Following a 54-26 victory for the Bulls over the Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship (URC), here’s our five takeaways from the game.

The top line

The Bulls picked up their fourth triumph of the URC season but were made to work by an electric Scarlets side who can take pride in this loss.

Tries from Jeandre Rudolph, Willie le Roux, Dylan Maart (2), Marcell Coetzee (2), Sebastian de Klerk and Johan Grobbelaar helped the home outfit to a bonus-point win that puts them in second position as the tournament now heads into a month’s break for the Nations Championship.

Scarlets are sitting in 14th spot after tries from John McKee, Sam Lousi, Archie Hughes and Joe Roberts saw them lock up a try bonus point.

Unsung hero

He mightn’t be a Springboks star or a poster boy of the Bulls side but time and again Rudolph puts in colossal showing after colossal showing.

The 32-year-old made a whopping 17 carries for 62 metres, beating four defenders in the game as he played a critical role in securing victory.

A monster of a carrier who has a staggering engine, Rudolph complemented that with a lovely assist for Maart that proved he is not all grunt.

Scarlets threat

Despite suffering defeat this was a hearty showing and one Scarlets can take plenty from as the United Rugby Championship takes a breather.

Make no mistake the Welsh were in with a shout of sealing a famous victory in the second half before the Bulls eventually put their foot down.

If Nigel Davies and Dwayne Peel can bottle this performance and replicate it round by round in December and into 2027 the wins will arrive.

Coetzee impact

The Bulls needed experience and a cool head on the field in the second half and Coetzee certainly provided that, scoring two tries in the victory.

The 35-year-old emerged at the start of the second 40 in place of Cameron Hanekom and quickly went about his work in the physical exchanges.

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It’s always been puzzling why Coetzee doesn’t have more Springboks caps as he is such a consistently powerful operator and was key again today.

Bench bulk

Joining Coetzee later in the proceedings were the likes of Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, Francois Klopper, Cobus Wiese and De Klerk, who added their own stamp on the game as the Bulls pulled away in the closing stages, flexing their muscle as the Scarlets fight eventually fizzled out.

Grobbelaar and De Klerk got a try to their name while the prop duo also impressed in their core duties as a scary Bulls bench certainly did its job.