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Bulls implode to hand Jaguares victory

rugby06 April 2019 16:02| © SuperSport
By:Brenden Nel
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Domingo Miotti © Getty Images
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The Vodacom Bulls imploded in spectacular fashion as they conceded two yellow cards and two tries in the last 10 minutes to lose a 10-point lead and eventually the game 22-20 to a resurgent Jaguares side at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

The Bulls watched as first Tim Agaba was carded and then Conrad van Vuuren later left the field, and lost the momentum they had as they were cruising 20-10 up with less than 10 minutes to go.

By losing Agaba, who used his shoulder to clean out a Jaguares player in the ruck, they surrendered the momentum, and watched as replacement Domingo Miotti scored twice to seal the victory for the Argentinean side.

In the end the Bulls lost the game rather than the Jaguares winning it, and at the end of the day have only themselves to blame for an implosion that could have been prevented.

Having said that, there was a legitimate question-mark in Miotti’s winning try, which featured a clear forward pass that was missed by all the officials, but it mattered not as the Jaguares celebrated their first win over a big South African franchise in South Africa.

Their previous victories came over the Cheetahs and Kings in South Africa but until this game they had never beaten a big four franchise in the country.

Still this was a game which left so many questions on the table and ended in a controversial manner once again with legitimate questions over the officiating.

For instance, prior to Agaba’s yellow there was a clear knock down from Matias Orlando, a blatant one at that that received a penalty sanction. While in most games that would constitute a yellow card, referee Brendan Pickerill decided not to award it.

Still, teams know in this competition to get away with what they can and it worked for the Jaguares in the end.

What wasn't excusable was the yellow card for Conrad van Vuuren. The Bulls prop took a player out in the air, costing his team any chance of a comeback as the game wound down in the last minutes. It was a moment that the Bulls could ill afford and it cost them dearly.

SERIOUS QUESTIONS

In the end both Miotti's tries were unavoidable given the momentum shift and the lopsided numbers and the Jaguares did what international sides do best, score when it matters.

It left the Bulls with serious questions about their own abilities – the fact they still haven't been able to beat overseas opposition this year, and how much of a hangover they still are carrying from the Chiefs defeat.

While they won in Durban last week, that was hardly convincing either and since their good start to the competition, some doubts about their ability may creep in.

That may not be altogether fair for the management team, but like so many other South African franchises, there are serious questions that need to be answered.

Before the implosion though it was a rather uninspiring game, but one the Bulls were winning through sheer work rate.

They took their points when it mattered and won the arm-wrestle, making the Jaguares pay for indiscipline through the boot of Manie Libbok, who contributed 15 points.

Would the Bulls have lost if those rested – Jesse Kriel, Handre Pollard, Rosko Specman and others – were there?

Probably not, but coach Pote Human has to trust his squad system and for 72 minutes it did the job.

Their lone try came through Burger Odendaal breaking the line out wide in the second half, then popping the ball to Jade Stighling when it mattered most.

That and Libbok's boot was enough to counter the Pablo Matera break where he exploited poor defence of Ruan Steenkamp to score for the visitors.

Much can be debated about some of the decisions, the yellow cards and everything else that happened on the field, but the fact of the matter remains that with eight minutes to go, the Bulls were cruising to victory, and they threw it away.

They have nobody to blame for the defeat but themselves.

SCORERS

Vodacom Bulls – tries: Jade Stighling. Penalties: Manie Libbok (5)

Jaguares – tries: Pablo Matera, Domingo Miotti (2). Conversion: Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Miotti. Penalty: Iglesias

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