Live updates from Loftus as the Bulls take on the Brumbies
Pedrie Wannenburg leads the Bulls out onto the field in his 100th game. Well done!
The field looks a bit mottled. It’s being resown for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
2nd Min – Brumbies get an early penalty. Mortlock kicks it, Brumbies lead 3-0.
9th Min – A fairly even beginning with plenty of intensity. Morne Steyn to have a penalty attempt from 58m. Poor strike and it goes under the crossbar. Brumbies still lead 3-0.
11th Min – Bulls not looking as polished this week. I don’t like being behind!
12th Min – Bulls penalty at scrumtime. A kickable penalty. C’mon Morne.
Hits it well. Scored tied at 3-3!
14th Min – Brumbies over the line! I think he lost it but we are going to the TMO. I thought he lost it, but I suspect it will be a try.
Yup, Rocky Elsom awarded the try in the left hand corner. Damn! Brumbies lead 8-3.
Mortlock misses the conversion to the right. It stays 8-3.
17th Min – Great Bulls buildup. Gain a penalty but just couldn’t quite breakthrough. Morne Steyn makes it 8-6.
21st Min – A move by the Bulls goes horribly wrong. Rocky Elsom sets George Smith away and scores under the sticks. With the conversion the Brumbies have a handy 15-6 lead.
23rd Min – Bulls penalty. Steyn kicks into the corner. C’mon guys!
24th Min – Try! Fourie du Preez goes through from the base of the maul, and was aided by ref Mark Lawrence being slightly in the way.
Morne Steyn makes it 15-13.
Surprisingly quite sparse on the far stand. Probably 20-25 000 crowd, but that’s a guess.
29th Min – Penalty to the Brumbies right in front.
Mortlock makes it 18-13.
33rd Min – Morne Steyn! Great buildup and taking the ball through the phases. Try time.
Kicks his own conversion and the Bulls take the lead 20-18. Yeah!
36th Min – Brumbies penalty. Gary Botha deemed offside out wide. The difference in defence between this game and the Lions-Chiefs game is highly evident.
Mortlock 5m in from the left hand sideline.
Good kick and the Brumbies lead again, 21-20.
38th Min – Morne misses the drop. So close.
Half-Time: Bulls 20 Brumbies 21
42nd Min – Matt Giteau gets the drop goal. In off the post but he’ll take it. That one was the result of a kick mistake from Steynn. Brumbies ahead 24-20.
45th Min – Good Bulls buildup. Get he penalty. They kick for the corner.
46th Min – It goes horribly awry, and the Brumbies breakout. Francois Hougaard took a knock to the leg and is limping a bit.
Will the altitude takes it’s effect later in the game? I hope so!
Pedrie Wannenburg leaves the field and Derick Kuun comes on.
50th Min – Brumbies penalty right near the posts.
Mortlock makes it 27-20.
C’mon Bulls!
51st Min – Penalty to the Bulls. Kicks to the corner again. We need a try!
From the maul we get another penalty. The Brumbies were coming in from the side too. Ref should bin them, or at least warn them!
Morne Steyn kicks it. Brumbies ahead now 27-23.
56th Min – Gerhard van den Heever. Good boy! Picks up the loose ball from the lineout. Try!
The Bulls are now in front 30-27 after the conversion.
59th Min – Deon Stegmann does great work getting to the breakdown quickly. Earns the turnover and penalty.
Pierre Spies looks in trouble. The big man looks to have damaged his knee. Hope he is ok. He is continuing, but then he is Superman!
61st Min – Wynand Olivier!!! Try! Just a simple switch move with Morne Steyn from the scrum. The Blue machine starting to get into gear. And that’s the bonus point try.
Morne Steyn makes it 37-27, and a handy 10 point lead now.
67th Min – Bulls starting to dominate and earn the penalty.
Morne Steyn makes it 40-27. One more score should seal it. Go for the drop Morne!
70th Min – Penalty to the Brumbies for a high tackle from Zane Kirchner. C’mon gotta defend well.
The Bulls just need to wind this game down now. 8 and a half to go.
73rd Min – Penalty Bulls. Right in front. Morne Steyn can wrap it up. It’d be nice to deny the Brumbies a bonus point too.
74th Min – Morne Steyn kicks it and Bulls ahead 43-27.
76th Min – Morne Steyn! You beauty. A try next to the posts after fantastic buildup. Another 50 pointer.
Morne Steyn kicks the conversion and now it is 50-27. Morne Steyn has 35 points.
It’s been 30 points to 6 in the second half.
81st Min – A late try at the end to the Brumbies. To no real avail as they can’t get a bonus point.
Mortlock misses the conversion and the score is 50-32.
Full-time: Bulls 50 Brumbies 32
An excellent victory for the Bulls who were under real pressure halfway through the match. Like last week, and last year, there is no panic in this side and they performed the job superbly.
We now sit atop the log, a good place to be!
