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Cardiff’s hopes of maiden play-off place dented by Bulls defeat

By Mark Mansfield
Cardiff Rugby

Cardiff’s hopes of securing a maiden appearance in the United Rugby Championship play-offs will go down to the wire following a 45-21 defeat to Bulls in Pretoria.

Sitting fifth heading into the final two rounds, tough assignments against Bulls and Stormers in South Africa, the game was over for Cardiff by half-time as the home side ran in four tries.

After an early Johan Goosen penalty, Harold Vorster, Wilco Louw, Canan Moodie all crossed, with Goosen and Keagan Johannes (twice) converting, to put Bulls 24-0 ahead just past the first-quarter mark.

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Bonus-point try

Cameron Hanekom secured the bonus-point try for Bulls, Johannes again adding the extras, before the break and Sebastian de Klerk’s converted score early in the second half extended their lead.

Cardiff got on the board through Alex Mann, with Ben Thomas adding the extras and, after De Klerk’s second try of the game, Teddy Williams and Gabe Hamer-Webb crossed late on, Thomas converting both.

The Welsh side must now hope other results go their way and may also need to beat Stormers on Friday to guarantee a top-eight finish.

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2 comments

Y Cymro

I find the Welsh regions have the inability to win against South African sides away from home. Saying that. They struggle at home. We used to produce tough players, grafters , who put the fear of god into opposition. Now our players spend more time putting fake tan on and washing their hair. The Blues competed to a certain extent, but like the Wales national side fell away after making silly errors allowing the more physical South African side, usually packed with former and current Boks, to get the upper hand and pull away out of sight. And we wonder why South Africa won numerous World Cups and Wales always flatters to deceive. When regionalism came into existence it was said that it improved the fortunes of the national side. Which it did, I must admit. After all, in 2005 we won our first of many Grand Slams with coach Mike Ruddock before his and our fortunes changed for the worse ( thanks Gareth Thomas) leading to where we are now. In a hole with no way of climbing out. So if the regions continue to fail how on earth will the fortunes national side improve? At the moment France , especially England, are cherry picking players from Wales. Most are not even playing regularly but mere bench warmers. Which means Wales suffers not only with a player drain but makes those once promising would-be internationals not international ready, if they choose to play for Wales that is, seeing cynical England are now aping New Zealand offer to pay promising players their education so long as they choose to represent England or the All Blacks.

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J Jones

The 2005 to 2019 4th Golden Era came from reducing our professional tier to 4 teams, but it ended partly because those 4 teams chose to cut off most of the country in favour of two old club derby rivalries with very little catchment. Underhand English tactics such as the Quentin / Alphonsi sabotage kicked the legs out from under us when we were already on our knees - that takes some doing, but shows the envy that build up over 15 years from England and the other parties who also piled in. As an indigenous nation who has been and done it 4 times in over a century, we can afford a smile considering posh boys and colonials are being outclassed by indigenous native people from around the world.

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The 2005 to 2019 4th Golden Era came from reducing our professional tier to 4 teams, but it ended partly because those 4 teams chose to cut off most of the country in favour of two old club derby rivalries with very little catchment. Und...

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