Bulls thrash Lyon in dominant Champions Cup victory to reach quarter-finals

Lyon were thrashed 59-19 by the Bulls in the Investec Champions Cup round of 16.

The French outfit ultimately struggled in the South African sun at the Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, missing out on a chance to play in the Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals for the first time.

They had secured a dramatic 29-28 victory when the two teams last met in the tournament’s pool stage, but it will instead be the Bulls who make their debut in the last eight against either Northampton Saints or Munster.

The hosts had taken a 21-0 lead through tries from Sebastian de Klerk, Embrose Papier and Marcell Coetzee when Lyon finally got on the scoreboard, with Martin Page-Relo scoring the ‘sneakiest try’.

He quickly tapped a penalty before making for the line while the Bulls players were standing around.

The decision to give the try was upheld after a TMO review, with referee Luke Pearce explaining to the Bulls players why the move was legal.

It was not just the Bulls players who were caught off guard – Page-Relo’s try was not initially broadcast as the cameras had cut away during the break in play.

“Look at that – everybody fooled,” said TNT Sports commentator Claire Thomas. “The cameras, the director. A quick tap. Martin Page-Relo with the sneakiest try he will ever score has got Lyon up and running.”

Co-commentator and former rugby player Thinus Delport agreed that the try was “certainly going to be a talking point.”

“Taking the quick tap, a lot of questions will be asked around the water carriers on the field,” he said.

“Was the clock off? Explanation there by Luke Pearce, the time was on, it was a quick tap. The Bulls had their backs turned and he [Page-Relo] exploited that concentration lapse.”

The Bulls immediately responded after the controversial try, with Ruan Vermaak going over under the posts and Johan Goosen adding two more points.

The hosts went into half-time with a 28-7 lead, but went down to 14 players shortly after the second half got underway as Canan Moodie illegally denied Page-Relo from scoring a try.

While Lyon managed to close the gap to 14 points, the Bulls quickly got back on track as Willie le Roux got the ball down in the corner.

Papier then got his second try of the match, with Goosen converting.

Thaakir Abrahams responded with a try for Lyon, but that was to be their last contribution to the scoreboard.

David Kriel and Chris Smith got in on the act with late tries for the Bulls, before De Klerk ensured his team finished with a flourish by adding five points to secure a 59-19 victory.

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