Saturday was a historic occasion as Orlando Stadium in Soweto hosted an all South African Super 14 final.

It was awesome to be at the ground and witness first hand the atmosphere in Soweto.

The Bulls won 25-17, but the result was secondary in my mind. What mattered most was that it was an unforgettable day for all, a final held in a black township, the resumption of the north-south rivalry that signifies South African rugby is healthy, and confirmation that the Bulls are a champion side, with the Stormers trying to emulate them, and in my view they’ll ensure there are many memorable battles in future years.

The Bulls sealed their 3rd Super 14 title in 4 years, and exhibited what a complete side they have become. It was a game built on forward dominance, strong defence and converting opportunities.

The Stormers game has been based on a strong defence, and utilising their strong loose forwards to gain momentum wide of the ruck to give their backs space to operate in. However they ran into a blue wall at Orlando stadium, the Bulls defence was oustanding in fanning out as the breakdown was set, and then making double tackles which allowed the side to gain momentum and turn ball over as they made offensive tackles.

The Stormers had no counter and were unable to dictate play. Unlike any other side this season, the Bulls showed they are smart enough to find a weakness and peppered the Stormers back 3 with high kicks, and were the better side in contesting the aerial ball as the Stormers lacked height and physicality. This meant the Stormers loose forwards had to hand further back, and the Bulls exploited space up the middle too.

Fourie du Preez once again showed his experience and vision, spotting the gaps as they opened up and got the Bulls going forward before delivering the most delicate pass to put Francois Hougaard into space, who showcased his sublime running skills to clinically score an important first half try. Once the Bulls opened up a decent lead, they were always going to be hard to reign in.

It took a wayward pass and Bryan Habana’s vision to claim the intercept that gave the Stormers a sniff of a comeback in the second half, but this only spurred the Bulls on once more, and they opened a 15 point lead which effectively sealed the game, before the Stormers claimed some respectability to the score.

After the game the Stormers claimed that the referee, Craig Joubert was one sided and had “coached” the Bulls at the breakdown whilst penalising their side. This was interesting given the fact that the only losses the Bulls had incurred this season came when they were nailed by Joubert at the breakdown. Had the Bulls simply learnt their lesson?

Whatever the case, the Stormers did not adapt on the night, and the Bulls were clearly the better side.

The Bulls have also shown this year how complete a side they have become. Initially this season they showed a more attacking game and adapted to the new law interpretations better than any side. As the officiating changed, so did the game plan and Bulls tightened their defence and attacking structures.

The Bulls have shown they are adaptable enough to play any game plan, and more importantly think on their feet to spot an opposition weakness and exploit it on the field during a game. However they have the confidence to play to their strengths no matter how predictable it is to the opposition, they simply say to their opponents, ‘stop us if you can.’

After a poor 2008, a result of being too rigid in their thinking, resting on their laurels and missing Victor Matfield, the Bulls have openly spoken of their desire to succeed as a union and build a legacy. What is more impressive than just claiming the Super 14 title in 2009, is the addition of the 2009 Currie Cup, topping the Super 14 log for the second successive season and impressively laying the foundation to consistently being the best provincial side in the world…the legacy is definitely being built!

The Super 14 final pits the 2 best sides in the competition together!

Most critics believe the Stormers will win as they have the greater momentum, and the most outstanding defence in the competition.

However it is foolish to write off the Bulls. I believe they’ll win for 2 reasons:

1. They are very experienced. To win a final you usually have to have been in a final recently.
The Bulls possess Currie Cup winners, Super 14 winners and World Cup winners. The Stormers by comparison have just 1 Currie Cup and Super 14 winner in Bryan Habana, an ex-Bull.

It’ll ensure the Bulls are not overawed by the occasion, and make better decisions under pressure. The Bulls also have the experience of having played a game at Orlando stadium, with its most unique atmosphere.

2. The Bulls will test the Stormers defence with their kicking game.

We all know the Stormers defence is outstanding. So far this season very few sides have been able to breach it, but then again few sides have had the nous to vary their tactics and create a way through this Stormers wall.

