Played |
Points |
|
| Stormers | 6 | 29 |
| Crusaders | 6 | 26 |
| Reds | 6 | 26 |
| Blues | 7 | 25 |
| Waratahs | 6 | 22 |
| Bulls | 6 | 21 |
| Highlanders | 6 | 21 |
| Sharks | 7 | 20 |
| Rebels | 7 | 15 |
| Brumbies | 6 | 13 |
| Chiefs | 7 | 12 |
| Force | 6 | 12 |
| Hurricanes | 6 | 12 |
| Lions | 7 | 9 |
| Cheetahs | 7 | 8 |
| Stormers | 6 | 29 |
| Bulls | 6 | 21 |
| Sharks | 7 | 20 |
| Lions | 7 | 9 |
| Cheetahs | 7 | 8 |
| Reds | 6 | 26 |
| Waratahs | 6 | 22 |
| Rebels | 7 | 15 |
| Brumbies | 6 | 13 |
| Force | 6 | 12 |
| Crusaders | 6 | 26 |
| Blues | 7 | 25 |
| Highlanders | 6 | 21 |
| Chiefs | 7 | 12 |
| Hurricanes | 6 | 12 |
The Highlanders had the desperation and desire to remain strong on defence in the face of a spirited Brumbies challenge.
The opening quarter went scoreless before two long range Highlanders tries sparked by winger kade Poki, and finished by hooker Jason Rutledge, in the space of 2 minutes opened a handy lead for the Highlanders.
A penalty took the score to 15-0, and put the Brumbies on the back foot.
Matt Giteau missed 2 penalty attempts before stepping his way over close to the line to narrow the gap to 15-7, but another long range attempt just before the break couldn’t close the gap for the Brumbies who really should have had the lead but for some poor goal kicking.
Tony Brown replaced Colin Slade who was injured once more, and kicked 2 vital penalties to open a large lead once more.
Brown was sin-binned with 12 minutes remaining, and the Brumbies mounted a strong challenge. However straight after scoring a try to Andrew Smith, the Highlanders hit back as captain Jamie MacKintosh barged over after ripping the ball out of a ruck to seal the match.
With 5 losses from 6 games, the Brumbies look out of the title race, but more importantly have lost their aura and without major changes are now destined to be one of the also rans.
The Waratahs forward pack dominated early on to set up a strong platform for their win.
A scrum turnover allowed winger Atieli Pakalani to score after an impressive 8 phase buildup.
Waratahs captain Phil Waugh then opted for a series of scrums from penalties as the referee sin-binned Chiefs prop Nathan White for collapsing the scrum.
The Waratahs scored a penalty try from the resultant scrum and sustained pressure.
At half-time the Waratahs led 20-6.
After the break it was a different story, with the Chiefs able to get their hands on the ball and build sustained pressure.
A calf injury to Phil Waugh seemed to change the momentum of the match as the Waratahs defence was being fully tested.
Chiefs fullback Tim Nanai-Williams scored a try and kicked a penalty to narrow the gap to 4 with 6 minutes remaining.
Despite a late surge from the Chiefs, a penalty goal allowed Kurtley Beale a chance to wind down the clock and seal the win for the ‘Tahs.
The Blues did most of the attacking for the first 65 minutes, and failed to finish off opportunities in the opening quarter.
The Cheetahs defence held firm, but there is only so much defending a side can do.
Inevitably the Blues were able to finish off, as Joe Rockocoko and Stephen Brett utilised their space to cross the line.
The Blues then led 22-3 and possibly felt they had the match in the bag, but Sarel Pretorius who had en excellent game for the Cheetahs scored 2 tries.
The Blues claimed their bonus point try before Coenie Oosthuizen made the game appear closer than it was.
The Bulls secured an important win with basic Bulls rugby.
The Bulls were direct, and executed the basics of the game more clinically to keep their pack moving forward, and giving Fourie du Preez and Morne Steyn the space they need to work in.
Steyn kicked brilliantly, and took 2 drop goals despite intense booing from the crowd!
Playing with a strong wind in the first half the Bulls dominated territory and possession, minimising opportunities for the Hurricanes and going to the break with a well deserved 12 point lead.
However the Hurricanes were able to claim territory and possession as they made use of the wind, putting pressure on the Bulls defence.
The Bulls held strong however, with a great team effort, showing plenty of desperation at times to keep the Hurricanes out.
The Bulls were able to keep a slender lead, and when an opportunity came, Wynand Olivier cut the line brilliantly to put Francois Hougaard into space and nail the match winning try.
The Rebels secured their first ever victory away from home, holding on for a nail biting victory in Perth.
The Force made the play early, opening up a 15-3 lead early in the match.
However the Rebels have shown all season that they do not give up, and despite looking very impotent on attack on many occasions, were able to score after an 8 phase period late in the first half along with a penalty to trail just 15-14 at the break.
A poor floating pass from Cameron Shepherd allowed the Rebels to score again and the Force trailed by 8 points with 20 minutes remaining.
James O’Çonnor had a chance to seal the match with a late kick, but his 4 missed kicks turned out to be the difference between winning and losing for the Force who may have been affected from the trip back from Cape Town.
The Lions have not won a home game in 2 seasons, and it is no wonder the fans have deserted them as Ellis Park was once again atmosphereless.
The Reds appeared to be in second gear for much of the match, prepared to give the ball air, but failing to run straight and hard often enough.
However the Lions were equally clueless on attack, and were gifted points from a error ridden Reds side.
The Lions even played against 14 men for 20 minutes of the first half, but could only manage a 14-10 half-time lead.
The Reds looked better as the match wore on, but both sides failed to deliver the knock out punch, as the Reds hung on for an important away victory.
The Stormers remain unbeaten as their defence won them yet another match.
Conditions were wet and greasy, and in the end it was the Stormers who made less errors when it counted.
This was based on an aggressive, impenetrable defence, and a superb tactical performance from flyhalf Peter Grant who controlled the match.
The Sharks did have their chances, but inevitably made errors as the Stormers competed strongly to deny them any easy points.
Unlike the Currie Cup final last year, it was the Stormers who scored the early points, and in wet conditions they showed the maturity of being able to play with a lead, and deny the Sharks the ability come back into the match. What also impressed was their discipline, never allowing the Sharks any easy points to claw their way back.
