Bulls survived a late scare to defeat Connacht in a Galway thriller. Image: Colin Newboult/Planetrugby.
(The Post News)– On Friday night in Galway, Paul de Wet led the Vodacom Bulls to an exciting victory over Connacht, scoring two vital tries to seal the game.
In just his third Bulls game, the former Stormers scrumhalf made his first start and crossed the try-line in both halves to lead his new team to a crucial victory away from home.
Connacht nearly won the game in the closing seconds, but replacement flyhalf Sean Naughton missed Mack Hansen’s late score in the right-hand corner. After last week’s defeat to Ulster, Bulls coach Johan Ackermann made 11 changes to their starting line-up, while their opponents strengthened their roster by bringing back their British & Irish Lions prop Finlay Bealham, center Bundee Aki, and winger Hansen, who played fullback.
After Josh Ioane, the flyhalf, converted his try to give Connacht the lead, the Bulls countered with a deft backline play that De Wet completed. When flanker Josh Murphy was given a 20-minute red card for retaliating after Jan-Hendrik Wessels allegedly grabbed his genitalia in the 18th minute, the hosts were dealt a serious blow.
Quickly, the Bulls took advantage of the numerical advantage. They scored their second try when Willie le Roux stepped past Aki, assisted by winger Sebastian de Klerk. Seán O’Brien entered the game just before halftime, giving them their full complement of players after Ioane failed a penalty attempt later.
With a brilliantly executed drop goal early in the second half, Keagan Johannes increased the Bulls’ advantage to 15–7, but Caolin Blade responded with a converted try to cut the deficit.
When the scrumhalf jumped over for his second goal, De Klerk and De Wet joined forces once more, and Johannes added a penalty to increase the margin to 11 points.
Naughton missed the conversion attempt but chased down a grubber kick to score, rekindling their hopes. Then Johannes hit back with a long-range penalty, and Naughton followed up with one of his own.
Naughton had another opportunity to win it when Hansen scored for their fourth try within the 79th minute. To the relief of the opponent, he fumbled again after his initial goal effort went wrong, and he was given another chance because of an early Bulls charge.
Next, the Bulls will take on the Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium, while Connacht will take on Munster in Limerick.
Bulls vs. Connacht Tries
Connacht – Tries: Josh Ioane, Caolin Blade, Sean Naughton, Mack Hansen. Conversions: Ioane (2). Penalty goal: Naughton.
Bulls – Tries: Paul de Wet (2), Willie le Roux. Conversions: Keagan Johannes (2). Penalty goals: Johannes (2). Drop goal: Johannes.
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