The Bulls have the best kicking game on the planet. In Fourie du Preez, Morne Steyn and Zane Kirchner, they’ll use the tactics that have served them well, the high bombs. The Stormers back three of Gio Aplon, Bryan Habana and Joe Pietersen are not big men, and neither are they the most secure under the high ball. Few sides have tested them this season, but on Saturday I believe they’ll come off second best against an outstanding kick and chase side.

The kick-chase should also open the Stormers defence up the middle as they’ll drop men back and be kept guessing by the Bulls tactics.

The Stormers meanwhile can be oustanding on attack, but they’re more one-dimensional on attack and as long as the Bulls defence can man up, they can be kept at bay if they are unable to gain any forward momentum.

It promises to be a mouth watering all South African clash, played with immense intensity. Whatever the result it’ll be a win for South African rugby and a momentous occassion, but i’m picking the Bulls by 10.

Go Bulle Go!

Vodacom Bulls:

1. Gurtho Steenkamp
2. Gary Botha
3. Werner Kruger
4. Danie Rossouw
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 Pretorious
14. Gerhard van den Heever
15. Zane Kirchner

16. Bandise Maku
17. Bees Roux
18. Flip van der Merwe
19. Derick Kuun
20. Heini Adams
21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter
22. Pedrie Wannenburg

Stormers:

1. Wicus Blaauw
2. Tiaan Liebenberg
3. Brok Harris
4. Adriaan Fondse
5. Andries Bekker
6. Schalk Burger (c)
7. Francois Louw
8. Duane Vermeulen
9. Dewaldt Duvenhage
10. Peter Grant
11. Bryan Habana
12. Juan de Jongh
13. Jaque Fourie
14. Gio Aplon
15. Joe Pietersen

16. Deon Fourie
17. Eusebio Guinazu
18. Anton van Zyl
19. Pieter Louw
20. Ricky Januarie
21. Willem de Waal
22. Tim Whitehead

Previous Super 14 results:

2006: Bulls 43, Stormers 10 (Cape Town)
2007: Bulls 49, Stormers 12 (Pretoria)
2008: Bulls 16, Stormers 9 (Cape Town)
2009: Bulls 14, Stormers 10 (Pretoria)
2010: Bulls 10, Stormers 38 (Cape Town)

Ever since South Africa were re-admitted to international rugby in 1992, transformation has been a dirty word.

Many administrators have preached how South African is undergoing transformation, but does anybody actually know what transformation means?

A token black winger in a side is not transformation, neither is window dressing or giving opportunities to those who aren’t ready for them.

So just what is transformation? In my mind it is about providing opportunities to players, administrators and other personnel who have the potential to offer something to South African rugby. An example is the long round trips a player like Jongi Nokwe had to make at Boland, and actually selecting the guy as I still believe he is the fastest player we have in South Africa.

Quotas don’t work, mostly because they are used incorrectly. Rather than legislating how many coloured and blacks players need to be in a side, give young guys chances to show they deserve places based on merit.

In my mind the (most forward thinking South African rugby union) Bulls have just shown South African rugby one way to transform.

Although circumstances dictated that the Bulls had to move from Fortress Loftus (because of the FIFA World Cup), the Bulls management and players have been instrumental in making the move to Orlando Stadium a massive success.

The administrators made a bold move, and the players have embraced the challenge, but most importantly their genuine desire to move to Soweto and make a difference is plain to see.

The locals have done their part as well. There have been scores of vuvuzelas blaring, boeremusiek playing and thousands of Bulls fans of all colour, embracing one another for a common purpose.

The effect on the people of Soweto, the people of South Africa and the world cannot be underestimated. The young black kid may remember this occasion for years and decide to take up rugby, the white Afrikaaners making the trip to Soweto may finally see there is nothing to fear, and the gesture by the Bulls shows we can all live in harmony in South Africa and embrace the power of what each has to offer to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts.

One such influence was the former wife of Nelson Mandela and an icon of Soweto, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela who surprised the Bulls with a visit to their changerooms after the semi-final victory.

Madikizela-Mandela invited the side to her home and said “nobody visits Soweto and doesn’t come to my home”.

One can also sense the genuine appreciation the Bulls felt as Victor Matfield said the occasion was a highlight and one he’ll remember for a long long time. “It has been getting more special every minute of the day and it was very nice meeting her (Madikizela-Mandela) again. She has invited us to her house so hopefully we can go there this week and get some of the culture of Soweto” said Matfield.

