Card-crazy Bulls outmuscle and outsmart Ospreys to break SA's sad URC duck

The Bulls righted the indignities suffered by their fellow South African teams in the United Rugby Championship with a Jekyll and Hyde 29-19 win over Ospreys in Swansea on Saturday.

The Bulls’ two-faced performance saw them race to a 26-0 lead within 23 minutes, thanks to tries from Elrigh Louw, a brace from Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Embrose Papier.

After conceding a 27th-minute try by Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake, the Bulls managed to grind their way through the game.

What looked to be a straightforward fixture eventually became an arm-wrestle after they lost inside centre David Kriel to a 49th-minute red card for leading with his elbow in making contact with Ospreys fly-half Daniel Edwards.

Two minutes later, Louw was yellow-carded for a deliberate knockdown, and suddenly, the Bulls’ once convincing lead seemed precarious.

Nine minutes before full-time, replacement loosehead prop Alulutho Tshakweni was also yellow-carded for head contact in a tackle, but Ospreys lacked the tactical and physical prowess to pose any significant long-term threat to the Bulls.

However, the Bulls had enough defensive and physical resilience to concede only one more try, scored by Ospreys left-wing Ryan Conbeer in the 55th minute.

Aside from the cards, the Bulls appeared poised to dominate their hosts after Louw’s third-minute try.

Right-wing Sebastian de Klerk intercepted a stray Ospreys pass and passed to Canan Moodie. After a quick recycle, Louw received the ball and managed to evade Gareth Thomas to score.

Eight minutes later, Arendse crossed the line for his first try after Moodie’s line break cut through Ospreys’ defence, allowing the nimble winger to score in the corner untouched.

Two minutes after that, Bok lock Ruan Nortje intercepted Lake’s lineout