Willie Le Roux issues classy response to online dig after Bulls win

Willie le Roux responded with a classy comeback to an online dig following the Vodacom Bulls’ emphatic 52–17 win over the Lions at Ellis Park.

The Bulls ran in eight tries to sweep aside their Johannesburg rivals, with Handre Pollard and Embrose Papier steering the side slickly from half-back as the visitors dominated from the opening quarter.

In the aftermath, a social media post praised the Bulls’ performance while suggesting they looked better without Le Roux in the line-up. The veteran full-back opted for a measured reply rather than biting back, wishing the poster a good weekend.

RhymeswithRuck wrote on X: “Amazing how much better the Bulls look without Willie le Roux, and with Papier + Pollard finally trusted to kick in their own half. Whole team looks transformed.”

Le Roux replied: “Cheers tjom… have a lekker weekend.”

Game, set and match to the 98-cap Springbok.

The 36-year-old has long been regarded as one of South African rugby’s most influential back-three players over the past decade, but he also has more than his fair share of detractors, nonetheless. Used to defusing on-pitch bombs, Le Roux clearly understands that ‘less is more’ when defusing the online variety.

On the field, the Bulls were ruthless. Johann Ackermann’s side crossed eight times in a dominant display built on tempo, physicality and sharp execution around the fringes.

Harold Vorster opened the scoring with a close-range finish inside 10 minutes, converted by Handre Pollard, who then added a second try himself from a pick-and-go before Kurt-Lee Arendse finished off a flowing move just before the break. Pollard converted two of the three first-half scores as the Bulls went into the sheds firmly in control.

The Lions briefly rallied early in the second half through Morne van den Berg, but the contest quickly slipped away from them. Vorster grabbed his second, Embrose Papier crossed twice, and Mpilo Gumede powered over as the Bulls repeatedly cut through tired defenders. Pollard added further conversions as the margin ballooned.

Keagan Johannes rounded off another slick passing move late on before the Lions had the final word through Bronson Mills after the hooter, Chris Smith converting to bring the match to a close at 52–17.