Bulls dig deep to tame Lyon

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The Vodacom Bulls held on to claim a bonus-point win against Lyon on their Champions Cup debut in Pretoria on Saturday night.

Bulls boss Jake White named an experimental lineup for the South Africans’ first match in the competition, and they scored four tries to lead 28-12 by half time at Loftus Versfeld.

The French tourists fought back bravely at the death, but the hosts held on for a hard-fought 42-36 victory.

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The Bulls were 21-0 up by the close of the first quarter after two tries from scrumhalf Bernard van der Linde and an impressive finish from right wing Sibongile Novuka, with skipper Morne Steyn on song with the extras, before openside flank Nizaam Carr barged over to secure the bonus point in the 24th minute.

With the hosts looking like they would run away with the match before the close of the first half, the visitors rallied to make it a 16-point game at the break following a conversion from Lyon fullback Leo Berdeu, to go with scores from former Loftus darling Arno Botha and Kiwi hooker Liam Coltman.

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Left wing Stravino Jacobs ran a great line to finish under the posts for the Bulls’ fifth try soon after the restart, before Lyon opposite number Ethan Dumortier and Botha dotted down to help make it 35-26 with 20 minutes left to play.

A Berdeu penalty closed the gap to six, but Bulls replacement Chris Smit touched down from a break and Steyn converted, the men in blue digging deep to repel Lyon after centre Kyle Godwin’s splash in the corner made it a nervy finish on the Highveld.

The Bulls will now refocus for a trip to England to face English Premiership side Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park next Saturday, although White will be sweating the availability of inside centre Marco Jansen van Vuren and lock Jacques du Plessis after they were substituted early due to injury.

Photo: @BlueBullsRugby/Twitter

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Devin Hermanus