Faletau returns but Cardiff thrashed at Bulls

United Rugby Championship

Bulls (33) 40

Tries: Coetzee, Grobbelaar, Kriel, Papier, Louw, Vermaak Cons: Pollard 4, Kriel

Cardiff (7) 7

Tries: Millard Cons: Sheedy

Cardiff endured their first pointless United Rugby Championship (URC) match of the season as they were overpowered by fellow play-off hopefuls Bulls in Pretoria.

Corniel van Zyl's side had gained at least a consolation bonus from all 12 rounds before travelling to Loftus Versfeld.

But they came unstuck against Bulls, who scored six tries to close to within five points of the fifth-placed Blue and Blacks.

Centre Harri Millard went over for Cardiff early on and Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau made a welcome return from injury, but it was a chastening first half of their South Africa double-header.

Cardiff will attempt to get back on track against Sharks in Durban next weekend.

Bulls have been runners-up in three of four seasons in the URC and are in good shape to make the top eight, where they will quietly fancy their chances.

They showed their quality to get the job done in the first half despite a perfect start for Cardiff in the third minute.

Millard, the URC top try scorer last season, went over for his first of 2025-26 after midfield partner Ben Thomas gathered a loose ball.

But the visitors failed to build on the score because of indiscipline – having conceded just penalties in their most recent win against Leinster.

Back-row Alun Lawrence was sin-binned for a cynical breakdown offence and Bulls flanker Marcell Coetzee and hooker Johan Grobbelaar went over from driving lineouts.

The hosts had their bonus in the 35th minute thanks to rapid Springboks wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, who set up tries for full-back David Kriel and scrum-half Embrose Papier, before a fortunate fifth for flanker Elrigh Louw from a hack by number eight Nizaam Carr.

Trailing 33-7 at the break, the target for Cardiff was a potential try bonus but they never came close despite chances.

Instead Bulls added to their tally through replacement Ruan Vermaak but they too failed to build on their first half dominance as the second half petered out.

Other than limiting an even heavier defeat in the second half, Cardiff's only glimmer of light in Pretoria was the return of Faletau after a calf injury.

The Wales and Lions number eight came off the bench in the 57th minute for a first appearance since the New Year's Day defeat by Ospreys.

The 35-year-old has made just six appearances this season with injuries denying him the chance to be part of Wales' autumn or Six Nations campaigns.

But his comeback is timely at a key stage of the season with Cardiff chasing the URC play-offs as well as a last-16 tie in the European Challenge Cup to come.

Bulls: Kriel; Jooste, Moodie, Gans, Arendse; Pollard, Papier; Steenekamp, Grobbelaar, Klopper, Wiese, Nortje, Coetzee (capt), Louw, Carr.

Replacements: van Staden, Wessels, Mchunu, Vermaak, Hanekom, Rudolph, de Wet, le Roux.

Cardiff: Winnett; Grady, Millard, B Thomas, Beetham; Sheedy, A Davies; Barratt, Belcher (capt), Sebastian, McNally, Nott, Lawrence, D Thomas, Basham.

Replacements: D Hughes, Southworth, Wainwright, Thornton, Botham, Faletau, Bevan, I Lloyd.

Yellow card: Lawrence 7

Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)

Assistants: Griffin Colby & Jonathan Lottering (South Africa)

TMO: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)