By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Vodacom Bulls delivered a poor performance on their way to an embarrassing 5-50 Champions Cup defeat to Northampton Saints in England.
It’s the Bulls’ second defeat in a row in the tournament after they lost their opener 33-46 to Bordeaux-Begles in Round One.
Saints wing George Hendy scored a hat-trick of tries, while Ollie Sleightholme got a brace and Henry Pollock scored the bonus point try before the hour mark as a dominant Saints team cut loose in the second half.
The Bulls were still in the game with the score 14-5 at the break but a yellow card to prop Alulutho Tshakweni in the 53rd minute for a needless trip proved very costly and they failed to register a point in the second half.
England fly-half Fin Smith added 10 points from the tee as Saints went top of Pool Four on points difference from holders Bordeaux with both sides on 10 points.
The top two teams in the pool meet in a rerun of last year’s final when the Investec Champions Cup returns in January as Saints head to Bordeaux. Northampton then round off the pool stage with a home game against Scarlets on 18 January.
The Bulls, who have one point from two matches, host Bristol next before an away trip to Pau.
“The reality is that no one goes out there to make a mistake,” Bulls coach Johan Ackermann said. “I don’t think people go to work to make mistakes, but it happens.
“My faith is in God, and that’s where my identity lies. I can keep my faith, keep working with the players I have, keep faith in them and support them where I can. Hopefully, we’ll be able to work our way out of this hole.”