The Bulls need at least 2 wins on their overseas trip and play a Hurricanes side which is out of form and struggling so far in 2011.
The Bulls have not been vintage this year either, so which time will be able to turn their fortunes around?
The Bulls have named a strong squad, and welcome back Francois Hougaard to the starting lineup.
Hougaard is a player with the ‘x’ factor and replaces Gerard van den Heever who drops down to the bench.
Gary Botha and Zane Kirchner also return to the starting line-up, replacing Chiliboy and Jaco van der Westhuyzen.
Frans Ludeke has also opted for a traditional 4-3 split on the bench, possibly influenced by Danie Rossouw’s absence from the squad. Rossouw has stayed in Pretoria as his wife gave birth to their son.
The Bulls only left Pretoria on Tuesday night, arriving in Wellington at midnight on Wednesday night.
It’s the same strategy they’ve successfully employed on their last 2 overseas trips, minimizing the time spent away from home.
This Bulls side understands there is little they need to do on the training field, it’s being mentally prepared and rested that will influence the result on Saturday.
The Bulls have won their opening match on tour 4 out of the last 5 years. Hopefully that is a good omen!
Many have said the Bulls are in decline, but it won’t take much to awaken the sleeping giants.
They’ve not been their typical selves in the set-pieces, and that has put pressure on the rest of their game.
Prior to the Lions clash, Victor Matfield said, “It is definitely something that is worrying me/ “It is not something we are used to and we will have to work hard to rectify these things.”
“We always do things accurately, that’s what usually makes us good. We don’t lose a scrum or a lineout and we put other teams under pressure.”
“We are a team that is traditionally good at the detail. Our execution was always our strength, but we’re no longer accurate. I know we can fix it.”
It won’t take much to turn it around, but the Bulls can ill-afford to gift the Hurricanes with chances, despite their oppositions poor recent form.
The Bulls will find this a tough match, and while I believe they are fatigued, if they keep it simple and execute the basics correctly they stand a good chance.
The Hurricanes are in a similar position of having plenty of class that can click on any given day.
If the Bulls dominate up front, and keep Steyn ticking the points over, I believe they can do it!
Bulls by 8.
Go Bulle Go!
1. Dean Greyling
2. Gary Botha
3. Werner Kruger
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Victor Matfield (c)
6. Deon Stegmann
7. Dewald Potgieter
8. Pierre Spies
9. Fourie du Preez
10. Morne Steyn
11. Francois Hougaard
12. Wynand Olivier
13. Jaco Pretorius
14. Bjorn Basson
15. Zane Kirchner
16. Chiliboy Ralepelle
17. Rossouw de Klerk
18. Flip van der Merwe
19. Derick Kuun
20. Francois Brummer
21. Gerhard van den Heever
22. Jaco van der Westhuyzen
1. John Schwalger
2. Andrew Hore (c)
3. Neemia Tialata
4. Jeremy Thrush
5. Jason Eaton
6. Jack Lam
7. Serge Lilo
8. Victor Vito
9. Chris Eaton
10. Daniel Kirkpatrick
11. Hosea Gear
12. Ma’a Nonu
13. Conrad Smith
14. Julin Savea
15. Corey Jane
16. Dane Coles
17. Jacob Ellison
18. James Broadhurst
19. Mark Reddish
20. Tyson Keats
21. Aaron Cruden
22. Charlie Ngatai
Referee: Jonathan White
2006: Bulls 23, Hurricanes 26 (Pretoria)
2007: Bulls 9, Hurricanes 17 (Wellington)
2008: Bulls 22, Hurricanes 50 (Pretoria)
2009: Bulls 19, Hurricanes 14 (Wellington)
2010: Bulls 19, Hurricanes 18 (Pretoria)
The Stormers can open a handy lead at the top of the log by winning at a venue they’ve seldom excelled at.
The Crusaders get a chance to rest and surely look the team to beat in the tournament, despite one loss and a cancelled match.
The Aussie derbies are not even worth watching, and the Hurricanes are Bulls need to get their seasons back on track.
The Brumbies have been awful this season, whilst the Highlanders have lost momentum by coming up against the 2 best sides in the competition this year.
The Highlanders have a strong forward pack that will take the Brumbies on up front, and dominate. This should ensure a steady stream of possession and territory, whilst placing the Brumbies backs under pressure who have not been able to score easily.
Should be a comfortable win for the men from down south,
Highlanders by 9.
The Waratahs have gone off the boil as they usually do, whilst the Chiefs are their normal erratic self.
The Chiefs do have the ability to match the Waratahs up front, and then use their dangerous backs to take the Waratahs apart.
The Waratahs do have a strong defence however, and are usually strong in Sydney, a venue that hasn’t been too kind to the Chiefs.
Mind you the Waratahs showed with their last home game how average they can be.
Chiefs by 8.
The Cheetahs got their one surprise win on the road, but truth be told it’s unlikely to happen again, especially this season.
The Cheetahs have massive injury woes, but the return of Sarel Pretorious and Philip Burger may provide the spark they need.
The Blues have been fairly consistent this year, and even if they don’t play to their peak they’ll win this one comfortably.
Blues by 20.
Napier has been a kind venue to the Hurricanes, but shouldn’t provide the same advantage as Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
The Bulls know they need to win their first game on tour, else the 2 required wins will be tough to eek out of the last 3 games.
The Hurricanes have been awful, and the Bulls just need to be accurate in their set-pieces and ball carries to put pressure on the Canes.
It may come down to who wants it most, and who makes the least mistakes as neither side has been blowing sides away
Bulls by 8.
The Force had players affected by a virus last week, and they have recovered and will be hurting from a big loss to the Stormers.
The Rebels have been awful away from home so far, although they do appear to be improving.
Should be a traditional derby, but the Force have a bit more class with James O’Connor and Nathan Sharpe.
Force by 12.
The Lions have failed to build on their early season promise, beating themselves more than the opposition has.
The Reds are a side who do the basics fairly well, and use their halfbacks to create their play.
If the Lions could front up, and limit the space for Will Genia and Quade Cooper they’d stand a good chance.
