Scarlets fall away after giving Bulls a scare

United Rugby Championship

Bulls (19) 54

Tries: Rudolph, Le Roux, Maart 2, Coetzee 2, De Klerk, Grobbelaar Cons: Bosch 7

Scarlets (12) 26

Tries: McKee, Lousi, Hughes, Roberts Cons: Leggatt-Jones 3

Scarlets again showcased their ability to attack with ball in hand but went down to defeat against Bulls in a frantic United Rugby Championship encounter.

A contest that yielded 12 tries stood at 26-26 in the second half before the searing heat in Pretoria seemingly took its toll on the visitors, as the South African side dominated the final quarter to run out 54-26 winners.

A home win appeared a formality as Jeandre Rudolph, Willie le Roux, and Dylan Maart all crossed to make it 19-0, only for a John McKee score and a superb try from Sam Lousi to bring Scarlets back into it.

The comeback continued after the break as Joe Roberts sent another nod to Wales head coach Steve Tandy with his fourth try in two games, and Archie Hughes’ score secured a bonus point as well as levelling the contest.

But then Scarlets faded as replacement Marcel Coetzee crossed twice for Bulls, to go with further scores from Sebastian de Clerk, Johan Grobbelaar, and Maart again.

On the final weekend before the URC breaks for the November internationals, Scarlets kicked off in Pretoria with a seemingly daunting task ahead of them.

Dwayne Peel was missing eight Wales squad players as well as key centre Johnny Williams against a Bulls side that boasted eight Springboks in their own matchday 23.

Sure enough, the hosts started at a frantic pace although almost paid for over-ambition when scrum-half Davies just failed to pull off a trademark interception on his own 22.

However, the pressure soon told when a series of powerful forward carries culminated in flanker Rudolph going over.

Scarlets almost hit straight back when a break from Roberts led to Gareth Davies being held up over the line, but the possession and physicality of Bulls soon told again.

Full-back Le Roux cut through a scrambled defence and then, following a breathless phase of play, Rudolph’s clever pass put winger Maart over in the corner.

But despite trailing 19-0, Scarlets continued to be bold with ball in hand and were rewarded when hooker McKee scored out wide.

Then came a moment to remember as second row Groves broke clear in midfield before linking with Davies and Anderson – and the latter offloaded superbly for Lousi to touch down.

With just a seven-point deficit, Scarlets turned around still right in the contest but then fell foul of a critical moment.

The Welsh side seemed to have drawn level when full-back Nicholas latched on to a chip from Cameron Leggat-Jones and put Davies under the posts, only for the try to be ruled out following TMO intervention.

From the resultant penalty, Bulls kicked to the corner and a line-out drive set the platform for replacement Coetzee to burrow over from close range.

But again Scarlets refused to yield and Archie Hughes, who only came in on the wing for Ioan Jones moments before kick-off, was denied a try by the TMO only to then score in the corner after Stedman Gans was yellow-carded.

And 15 minutes into the second half the scores were level as full-back Ioan Nicholas cut loose and teed up a try for the in-form Roberts.

But like in Cape Town last week, Scarlets faded in the latter stages and the home side finally killed the game off after back-rower Coetzee again scored from a rolling maul.

His fellow replacements De Clerk and Grobbelaar also capitalised on a tiring defence to score and Maart barged over for his second try – as Peel and co were again forced to settle for a solitary losing bonus point.

Despite two positive showings – and two points – in South Africa, Scarlets now have just one win from their five league games and lie 15th in the table, while Bulls temporarily go fifth having maintained their unbeaten home record.

How they lined up

Bulls: Le Roux; Maart, Gans, Vorster, Jacobs; Bosch, De Wet; Tshakweni, Wessels, Mchunu, Vermaak, Van Heerden, Rudolph, Liebenberg (capt), Hanekom.

Replacements: Grobbelaar, Steenekamp, Klopper, Wiese, Coetzee, Burger, S de Klerk, Kunene.

Yellow card: Gans 48.

Scarlets: Nicholas; Hughes, Roberts, McDonald, Murray-Macgregor; Leggatt-Jones, G Davies; Domachowski, McKee, H O’Connor, Allen, Groves, Lousi, Macleod (capt), Anderson.

Replacements: Young, S O’Connor, Hawley, Cuckson, D Davis, D Blacker, Anscombe, J Davies.

Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Christopher Allison & Dylen November (South Africa)

TMO: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland)