will concern Ackermann’s staff. Nevertheless, he delivered his usual hard-hitting defense and abrasive tackles. 6
3 Mornay Smith: Scrum parity was maintained, with Smith holding Poirot at bay while also producing mobility and a critical clean-out before Rudolph’s try. 7
2 Akker van der Merwe: Outstanding around the park, but his lineout inaccuracies noticeably disrupted Bulls’ attacking launches. He executed a stylish run to score on Pollard’s offload and made a crucial tackle to deny Penaud. 6
1 Alulutho Tshakweni: Held the dangerous Sadie at bay in the scrum, released Van Heerden with clean hands, and stayed active in defense. Competent and effective. 7
Replacements: If only Jeandre Rudolph’s rating stood, the bench would deserve a nine for the back row’s excellence following Van Staden’s injury. The returning Bok front-row trio of Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, and Wilco Louw made impact at scrum time. Yet the Bulls’ late collapse allowed Bordeaux to surge clear, exposing the Bulls’ deeper issues. 4
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