Bulls v Glasgow Warriors: Five takeaways including Springboks back-three and top spot

Dylan Coetzee
Bulls players celebrate a try.

Bulls players celebrate a try.

Following the Bulls’ 40-34 win over Glasgow Warriors at Loftus Versfeld, here are our five takeaways from the United Rugby Championship action.

Top line

The game truly ebbed and flowed with the teams initially trading blow for blow before the Bulls found their feet and turned on the style in front of a modest crowd in Pretoria.

The Bulls developed a decent lead and continued to go for the posts where possible, building more and more scoreboard pressure and keeping their distance. It was a good thing they did because Glasgow showed tremendous character to get back into the game and take two points from the clash.

In the end, both teams scored four tries apiece and it was those decisions to go for goal on four occasions that proved the difference for the hosts. Ultimately both teams will be happy to some extent, the Bulls will be happy with the first 60 minutes of the performance and Glasgow will be delighted with two points and the comeback.

Bulls can be title contenders

This section was initially titled, ‘Bulls underline their title credentials’ but that changed when they left the backdoor open for a Glasgow comeback that on a different day could have snatched the game.

Let’s not dwell on the negatives as for the first 60 minutes the Bulls were deadly, cutting their opponents to shreds at times, while elsewhere they used their power in the set-piece and defence to keep Glasgow at bay.

This game underlined how dangerous the Bulls are at home and how their style lends itself to knockout rugby through their generation of penalties and accurate goal-kicking.

There is this feeling in the Bulls camp that they are close to something special and they are littered with world-class Springboks proven at every level. However, they will need to tighten up and ensure they can manage 80-minute performances during the knockout period.

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Springboks back-three set Bulls apart

Part of what makes the Bulls a real title threat is their outrageous back-three that was well on display again this afternoon.

The balance is key, the wily old fox Willie le Roux provides so much cohesion and tempo to the Bulls attack and is a dream full-back to have around for any fly-half. Throw in Canan Moodie who has the ability to pop up in the right place at the right time with the innate skill of beating defenders making him a constant danger.

Finally, there is ‘the Butcher’ Kurt-Lee Arendse whose running ability could well be right up there with the best in the world. That is only one facet of his game but the former Sevens star is a triple threat; run, pass or kick. Arendse is a nightmare to defend for anyone and he is absolutely critical to the Bulls’ charge.

Gutsy Glasgow refuse to come away with nothing

The middle period of the game saw Glasgow well and truly buried but in the end that was not completely the case as Franco Smith’s men never stopped getting their reward with two valuable points.

Kyle Steyn showed tremendous heart to make up for his yellow card and his try in the 63rd minute was just reward – crucially the try was followed by two more in the last 12 minutes.

It was a frenetic period where the league leaders appeared to have the Bulls on the ropes but a Chris Smith penalty kept the hosts just out of reach. At the end of the day, the visitors had to kick a penalty to secure their second bonus point.

Many teams would have folded and crumbled but Glasgow refused and that gives a strong indication that this side has a lot to give at the pointy end of the season.

Top spot not secure

Those two Glasgow points could prove to be crucial as they hit the 60-point mark with the Bulls in second on 56. Of course, at the time of writing Leinster and Munster have not played but what is becoming more evident is that any of the top four could mathematically finish on top.

It makes for an intriguing last couple of games as the top four push to finish as high as possible to attempt to secure a home passage in the knockouts.

Glasgow will sneakily be smiling with the Lions and then Zebre in their final two games, which is the easiest run-in for the top four as Leinster and Munster have some inter-pro derbies to deal with.

There is plenty to play for in the last couple of rounds.

READ MORE: Springboks flyers star as Bulls survive late Glasgow comeback in crunch URC top four clash

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