The Reds do have a good record in Johannesburg, and the Lions also fail to adapt to sides who lie over the ball, a tactic the Reds use to slow the opposition attack.
The Lions are not smart enough to counter this.
Reds by 12.
The Stormers have a poor record in Durban, but they are on the rise and will be keen to atone for their poor Currie Cup final at the same venue.
Both sides are blessed with plenty of Springboks, the Sharks in the forwards, and the Stormers in the backs.
The Stormers have a more complete side, their defence has been impenetrable, whilst the sharks started well but have become more and more porous.
The lack of a quality, settled flyhalf will hurt the Sharks, who struggle to score tries at the best of times.
Questions have been asked of the Stormers offence, but last week proved they have too many quality players to be kept quiet for long.
Stormers by 8.
The Bulls depart on Tuesday night, arriving in Wellington on Wednesday at midnight in preparation for Saturday’s clash against the Hurricanes in Napier (a 5 hour drive north of Wellington on the East Coast of New Zealand).
The Bulls will play:
Apr 2 – Hurricanes
Apr 9 – Crusaders (Nelson)
Apr 16 – Reds (Brisbane)
Apr 23 – Force (Perth)
Despite the fractured arm sustained by Gurthro Steenkamp, the Bulls are back to full despite a few niggling injuries:
Jaco Pretorius (neck)
Victor Matfield (blow to the head)
Bakkies Botha (knee)
Flip van der Merwe (ankle).
The same 22 that beat the Lions will tour, along with Zane Kirchner, midfielder Stephan Dippenaar, winger Akona Ndungane and uncapped prop Morne Mellett.
Werner Kruger
Dean Greyling
Rossouw de Klerk
Morné Mellett
Gary Botha
Chiliboy Ralepelle
Victor Matfield
Bakkies Botha
Danie Rossouw
Flip van der Merwe
Pierre Spies
Dewald Potgieter
Deon Stegmann
Derick Kuün
Fourie du Preez
Francois Hougaard
Morné Steyn
Francois Brummer
Wynand Olivier
Jaco Pretorius
Stephan Dippenaar
Gerhard van den Heever
Bjorn Basson
Akona Ndungane
Zane Kirchner
Jaco van der Westhuyzen
Played |
Points |
|
| Stormers | 5 | 25 |
| Crusaders | 6 | 22 |
| Reds | 5 | 22 |
| Sharks | 6 | 20 |
| Blues | 6 | 20 |
| Waratahs | 5 | 18 |
| Bulls | 5 | 17 |
| Highlanders | 5 | 17 |
| Hurricanes | 5 | 12 |
| Brumbies | 5 | 12 |
| Chiefs | 6 | 11 |
| Force | 5 | 11 |
| Rebels | 6 | 11 |
| Lions | 6 | 8 |
| Cheetahs | 6 | 7 |
| Stormers | 5 | 25 |
| Sharks | 6 | 20 |
| Bulls | 5 | 17 |
| Lions | 6 | 8 |
| Cheetahs | 6 | 7 |
| Reds | 5 | 22 |
| Waratahs | 5 | 18 |
| Brumbies | 5 | 12 |
| Force | 5 | 11 |
| Rebels | 6 | 11 |
| Crusaders | 6 | 22 |
| Blues | 6 | 20 |
| Highlanders | 5 | 17 |
| Hurricanes | 5 | 12 |
| Chiefs | 6 | 11 |
The Crusaders played the Sharks at Twickenham in a great quality, open match. It reminded me of the old days of Super rugby, with plenty of tries and running rugby.
Along with the Reds and Stormers matches, it was also great to see matches played in daylight. I’ve never been a fan of night matches, and playing in natural light, in the dryer conditions of the day surely only helps promote the type of rugby the fans want to see.
The Crusaders and Stormers showed they are the teams to beat with well balanced sides, minimal weaknesses, and the ability to score from anywhere.
The Rebels proved they may be an enigma as we see yet another upset, whilst the Bulls and Lions produced one of the sorriest excuses for a rugby match in direct contrast to what we saw at Twickenham.
The Hurricanes produced one of the largest capitulations ever (but they’re not nearly as good at it as the Proteas!) as they started like a house on fire to race to 17-0 lead from 3 tries in just 18 minutes.
Having conceded 70 points in just under 100 minutes of rugby, the Rebels produced a great fightback, possibly shaken free from expectation with nothing to lose.
The Rebels were inspired by loose forward Jarrod Saffy who is possibly their lynchpin with his hard driving runs from around the fringes.
That gave space to the Rebels back, with the halves Phipps and Danny Cipriani able to dictate play and produce space for Richard Kingi at the back who looked dangerous with ball in hand and his ability to step.
The Rebels dominated the middle 40 minutes of the match, and the Hurricanes could only manage a late try for a consolation bonus point as their season looks to now be a long one.
Hurricanes captain Andrew Hore summed it up nicely after the match, “They kicked the ball into our half, fed off our mistakes and killed us in the end. They played some great footy and we were probably lucky to get one point out of that.”
The Reds were able to cruise to an easy win courtesy of a weak 60 minute effort from the Cheetahs.
It looked like the Cheetahs were simply after tackling practice, as they made most of their tackles but the weight of possession inevitably led to the odd line break which the Reds were able to capitalise on to keep their score ticking over.
On attack the Cheetahs were abysmal, taking the ball way behidnd the advantage line, and causing their runners to get nailed like sitting ducks as they barely threatened the Reds defence at all.
It was all one way traffic for far too long, before Sarel Pretorius entered the field and immediately set the Cheetahs in motion by getting his players to run forward onto flatter balls.
By then it was too little too late as the outcome was already decided.
The Chiefs have had to get used to wet weather rugby over recent weeks, and this created a tense, tight match.
Initially it was the Chiefs who took their opportunities and were able to open the scoring with 2 unconverted tries. The 4 points from the missed conversions could have been the difference in the end Luke McAlister kept the Blues score close with penalty attempts.
It was tight in the second half, with the Chiefs dominating everywhere except where it counted on the scoreboard.
They fell behind and threw everything at the Blues in the final 10 minutes, but trying to run and play catch up rugby in wet conditions was never going to be easy. The Blues deserved their win as they held onto possession better when it counted and made less errors.
