Handré Pollard delivered a flawless kicking display as the Bulls overwhelmed Stade Français Paris 56-20 in their opening Champions Cup fixture at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon.
The Springbok fly-half converted all eight tries in a commanding performance from the tee, guiding Johan Ackermann's side to a bonus-point triumph in Pool Four. Wing Cheswill Jooste announced himself with a hat-trick, the 20-year-old crossing after barely 20 seconds when he chased down a Harold Vorster grubber before dotting down. The youngster completed his treble in the final quarter, twice more exploiting his pace to leave the Parisian defence trailing.
Cobus Wiese, Cameron Hanekom, Marco van Staden, Jeandre Rudolph and Jan-Hendrik Wessels added the other tries for the Bulls, who led 21-6 at the interval. Stade Français responded through lock Jacques Botha and Petero Mailulu, with fly-half Ihaia West and Louis Foursans-Bourdette contributing 10 points from the tee. The visitors remained within eight points with 20 minutes remaining before the Bulls pulled clear.
Kicking game pays dividends
Rudolph's 63rd-minute score epitomised the Bulls' tactical approach. The replacement loose forward chipped ahead before gathering his own kick to cross for what sources described as a brilliant try. Wessels profited similarly, pouncing on a ball before it went dead in the Stade in-goal to claim the sixth five-pointer. The home side's aerial game proved a consistent weapon in hot conditions at altitude.
Pollard's eight conversions from eight attempts underlined his composure in his first Champions Cup outing for the Bulls. The result gives the Pretoria franchise early momentum in a pool where bonus points may prove decisive come the knockout stages. Ackermann will now turn attention to building on this platform when European competition resumes in the new year.