White: Not about bonus points as Bulls embrace knockout rugby

COACH Jake White was delighted with how the Bulls scored nine tries against Zebre but wants to see “knock-out rugby” on the upcoming tour of Europe.

- ASHFAK MOHAMED

The Pretoria side varied their play cleverly – with flyhalf Keagan Johannes to the fore in a Player-of-the-Match performance – in dismantling a stubborn Zebre 63-21 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, where even a second half fight-back from the Italian outfit was quickly crushed.

The men from Parma reduced the lead to 35-24 through hooker Tomaso di Bartolomeo’s try, but then the Bulls dominated the final quarter through touchdowns by Marco van Staden, Marcell Coetzee and others to finish the game in style.

But while they remained in third spot on the United Rugby Championship log – after Glasgow thrashed the Lions 42-0 on Saturday night – the Bulls’ attention shifts to the Challenge Cup this weekend. They left Pretoria on Sunday to travel to France, where they will face Bayonne in the round of 16 on Saturday (1.30pm kickoff).

However, White still has to keep an eye on the URC, as he will have to face Zebre match.

Sport after the Zebre match.