“Loftus is still our home but this place is amazing. The vuvuzelas and the boeremusiek made it a special day for us and a really special day for South Africa to see how far we have come. It is really awesome. I really enjoyed my 100th game for the Bulls” continued Matfield.

This was the true spirit of transformation. Black and White and anyone in between coming together on a great occasion that will leave its mark for many years to come.

The Bulls and Stormers set up a dream South African Super 14 final to take place at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday

Both the Bulls and Stormers based their semi-final victories with their defence. The Bulls exhibited a more balanced approach between attack and defence during their 39-24 victory over the Crusaders, whilst the Stormers defended like Trojans for 80 minutes in suffocating the Waratahs during their 25-6 victory at Newlands.

The Bulls finally started strongly in a match, and their intensity and execution were brilliant in the opening stanza. Once a handy lead was built they possibly became a bit more conservative, and the Crusaders had the majority of the ball and field position.

Unlike their encounter 2 weeks prior, the Crusaders could find no way through the Bulls defence. The Bulls defence was much better in midfield, with Jaco Pretorius and Wynand Olivier ensuring their channels were well covered. This ensured the Crusaders could not gain any momentum, and wave after wave of red and black attack was met by a blue wall.

Referee Stu Dickinson was prehaps the only method by which the Crusaders were rewarded for their efforts.

The Stormers had a similar strategy in their match against the Waratahs. Their defence strangled the Waratahs and meant the Australian side could never gain any momentum and mount any serious pressure. This resulted in the Waratahs constantly transgressing, especially at the breakdown which resulted in possession and kickable opportunities that the Stormers could use to keep their scoreboard ticking over.

Both South African sides produced performances similar to the successful pattern that the Boks have employed over the last 2-3 years of strong defence, and clinical counterattacking. Even with the new law interpretations, it has been interesting to see the pattern employed by both sides, but especially the Bulls, change as the season has progressed to a more defensive one as the referees change the way they blow the game too.

It makes for a mouth watering clash, and as this weekend showed, both sides like to build a lead and then rely on defence and penalties to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Whilst the Stormers have shown at times how brilliant they can be with ball in hand, and they have scored some great tries, generally it has come when playing New Zealand opposition who present more opportunities on the counterattack.

For this reason I feel the Bulls have the edge. They have a greater ability to score tries (the Stormers only finished 9th in terms of tries scored, whilst the Bulls were joint equal) which will allow them to score points. The Stormers are great defensively, but may struggle to really test the Bulls defence.

The Bulls are also the more adaptable side and if either side finds itself falling behind on the scoreboard, the greater composure and ability to change tactics surely must rest with the Bulls. They’ve got players who have consistently won games with their brilliance such as Pierre Spies, Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez and Morne Steyn.

Whilst the Stormers have some great players, if they fall behind they may struggle to come back and change their tactics if they need to score multiple times to get back into the game.

There are 2 other factors that should swing it in the Bulls favour too.
1. The home ground advantage and altitude
2. The Bulls are probably fresher after their rest a week ago. The Stormers had their bye quite some time ago, and have had some harder games (mentally as well as physically) which take their toll at this stage of the season.

I am sure there will be massive buildup and hype this week leading up to what is shaping up as the biggest game in South Africa for 2010!

The Bulls qualified for their second successive home final at their new venue in Soweto.

Moving to Orlando Stadium in Soweto turned out to be a momentous occasion for the Bulls! The home crowd support was excellent and had the Soweto flavour as the vuvuzelas were out in full force! It was great to see the stadium full of blue, mixed races in the crowd and plenty of dignitaries on hand for the match.

Many in Australia and New Zealand had predicted a Crusaders victory as they believed the Bulls would have lost momentum from resting players in the previous match. However it was the Bulls who started stronger.

I believed that for the Crusaders to win, they had to start well as they were always going to fade due to the travelling and altitude.
“I’m not going to use that (the travel) as an excuse. This is a really good Bulls side that deserved their victory. We were ready to go but we came up short and that’s entirely our fault. You can’t play catch-up against the Bulls” said Crusaders captain Riche McCaw.

The Bulls were well rested, and prepared for this and their defence was strong, a Deon Stegmann special led to a turnover and the Bulls were clinical in taking the ball through the phases before the pace and power of Pierre Spies finished the job.