The Waratahs scored their first win in 6 years in Canberra which is losing it’s intimidation as a venue.
The Brumbies had their opportunities, but look impotent in attack. They lack a strong centre who can bust the line and get their back three away. Even when the Waratahs had a man in the bin, the Brumbies were unable to take advantage.
The Waratahs were not much better, but when Kurtley Beale joins the attack they look dangerous as he is able to create opportunities. In the end that it was helped create a last gasp try for Sitaleki Timani in injury time that got them over the line.
The Brumbies will not make this year’s playoffs whilst the Waratahs now have be fighting it out with the Reds for the Australian conference winners position.
The Stormers were finally able to achieve penetration and synergy on attack as they racked up 50 points over the Force.
All the typical Stormers trademarks were evident, ferocious defence, competitive at the breakdown and even plenty of missed opportunities!
But they did take enough of them to create extreme pressure on the Force defence, and convert enough to score 6 tries to 1. The tries were well worked, often using interplay between a large number of team members as the handling and running into space were much better than previous weeks.
Bryan Habana still looks off form, and Danie Poolman still lacks the gas of a top class winger, but it was the midfield and Aplon from the back that made the Stormers backline dangerous. The forward pack played their part, and Deon Fourie was rewarded for his persistent endeavours with what may be the forwards try of the season as he sprinted down the right flank and regathered his own chip kick!
After the match Stormers captain Jean de Villiers mentioned there was still plenty of work to do, but they are on the right track and ticking more and more boxes each week.
Neither side deserved to win this match which was a poor advertisement for rugby.
Fundamental errors and poor discipline, meant both sides fed off the opposition mistakes as they were able to do little right themselves.
In the first half the Bulls gifted the Lions many opportunities, but they just couldn’t finish or make more out of them.
The second half was evenly contested, but the match was a stop start affair as neither side could keep the other under pressure with error free rugby.
In the end the Bulls experience and ability to close out games won as they played the right rugby at the right end when it mattered.
The Crusaders were too strong all over the field as a devastating first half laid the platform for a solid win.
The Sharks were able to compete when the game was kept tight and their big forwards could match the Crusaders up front, but as soon as the game opened up, the Crusaders were able to break the advantage line almost at will as they continously offloaded the ball in the tackle.
The Sharks midfield defence was weak around 10-12-13, and whenever possible, the Crusaders backs tried to run at Sharks forwards to exploit their speed advantage.
The result was 4 tremendous first half tries that kept the Sharks on the back foot, needing to open the game up to try and keep in touch.
Having built a big lead, the Crusaders dropped off their intensity in the second half, and had a horror run of injuries, playing the final 5 minutes with only 14 fit men!
The Crusaders look ominous, as long as they can remain fit, whilst the Sharks still lack the ability to string it all together when it really counts.
Tries: Dewald Potgieter, Gary Botha, Bjorn Basson
Conversions: Steyn (3)
Penalties: Steyn (3)
Tries: Gideon Van Rensburg; Franco van der Merwe
Conversions: Andre Pretorious (2)
Penalties: Elton Jantjies (3)
Half-time: Bulls 10 Lions 6
BULLS (30) |
Lions (23) |
|
| 58 | Territory | 42 |
| 43 | Possession | 57 |
| 14 | Penalties conceded | 11 |
| 2 | Free Kicks conceded | 1 |
| 7 | Turnovers conceded | 16 |
| 15 | Handlings errors | 14 |
| 109 | Tackles made | 75 |
| 6 | Tackles missed | 9 |
| 68 | Rucks and Mauls | 78 |
| 6 | 5+ Phases | 6 |
| 8 | Visits to Opposition 22 | 9 |
| 24 | Points from these visits | 14 |
Tries: Dewald Potgieter, Gary Botha, Bjorn Basson
Conversions: Steyn (3)
Penalties: Steyn (3)
Tries: Gideon Van Rensburg; Franco van der Merwe
Conversions: Andre Pretorious (2)
Penalties: Elton Jantjies (3)
Looking mobile and lean. Had a solid first effort in Super Rugby for this year, and needs to maintain discipline around the breakdown.
Got better as the match wore on and made a few incisive runs. His best performance in a long while.
Would have been my man of the match as he had a high work rate around the field and was involved in everything, including a great kick ahead that led to a Bulls try for Dewald Potgieter.
Largely anonymous for too much of the game and his poor form may be why the Bulls pack is struggling.
One of the worst games I’ve ever seen from Matfield. Missed 2 crucial tackles late in the game that led to the 2 Lions tries. Kicking the ball dead when a 4th try was on offer signalled his tiredness which an in-form Matfield would never do. Needs 4 weeks rest!
Had a busy game around the breakdown but ultimately not accurate enough to be effective. Carried the ball well at the base of the maul.
Had an industrious game and ran a great angle to score his try. Needs to be imposing around the breakdown and ruck however.
Not the right player for the tight matches as he likes space to operate in. Made some basic handling erors and not getting over the gain line ofter enough.
Has not been at his best this year. Made some great tackles, but can leave his side exposed when rushing up in defence.
Tackled well and kicked at goal brilliantly. On attack is causing his backline to run from too deep and they’re getting caught behind the advantage line. Needs to vary his attacking depth more and run onto the ball.
Cn get exposed on defence but wonderful competing for the high ball in the air. Still not convinced he deserves to start.
Woeful. Far too many handling errors and not strong enough on defence. Running from too deep and getting caught behind the advntage line.
Very rarely does anything outstanding and the Bulls would be better off developing someone who can make a difference in the number 13 jersey.
Never had play go his way, and when it did he was average at best.
Was the Bulls most dangerous player, running the ball bak strongly and generally having an attacking mindset in whatever he attempted. Was unlucky to be replaced in the second half. Not sure why you’d take off one of your best players.
Worth a go at flyhalf to see what he could spark.
Solid and took his try well.
Did his job when he came on. No more, no less.
Worked hard and carried the ball strongly. Deserves a start ahead of Bakkies.
Didn’t have the desired impact and spilt at least 1 ball.
Minimal impact.
Not used
Was utlised too late but did bring grater energy to a sorry Bulls backline effort.
