Bulls 45-9 Cardiff: Welsh side unable to repeat South African heroics in six-try defeat

Cardiff were unable to reproduce last week's South African heroics as the Bulls wore them down in a six-try victory at Loftus Verfeld Stadium.

Dai Young's side went into the match on the back of a mightily impressive 35-0 victory over the Sharks in Durban, but the Bulls proved a different challenge in Pretoria as they weathered a decent start from the Arms Park side and ultimately drained the energy from the Welsh outfit.

In particular, the Bulls South African internationals Canan Moodie and Kurt-Lee Arendse were to the fore once the home side found their attacking groove.

After last week's remarkable victory, Cardiff would undoubtedly have come into this one with confidence. However, they'd have known a Bulls team flying high in the league boosted by the return of some Springbok stars posed a considerable challenge compared to last week.

Beforehand, Young admitted that this would show whether this Cardiff side, albeit one forced into a few changes through the week, could back up last week's heroics.

For much of the first-half, they did what was asked of them, causing the home side problems with a smart kicking game and some resolute breakdown work. That laid the platform for Cardiff to take the lead with a couple of penalties from Jarrod Evans either side of a response via the tee through Johan Goosen.

But as the first-half went on, the Bulls found some continuity with ball in hand and were able to put the Cardiff defence under more stress at altitude.

Patient phase play saw the Bulls outnumber their visitors on the left flank, with Springbok star Kurt-Lee Arendse drawing the final man to put fellow South Africa international Canan Moodie over on the half-hour mark.

Evans closed the deficit to a point from the tee, but