Skipper Morne Steyn says the Vodacom Bulls proved their critics wrong as a makeshift side dug deep to beat Lyon for a maiden win in the Champions Cup on Saturday.
Jake White named an experimental lineup for the Bulls’ first match in the competition, and the French tourists made the hosts sweat for a 42-36 bonus-point victory at Loftus Versfeld.
The Bulls were 21-0 up by the close of the first quarter, and Nizaam Carr barged over to secure the bonus point in the 24th minute, but Lyon centre Kyle Godwin’s try close to the final whistle made it a nervy finish on the Highveld.
ICYMI – Bulls dig deep to tame Lyon
“A great fight from the boys for 80 minutes and I think that’s what we’re going to get every week. Next week we’re in Exeter and it’s not going to get any easier,” veteran flyhalf Steyn said post match.
“I think that was the most important thing; we told the boys in the cloakroom that we wanted a good start and I think that’s what we did.
“We put them away in the first half but they kept on fighting for 80 minutes so ja, it wasn’t easier.
“I got a bit of cramp in the last 10 minutes but that’s probably the old legs, but it’s great to get an 80-minute fight by the boys.”
Scrumhalf Bernard van der Linde, who scored two of the Bulls’ six tries on the night, was named Man of the Match, while the likes of right wing Sibongile Novuka impressed in a match that also saw the return of Jacques du Plessis, although the towering lock was substituted early due to injury.
Steyn added: “I know a lot of people didn’t give us a chance, and a lot of guys that played tonight, a lot of them [fans and pundits] didn’t even know their names; there were a lot of guys who also came back from injury.
“So I think there’s a lot of big names for the years to come.”
?Your Heineken Champions Cup Star of the Match, Bernard van der Linde.#BULvLYO #HeinekenChampionsCup @Vodacom #TrueToTheBlue #BullsHeard pic.twitter.com/1Xenb5TQUr
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) December 10, 2022
Photo: @BlueBullsRugby/Twitter