Unable to impose themselves against a mediocre Lions effort. Dominated in the maul initially but failed to use it enough in the second half.
Completely woeful and coughed the ball up far too often. Would have been punished by a better side. Standing too deep on attack and getting caught behind he advantage line, something Pieter Rossouw needs to fix.
One of the worst displays in a long time. Definitely not improving this year and other than tiredness and fatigue, not sure what is going on.
Tries: Dewald Potgieter, Gary Botha, Bjorn Basson
Conversions: Steyn (3)
Penalties: Steyn (3)
Tries: Gideon Van Rensburg; Franco van der Merwe
Conversions: Andre Pretorious (2)
Penalties: Elton Jantjies (3)
Half-time: Bulls 10 Lions 6
The Bulls will be pleased to have avoided their 3rd straight defeat at Loftus, but will hardly be pleased with the manner it was achieved in.
It was possibly the worst display by the Bulls this season despite achieving a 7 point victory. Victor Matfield’s decision in injury time to boot the ball over the sideline when the Bulls were 5m from the Lions line chasing a 4 try bonus point summed up the frustration for his side.
Early in the week Frans Ludeke and Victor Matfield highlighted the Bulls inaccuracies in the basics of the game.
“Of course there is a lot of hard work to be done, especially on the small things, but I don’t think it is too much of an issue at the moment. We definitely need a better effort but I don’t think it will take that much to turn it” said Ludeke.
Matfield has mentioned poor handling, poor discipline and an inability to hold onto the ball as the Bulls weaknesses this year.
“It is definitely something that is worrying me, especially after two losses. It is not something we are used to and we will have to work hard to rectify these things” mentioned Matfield.
However at Loftus against the lowly Lions, it was no better, and if anything, worse.
Once again the Bulls started poorly with basics errors allowing the Lions to enjoy territoy and possession.
Basic mistakes, including too many dropped passes and balls in the tackle should have seen the Lions punish the Bulls, but they were just as woeful. A better side such as the Crusaders would most likely have opened up a 15-20 point lead after the first quarter.
Instead the Bulls were able to lead after having conceded the early penalty.
A rare turnover at the breakdown allowed Werner Kruger to kick down the right hand touchline that led to Dewald Potgieter running into a hole and flying onto a well directed pass from Fourie du Preez. The expected floodgates remained off however and a silly penalty on the stroke of half-time allowed the Lions to edge back to within 4.
The second half was much of the same as the Bulls at times threatened to display the sort of consistent play we have come to expect over the last 4 seasons, but errors and penalties cost them the chance of sustaining pressure on the Lions.
The Bulls could simply not win the war of the breakdown, and far too often struggled to make it over the advantage line. That may be where some of the frustration and ill-discipline stems from.
At the moment there is little momentum occurring for the Bulls on attack. The kick chase is not accurate enough, and is best used as a variation as opposed to the only means of attack anyhow.
Most of the forward runners and inside backs are struggling to get over the advantage line. Chiliboy was good against the Lions because he tried to run into holes. Maybe this is where the Bulls are going wrong, because Matfield, (Bakkies) Botha, Spies and Potgieter are just not making any yardage.
In the backs it’s a different story, with the Bulls standing too deep and Morne Steyn using Wynand Olivier well behind the gain line, even for hit-ups. The Bulls have been using plays behind dummy runners, something seen more often in rugby league, and it’s just not working for the moment.
The centre combination is not a big, strong pairing in any event, and their strengths are not trying to run over the opposition, but run into space. A little more intelligence and nous on attack is needed.
The Lions to their credit refused to give up, and a late score from Lions captain Franco van der Merwe in his 50th Super Rugby Match gave them a shot at a draw with a few minutes to go.
The Bulls were trying for a 4th try bonus point, but frustration and lack of confidence are probably what caused Victor Matfield to boot the ball dead when they were only 5m from the Lions line and the sought after try.
Having achieved just 5 log points out of a possible 15 in their run of 3 consecutive home games, the Bulls head overseas for what could be a make or break tour. They dislike touring, and will most likely need at least 2 wins out of 4 to seriously contend for a play-off spot when they return to South Africa.
But the Bulls are not a side to lie down, they exhibit tremendous belief and desire to overcome whatever is thrown their way.
They are lucky to be playing a Lions side that has not beaten them in over 5 years, and this will ensure the Bulls have won half the battle before the game is even won as the Lions lose the mental battle.
It’s time for the Bulls to re-discover their mojo…and keep alive the dream of the hat-trick!
The Bulls have been forced to make 2 changes with the long term injury to Gurthro Steenkamp, and the shoulder niggle Zane Kirchner suffered against the Stormers.
Dean Greyling gets his chance at loosehead prop, and coach Frans Ludeke had this to say, “Greyling knows our systems and played there throughout the Currie Cup last year even if this is his first Super Rugby start. There will definitely be a gap we need to fill, but we do back the system.”
It’ll rob them of some much needed experience, and a player like Kirchner is not rated highly by many scribes, but I am sure his value will be highlighted more by his absence, as he simply does the basics well and has no apparent weaknesses.
The Bulls have not hit the panic button, sticking largely to the squad and tactics that have worked for them over the last 4 years.
The Bulls will be buoyed by the news that Bakkies Botha was dismissed of a charge of dangerous play against Dewaldt Duvenage, and the big man will be keen to atone for his performance last week.
The Bulls have not lost three consecutive Super Rugby matches at Loftus since 2002 (when they finished with the wooden spoon).
The Bulls have won their past 9 matches against the Lions.
The last time the Lions beat the Bulls was way back in 2002!
Victor Matfield (113) will become the most capped Bulls player in Super Rugby. He played for the Bulls 105 times and 8 times for the Cats.
Matfield will also extend his Bulls and South African record as captain in Super Rugby, leading his side for the 65th time.
Morné Steyn should extend his Bulls and South African Super Rugby records for career points (814), penalties (137), conversions (145) and dropped goals (17).
The Bulls are often criticised for their approach. Forget about game plans and playing the wrong tactics, the Bulls just have to be better in the basics of the game, and do what they do best with greater accuracy.
“We must do everything five to 10% better” said captain Victor Matfield this week.
