Pretoria, South Africa – Naas Botha famously quipped that the Currie Cup isn’t won in May. These days it isn’t won in Round Two of the shortened competition either, but the Vodacom Bulls made an emphatic statement on Saturday night, smashing the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV 64-0 in a one-sided spectacle at Loftus Versfeld. For the almost 10,000 fans who braved an icy August evening in Pretoria, it was 80 minutes of pure revelry, witnessing 10 unanswered tries from the home side.
A Stark Gulf in Class
It was a mismatch that went beyond “men against boys.” While the Bulls fielded a squad primarily composed of their fringe United Rugby Championship (URC) players and a few impactful new signings, the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV, under the guidance of coach JP Pietersen, were a youthful development side. They were deliberately without many of their frontline URC players and Springboks, providing their young talents with a stern, albeit harsh, rugby lesson. The gulf in class between the two sides was immense, and only some spirited defensive play in the dying minutes prevented the Sharks from conceding an even higher score.
A Historical Dominance
Technically, this 64-point margin represents the biggest victory the Bulls have ever achieved over their coastal rivals. It eclipses the famous 62-6 Lion Cup triumph in 1991 and significantly surpasses their 44-10 Currie Cup final win in 2021, which previously stood as the largest margin between these two traditional powerhouses. However, many will view this as less of a direct rivalry clash and more as a statement by a Currie Cup-contending side against a team whose primary objective is player development.
Unbeaten Bulls Show Title Intent
Coach Phiwe Nomlomo’s Bulls now stand unbeaten after two games, having also comprehensively defeated Western Province last weekend. Their dominant performances have firmly established them as early odds-on favourites for the Currie Cup title, alongside the Fidelity ADT Lions.
The reasons for their early season success are evident. The Bulls showcased a formidable forward pack that asserted complete dominance up front, securing a wealth of possession. The loose trio of captain Nama Xaba, Junior Pokomela, and Jeandre Rudolph (who picked up his second Man of the Match award in as many weeks with two tries) were exceptional. Their hard work was enabled by the relentless efforts of players like locks Sintu Manjezi and Springbok Marvin Orie, amongst others, ensuring a constant supply of quality ball.
Beyond the forward power, the Bulls’ pace of play was a class apart. Their ruck speed was exceptional, constantly putting the Sharks youngsters under immense pressure. The tandem attacking plays orchestrated by flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain (who also kicked 7 conversions and was nearly flawless with the boot) and Jaco van der Walt consistently found gaping holes in the Sharks’ defence, leading to a try-fest that delighted the home crowd.
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