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Video - Specman's spectacular debut double leads Bulls in Stormers thrashing

Rosko Specman scored a phenomenal double on his Super Rugby debut as the Bulls thrashed the Stormers 40-3 in Pretoria on Saturday.

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Former sevens star Specman, 29, showed incredible pace and agility to cross twice inside the first 20 minutes, before the TMO denied him a third in the bonus-point triumph because of a knock-on by Corniel Els.

Specman took just four minutes to get off the mark, stepping past Dillyn Leyds and Wilco Louw on the left before turning on the afterburners to touch down by the posts.

The Bulls winger was at it again in the 19th minute, with Jano Vermaak unable to stop him crossing after he broke the Stormers’ line and beat Leyds once more.

John-Ben Kotze got the hosts’ third try as they went into the break leading 21-3 – SP Marais getting the sole points on the board for Robbie Fleck’s side – and Jesse Kriel latched onto Handre Pollard’s brilliant chip to extend their advantage after the restart.

Els made contact with Damian de Allende’s pass when attempting to tackle the Springbok centre, and Specman’s try after booting the ball into the in-goal area was consequently chalked off.

Pollard missed just eight kicks at goal last season – the fewest of any player to have attempted more than 50 – and he added four second-half penalties as he finished the game with 100 per cent accuracy from the tee and 20 points.

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Nickers 32 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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