“Our accuracy isn’t there. We are a team that normally strangles guys in their half and we had five opportunities last Saturday and on all five occasions we lost the ball within two phases. That is not the way we play.”
Matfield this week stressed it is important for his experienced and big name players to lead from the front. Expect a blinder from Matfield and Fourie du Preez who have too much pride in the Bulls to let them down again.
“It is very important for the top players to deliver the standard of play people have come to expect from them and if that happens, the rest will follow” stressed Matfield.
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke has stressed that his side has faith in their game plan and tactics and do not need to panic.
“I’m not worried at all. We know we can play and if we can get one or two things to work for us things will be alright. I promise you I’m not worried that we can’t turn this around” said Ludeke.
The Bulls had a meeting with the board of directors this week, who showed their support for Ludeke, and backed him to turn things around.
“Every weekend we believe it will come right but we’ve been in this situation before, it is a long season. We back our systems and we know it will turn. We have to use that belief to change our fortunes and you cannot quantify belief. We have faith that it will turn around.”
“It doesn’t help we don’t talk around it. If there is an Elephant in the room, we can’t ignore it. What we try and do is concentrate on the positives.”
Coach Frans Ludeke was highlighting his charges need to keep a positive mindset this week.
“Everyone can concentrate on 100 negative things in this game, but that will never help you. The positive things are that we have taken ourselves out of situations like this before and we have the quality players to do it.”
“This is where faith comes in, you have to back yourself and back the team. And you back yourself. I believe with my whole heart we are going to turn this around. We haven’t had the results that we have been hoping for and which we’ve worked hard for yet.”
“The seed is in the ground and we have done the hard yards in the off-season, that somewhere it has to turn. We believe it will come right this weekend.”
It is not just the mindset where the Bulls must be positive. They need to be positive in their body language, and play. They showed that when they ran the ball from deep last week against the Stormers and were clinical in scoring a great backline try in greasy conditions.
They just need to keep up the positive play.
The Bulls will be supremely motivated, and shouldn’t have too much to fear from a Lions side that is still not sure how to play, and is indecisive in its decision making that comes from knowing how to win games.
If the Bulls focus on the basics, retain the ball and make first time tackles they’ll win comfortably.
If they get rattled it could be a long day, but expect a strong performance led by the experienced players and lookout for Fourie du Preez to stamp his mark on the game.
Bulls by 14.
Go Bulle Go!
1. Dean Greyling
2. Chiliboy Ralepelle
3. Werner Kruger
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Victor Matfield (c)
6. Deon Stegmann
7. Dewald Potgieter
8. Pierre Spies
9. Fourie du Preez
10. Morne Steyn
11. Bjorn Basson
12. Wynand Olivier
13. Jaco Pretorius
14. Gerhard van den Heever
15. Jaco van der Westhuyzen
16. Gary Botha
17. Rossouw de Klerk
18. Flip van der Merwe
19. Danie Rossouw
20. Derick Kuun
21. Francois Hougaard
22. Francois Brummer
1. JC Janse van Rensburg
2. Bandise Maku
3. Patrick Cilliers
4. David Bulbring
5. Franco van der Merwe (c)
6. Cobus Grobbelaar
7. Derick Minnie
8. Warren Whiteley
9. Jano Vermaak
10. Elton Jantjies
11. Deon van Rensburg
12. Doppies la Grange
13. Waylon Murray
14. Lionel Mapoe
15. Michael Killian
16. Edgar Marutlulle
17. Jacobie Adriaanse
18. Michael Rhodes
19. Josh Strauss
20. Rory Kockott
21. Andre Pretorius
22. Jaco Taute
Referee: Chris Pollock (NZ)
Assistant Referees: Vinny Munro (NZ) and Fumanekile Yamile (SA)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (SA)
2006: Bulls 46, Lions 17 (Pretoria)
2007: Bulls 31, Lions 7 (Johannesburg)
2008: Bulls 31, Lions 17 (Pretoria)
2009: Bulls 16, Lions 9 (Johannesburg)
2010: Bulls 51, Lions 11 (Pretoria)
2011: Bulls 24, Lions 20 (Johannesburg)
The Crusaders and the Sharks have taken different courses to get to London. Which side will be most affected by the travel?
Can the Bulls do the unthinkable and lose 3 at Loftus?
In an Australian derby one of the Waratahs or Brumbies are going to be in a miserable position come the end of the weekend!
The Hurricanes have had one of their worst starts to a season in many years, but even their poor form won’t stop them smashing the Rebels in Melbourne.
The Rebels have too many weaknesses to contain the dangers that the Hurricanes provide all over the paddock.
The Rebels best chance is to take Hurricanes on upfront, and use the skills of their loose trio to turn ball over and win the battle of the breakdown.
The Hurricanes just have to be patient, take the ball through phases, and let their dangerous backs run into space.
Hurricanes by 15+.
The Cheetahs scored a massive morale boosting win, their first ever in Australia last week.
Can they repeat their success? They have massive injury woes, and have now lost another captain in centre Andries Strauss and flank Frans Viljoen.
They’ll take on a Reds side just starting to hit their straps.
Despite the brilliance of Heinrich Brussow, the Cheetahs will struggle against a side that only has to operate at about 80% to get the win.
Expected dry conditions won’t see the Reds make the same mistakes the Waratahs did.
Reds by 15+.
The Chiefs and Blues are very similar sides. Both can hurt you on their day, but you never know when that day will be.
The Blues probably have a stronger forward pack, the Chiefs slightly better backs.
It should be a close affair that could go either way. The injury to Stephen Donald may even help the Chiefs, with Mike Delaney able to get the backs away.
Chiefs by 6.
The waratahs have had a tough 2 weeks and had an absolute shocker last week.
The Brumbies will have had time to regroup after a bye and need serious improvement.
Another tough one to call as both sides need to lift their game or seriously risk falling off the pace.
Perhaps a deciding factor may be the home ground advantage, as Canberra has been a tough place for opposing teams.
Brumbies by 6.
The Force are often competitive without ever standing out. It’ll be a tough start for the Stormers but once they are able to score some points (I’m picking their attack to come good this week and add to the two tries they’ve scored all season!), they should run away with it.
