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United Rugby ChampionshipBenettonBulls

Bulls too strong for Benetton

By PA
(Photo by Roberto Bregani/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

The Bulls were made to work hard for a 46-29 United Rugby Championship victory over Benetton in Pretoria.

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Benetton were shock 35-8 winners when these sides met for the first time in last season’s Rainbow Cup final in Treviso but were not fancied to repeat the feat on South African soil.

However, Marco Bortolami’s men dominated the early stages at Loftus Versfeld, opening up a 13-0 lead thanks to a Tommaso Menoncello try and the boot of Rhyno Smith.

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Zach Mercer – Life in Montpellier & England Ambitions | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 30

Cyle Brink and Kurt-Lee Arendse went over before half-time to reduce the deficit to 16-12 before a second Arendse touchdown and more from Marcell Coetzee, Canan Moodie and Simphiwe Matanzima saw the Bulls to a bonus-point win.

Menoncello added a consolation after Niccolo Cannone had been red-carded for a closed fist to the chin of Arno Botha.

The result strengthens the Bulls’ play-off prospects, having come into the weekend in the eighth and final qualifying berth.

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Comments on RugbyPass

B
Ben 15 minutes ago
Rassie Erasmus pinpoints what made the difference in tight Bok win

Funny but sad how this poor soul runs out of people to stalk and harass as they all block him, and then changes his name so they'll talk to him again.

17 Go to comments
T
TI 30 minutes ago
Four England talking points after they blow it again down the finish

Steward is a defensive liability at the international level.

Dude costs England two tries per game. How many proofs does Borthwick need to see?

8 Go to comments
T
TI 39 minutes ago
France player ratings vs All Blacks | Autumn Nations Series

Just insanely inflated ratings.

At this time we have to assume, that this is a pure troll.

They just want traction under the article, so they provoke. The whole RugbyPass is turning into Ben Smith. Tabloid clickbait, biased nonsense.

Aldritt with the best performance ever?

Dude handed Roigaard an intercept try on a silver plate.

21 Go to comments
T
Tom 55 minutes ago
Four England talking points after they blow it again down the finish

He would still have Youngs and Farrell if they were available.

8 Go to comments
G
Gordon Holtmann 1 hour ago
'Who gives a crap?' Animosity towards the Springboks is proof of their dominance

Stephen Jones is a proxy for the NH rugby bosses and his article is a softener to prepare us proles for a rule change.

31 Go to comments
j
johnz 1 hour ago
‘We’re in control’: Ardie Savea reflects on All Blacks’ loss to France

What's improved to my eye's is this group has developed a bit of ticker and belief. They've grown tight as the overused cliché goes, and they stay in for the fight until the end. Earlier in the season they were just wilting after the break. And what's pleasing is the number of young guys contributing, particularly in the forwards. It's a good foundation to build on. Yes third is a fair enough appraisal on current form. Though I disagree this French team can't beat South Africa, if they turn up mentally, on their day they can beat anyone. It's consistency that will always plague the French.

10 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
This Springboks team still relies largely on vibes

They could easily be 11 from 11 and yet have they once, for an entire match, put in a commanding show?

Missed the games again Wales, Portugal, Australia, Argentina at Bombela?


Our tight victories have come against the best teams in the world. Pretty normal.

5 Go to comments
S
SM 1 hour ago
‘I’ll talk to Scott’: Scott Robertson reflects on Barrett’s late-game call

We need center's.

9 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
France player ratings vs All Blacks | Autumn Nations Series

This is probably the first time I’ve seen less than a 9 for Dupont.


Are we sure France won?

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 2 hours ago
All Blacks player ratings vs France | Autumn Nations Series

😂

24 Go to comments
C
CM 2 hours ago
Four England talking points after they blow it again down the finish

Meanwhile Scotland blood a 19yr old as Borthwick ignores all the form backs and forwards. Borthwick's choice of coaches and players has proven to be awful. Ford fails yet is still chosen. Thank goodness Ben Youngs retired or Borthwick would play him.

8 Go to comments
L
LRB 2 hours ago
'Who gives a crap?' Animosity towards the Springboks is proof of their dominance

Yes absolutely 👍 😁

31 Go to comments
R
RedWarrior 2 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus pinpoints what made the difference in tight Bok win

Tight match a few points:

-England are badly missing Felix Jones. This one was very winnable. Tactics were clueless at the end

-Andrew Brace chickened out of a yellow for SA at the end. SA brought down a driving Maul approaching the SA line. That is a yellow. No ifs no buts. He said to SA "Dont think I wont give you a yellow just because youve a man already in the bin". But that's EXACTLY what you were doing Bracey. England 9point deficit versus 13 and a penalty deep in the SA 22 is a likely winning position. Brace didn't give a yellow because SA already had a man in the bin.

-England are not bad but they need an expert with the analytical capabilities of a Felix Jones.

17 Go to comments
m
mw 2 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus pinpoints what made the difference in tight Bok win

You must be the exception to that rule Nigella.

17 Go to comments
T
TI 2 hours ago
France suffer double injury blow ahead of All Blacks clash

Oh, look at how well your jingoistic little rant has aged.

France won. New Zealand second best.

7 Go to comments
R
RedWarrior 2 hours ago
All Blacks winger chimes in on GOAT debate after France defeat

Another Kiwi re defines prerequisites for great players to suit his one eyed jingoistic outlook.

10 Go to comments
R
RedWarrior 2 hours ago
All Blacks winger chimes in on GOAT debate after France defeat

No he didn't. That's utter nonsense.

10 Go to comments
C
CW 2 hours ago
Four England talking points after they blow it again down the finish

I'll say it again. The England players are really good but they have shown consistently that they are not world beaters in every position. New World Cup cycle. Bring in new side based on young players who can be word beaters in 27. This team won't. Pollock, Fasogbon, Hill, Tizzard, Fitz-Harding for Skipper, Ibitoye, Lesowzki, Kenningham, Tom Willis, Retain the Smits and Mitchell. Current pack is overrated, especially the 4 - 8. You need to be able to defend and carry and be up for the fight. 12 13 and wing channels are one dimensional. If England doesn't change it will be also-rans for a long time.

8 Go to comments
R
RedWarrior 2 hours ago
France outwrestle All Blacks in titanic Test for one-point win

Ramos was responsible for three tries against England and Galthie doesn't learn.

NZ just piled down his channel and the predictable holes from Blue players shoring the vulnerability. NZ managed to easily muscle through this vulnerability to take a HT lead. Ramos sometimes kicks to make partial amends for his defensive ghosts performances. In 2023 he kicked a restart dead with 5 mins to go v SA. Move on please France.

France wand Dupont broke off some of their rust to secure the win, but it was a tighter than it really should have been. Strong NZ forward pack with not much bite to the backs. If NZ don't win the RWC in 2027 they will be 16 years into beating their 24 year drought record. France have so much to improve. NZ tend to only win home RWCs. Sorry Kiwis, I don't see it with this team.

42 Go to comments
A
AV 2 hours ago
Four England talking points after they blow it again down the finish

100%

8 Go to comments
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