James O’Connor will find the Stormers close in defence tough to penetrate, and that will shut down much of the Forces’ attacking options.
It’s a great chance for the Stormers to keep working on their defence, but get their mojo into their attacking game again without the pressure of playing against a top class side.
Stormers by 12.
It’s almost do or die for the Bulls. I probably said all the same things last week but they apply again!
The Bulls will be desperate. They need to right the wrongs of the last 2 matches, and they rarely lose once, let alone twice in a row at Loftus. They’ll be hurting, and thankfully it’s only the Lions they’re up against.
After starting the season well, the Lions have regressed. They shouldn’t be able to hurt the Bulls, but then again this is probably the game they’ll most want to win all season!
As in their first game, whichever side can front up and hold possession will threaten the other. The Lions can make you pay by playing expansive rugby, but they are just as likely to let in 3-4 easy tries, and that’s where the Bulls should be able to seal the deal.
Looking forward to the Bulls winning on Loftus once more (which hasn’t happened this year yet!)
Bulls by 14.
The very first Super Rugby match outside of the SANZAR countries. Whilst it’s technically a Crusaders home game, it favours neither side.
There will be a large ex-pat crowd for both sides/countries, and it’ll be interesting to see if the travel is a factor. The Sharks flew back to Durban from Hamilton, before heading to London only on Thursday.
The Crusaders played a day later than the Sharks, but flew directly to London.
The Sharks have the experience and bulk to hurt the Crusaders in the forwards, but the men from Canterbury are possessed with bring cheer to their region and supporters are all their torment in the last 6 months.
They have a better all round game, and more class in the backs. In addition they have a lethal centre pairing of Sonny Bill Williams and Robbie Fruean who could make a weak Sharks midfield pay.
The loss of Patrick Lambie will also hurt the Sharks attacking game, and they’ll struggle to score enough points against a well-balanced Crusaders outfit.
Crusaders by 11.
Like all Bulls fans I am hurting. I don’t think I’ve been this shattered, or this pissed off in a long time.
The Boks were a bit of a circus, so I can understand them having a poor year in 2010, but the Bulls…no way!
Dewald Potgieter writes from the heart and doesn’t hold back in his Supersport column. He talks about the commitment the Bulls strive for, their desperation and their over eagness to put things right.
I believe the Bulls success is their biggest weakness. Not complacency like some believe, but fatigue and exhaustion. I sincerely believe it’s affecting us so that the accurcy we are used to is not quite there.
Despite that, I like all true Bulls fans, back my side 100%. We are in this together, and we will shout till we can’t shout no more!
I love the Bulls because of their attitude. They’ll never give up, they do it for their fans and they feel for their fans, and above all they make us proud because they have an attitude that we can be proud of.
Those who point to a changing of the guard in South African rugby…hold on.
The only side capable of matching the Bulls are Western Province/the Stormers. They’re building a similar culture and work ethic.
The Lions may get there, with time. And the Southern Kings also look to be building something special.
But it’s why I don’t rate the Sharks or the Cheetahs. I don’t believe they’ve got it right off the field, and that is what makes a side successful on it.
Go Bulle Go!
Botha was found not guilty, with all charges dropped.
He will thus be available for the Bulls next match against the Lions at Loftus this weekend.
However no doubt he will be warned by his coaches to stay underneath the radar and keep out of trouble!
Catch all the try scoring highlights below:
From personal experience I know that even October and November can be wet months and feel like winter in New Zealand! Coupled with some late kick off times where the dew comes into effect, don’t expect a dry World cup.
With all 5 South African Super Rugby sides playing in wet conditions over the weekend, I believe the signs are worrying for the Springboks World Cup title defence.
The Sharks were beaten by a more astute Chiefs side in Hamilton on Friday night. Despite having a heavier, more experienced pack of forwards laden with Springboks, the Chiefs were the side that held the ball for longer and changed tactics using the pick and go to good effect (39 v 3) as they found it effective in the wet conditions.
The Cheetahs beat a very disappointing Waratahs side in damp conditions in Sydney. It was a famous victory for the Cheetahs, their first in Australia, but the Waratahs were very disappointing.
A side can only play as well as it’s opposition let’s it however, so we must credit the Cheetahs for the plethora of mistakes the Waratahs made. Whether a Kiwi side would be that poor we don’t know just yet!
The Lions were hammered by the Force, whilst the Bulls and Stormers were both uninspiring in a match that was decided more by mistakes from the Bulls than brilliance from the Stormers. Both sides could only manage 1 try apiece in the conditions.
Both the Lions and Bulls in particular, but also the 3 other South African sides, have a tendency to play too deep in the pocket. It’s not just the flyhalves, because the forwards running onto the ball also start from too deep, to often getting hit behind the advantage line if they don’t break through the first tackle.
This puts immense pressure on the side and does not create any forward momentum for the side, limiting the attack; possibly a reason we saw so few tries from South African sides in the weekend.
I don’t subscribe to the fact that wet conditions are solely to blame as Kiwi sides often score multiple tries in conditions they have to play in often.
The Bulls, like the Sharks and to a degree Stormers, have a side chock o block full of Boks and Super Rugby winning players. They have guys with some of the best boots in the business in Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez and Zane Kirchner. Yet they struggled to play the territorial game or get their hands on the ball.
Almost all the South African sides had poor handling, and these factors limited their attacking threats.
When the best of what we have to offer come together for the Boks in the Rugby World Cup, how will we fare?
Wet weather rugby does not make me confident for the Boks. Until we develop a bit more nous upstairs, and better handling skills we may struggle to defend our Rugby World Cup! At this stage I’ll be praying for a dry day for the Boks come the knockout matches.
The giant lock faces a SANZAR judicial hearing after being cited for dangerous play during the Super Rugby match against the Stormers in Pretoria last Saturday.
The hearing, chaired by Advocate Jannie Lubbe (SC), will commence at 11:00AM on Tuesday 22 March, 2011 taking place at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
Botha allegedly breached Foul Play Law 10.4 (e) relating to a dangerous tackle against an opponents neck or head.
The citing followed an incident in the 24th minute of the match in which Botha cleaned Stormers scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage at a ruck.
New Zealand referee Keith Brown saw the incident live, but decided further action was not warranted. However the citing commisioner deemed otherwise.
Whilst I am a big fan of the big enforcer, and anyone who know’s him knows he is a gentle giant off the field, he has become a liability.
This is the third incident in less than 2 years where Botha has been cited for dangerous play against smaller backline players. (Botha has been suspended for headbutting Jimmy Cowan, and foul play against Springbok and Western Province fullback Gio Aplon.
Botha swore after the 9 week ban for head butting that he had learnt his lesson and was a changed man.
Enough is enough. Words are hollow. If Bakkies is found guilty, Peter de Villiers and Frans Ludeke can no longer place their trust in Botha, no matter how good he is. For it simply costs his team mates and is not fair to them of the fans. Other players play on the ‘edge’, yet you don’t see them needing a lawyer full time!
Whilst I have yet to see the incident, it shouldn’t come as any surprise given Botha’s history with the judiciary.
It’s disappointing to see Bakkies in this (familiar) situation once more, and places the Bulls under even further pressure.
Bulls 13
Tries: Bjorn Basson
Conversion: Morne Steyn
Penalties: Steyn (2)
Stormers 23
Tries: Bryan Habana
Penalties: Peter Grant (6)
Largely non-existent, and barely made a run all game.
Poor with his lineout throwing when it mattered most, and gave away too many penalties.
Tried to make a steal but got pinged. Provided a decent right shoulder in the scrums at times.
Battled gamely, but didn’t get over the advantage line often or strongly enough, subject to some ferocious tackling from the Stormers.
Rarely has a bad game, this was one of them. Got caught offside, and generally didnt lead his troops well enough.
Tried bravely at the breakdowns but was innacurate and not helped by a tight five who were outplayed. Your fetcher flank needs to play on the edge, but Stegmann is not adjusting to the referee and is just not accurate enough for his side at present.
Largely anonymous. Will need to reinvent his game as he makes enough tackles, but ineffective with ball in hand.
Tried hard on attack, but other than one storming run in the second half failed to get over the advantage line and get his side go forward.
The normally calm du Preez got frustrated at times. Kicked beautifully from the base of the ruck, and strong on defence.
Needs to take the ball flatter as his backline plays too deep. Not able to produce his normal goal-kicking success rate which really mattered in a tight game as this. Had the ability to put the Stormers behind, but couldn’t produce under pressure.
Took his try brilliantly, but poor on defence. Competed for the high ball well on 1 or 2 occasions, but in general his play has been poor all season and should be dropped. Cost his side by being too casual and allowing Habana to score from a kick through.
An error ridden performance and needs to be stronger crashing the ball up in tighter matches.
Did not see much ball his way, and outdone by Jaque Fourie in the physicality battle.
Battled gamely but needs the ball in space. Still too upright in contact situations but worked well closer to the ruck.
Created the try forr Basson with a perfectly timed run and pass. Solid at the back.
Not much better than Chiliboy on the night.
Not used
Failed to produce an impact.
Like van der Merwe, failed to ignite his side and made handling errors.
Immediately looked sharp and dangerous when he came on. Now he is fit again, should replace Basson.
Not used
Could not stop the rot when he came on.
For the second week in a row the Buls forwards got outplayed. The set-pieces were diabolical and that’s where it all failed for tthe Bulls who pride themselves on doing the basics well.
Ran from too deep, and produced handling errors that stopped any momentum. Apart from a well worked try that showed how easy it can be, not much to be positive about.
Ill discplined and getting smashed at the breakdown. When the Bulls did get the ball, they failed to utilise possession well and against a good defence like the Stormers they were made to pay.
Bulls 13
Tries: Bjorn Basson
Conversion: Morne Steyn
Penalties: Steyn (2)
Stormers 23
Tries: Bryan Habana
Penalties: Peter Grant (6)
Half-time: Bulls 10 Stormers 12
The Bulls run of 20 consecutive home games has come crushing down with 2 successive defeats at Fortress Loftus.
The Stormers picked up their first Super Rugby win at Loftus since 2003, the first time anyone in their match 22 had achieved this. It was also the first time 7 of the Bulls players had ever lost a Super Rugby match to South African opposition.
In looking back where it all went wrong, the Bulls wil lament poor basic errors. Ball handling, the lineouts, a shaky scrum and ill-discipline led to the Bulls rarely putting the Stormers under pressure, and giving multiple opportunities to Peter Grant to keep eding the Stormers ahead.
The Stormers never relinquished their lead after the Bulls started off poorly and allowed Peter Grant the luxury of a penalty in the 3rd minute as they went offside at a wobbly midfield scrum.
The Bulls had to make a large number of tackles, and whenever they did get the ball, basics handling errors put them straight under pressure again.
For the 2nd week in a row, a side took on the Bulls up front and got the better of them. The tight 5 are just not responding to the physical challenge with the props Steenkamp and Kruger anonymous around the field after being placed under great pressure at the scrums.
Chiliboy has failed to grab his opportunity, and gives away the odd penalty. Bakkies Botha tried hard, but cannot take on a pack by hiself, and Matfield finally had a bad game. Is this a consequence of being overrworked in the last 2 seasons?
This put the Bulls under tremendous pressure, and one the loose forwards could not clean up as they lacked size and aggression when compared to their Stomers opponents.
In fact the whole Stormers side took on the Bulls in the physical challenge and smashed them.
It’s a bit hard to judge the backline given they’ve not had enough quality ball to work with. But Morne Steyn is standing too deep, too often and needs to take the ball closer to the gainline so he can get his centres over the advantage line.
At the moment the entire backline are letting down their side by making mistakes, especially basic handling errors which robs the side of any monetum, and puts them straight under pressure again.
The question on everyone’s lips is have we seen the end of the Bulls dominance? It certainly makes their season tough dropping 2 home games.
But it is a longer season, and there will be upsets. The Bulls have the character and mindset to be able to come back. I just wonder however if physically the last few years have taken it’s toll without adeqate rest as both the provinces and national sides have run them into the ground.
It may be time for some of the younger Bulls players to make the step up that they have been groomed for and restore some pride back in Bulls rugby!
Latest news from Keo