Danie Rossouw scored a legitimate try soon after but the TMO ruled he had lost the ball.

Richie McCaw scored for the Crusaders soon after, but the Bulls weren’t perturbed. They spotted the weakness of the Crusaders under the high ball and Zane Kirchner followed his kick perfectly to score the Bulls second and open a handy lead that was never reigned in to put the Bulls under any real pressure.

2 Weeks ago the Crusaders believed they had the blueprint to beat the Bulls, but they were one dimensional. Their tactic to go wide was met with resolute defence, and when they failed to cross the advantage line they couldn’t get any momentum. They also lacked the ability to vary their play and produce a plan B.

“We weren’t allowed any space out wide and we didn’t adapt. When we did find some space we didn’t capitalise on our opportunities” said McCaw.

The Bulls had to do a lot of defending after the opening stages, helped largely by what I thought was a poor performance from ref Stu Dickinson. He was inconsistent which led to Victor Matfield being frustrated with the continual calls going against his side. However with all their ball and field position the Crusaders couldn’t make it count.

“It helped that we knew what their strategy would be. They didn’t offer any surprises but that didn’t make it any easier, we still had to defend well through 80 minutes and we did that” said Bulls coach Frans Ludeke.

A try in the second half to Zac Guildford was well executed as Zane Kirchner was found flat footed after Dewald Potgieter missed the cover tackle. However the Bulls kept on applying the pressure.

As we’ve so often seen in the past, Fourie du Preez is a game breaker. His vision to see the space down the short side, and the clinical execution for the match sealing try was brilliant.

“I said to Fourie afterwards – The big players come through in the big games and he turned the tide for us. That try put us out of reach. And Morne has taken some criticism for his form this season, but he showed his value tonight” said Bulls captain Victor Matfield.

One aspect of the Bulls game that worked well was the high kicks which were followed up with a committed chase.

“The strategy worked well on the day. The kickers were really accurate and our chasers put them under huge pressure. When we forced turnovers we had numbers and were able to capitalise. It all worked out nicely tonight” said Ludeke.

After du Preez’s try it was just a matter of winding the clock down and getting ready for next week’s final! The Bulls equalled their record winning margin against the Crusaders and have now beaten them in 3 semi-finals!

Bulls 39

Tries: Pierre Spies, Zane Kirchner, Fourie du Preez
Conversions: Steyn (3)
Penalties: Steyn (6)

Crusaders 24

Tries: Richie McCaw, Sean Maitland, Sam Whitelock
Conversions: Carter (3)
Penalty: Carter

Bulls player ratings:

1. Gurtho Steenkamp – 7

Did his job well and made numerous tackles.

2. Gary Botha – 6

Wasn’t his usual self around the breakdown and missed one crucial lineout throw early on. Solid in the set-pieces otherwise.

3. Werner Kruger – 6

Got penalised early on in the scrums but showed his strength later in the game as he started to gain the upper hand.

4. Danie Rossouw – 7

Scored a great try that was overruled by the TMO. A solid effort in the tight exchanges. Provided great go forward when needed. Hopefully the knock he tock late in the second half is not serious, it looked bad initially but the way he recovered suggested it was just a hard knock that may have hit a nerve.

5. Victor Matfield (c) – 8

Another superb performance all round from the skipper. Had one lineout stolen but then stole one back off Crusaders ball. Made numerous tackles and led the side awesomely!

6. Deon Stegmann – 8

Made a crucial steal at the beginning of the game that led to the Bulls first try. The Bulls never looked back, and that piece of play dictated the game. Got penalised a few times, but a good all round showing.

7. Dewald Potgieter – 8

Worked hard all game and a solid showing.

8. Pierre Spies – 8

Brilliant with ball in hand and took his try well. Made numerous tackles and worked tirelessly on defence. also showed great toe to match it with Zac Guildford.

9. Fourie du Preez – 10

A champion performance. Performed his role brilliantly, clearing the ball well and putting the box kick right on the money. Didn’t run much, but when there was a chance he saw it, and executed perfectly. Made the game safe for the Bulls, and showed the value of having a genuine game breaker in a side.

10. Morne Steyn – 9

Stepped up when it mattered. Kicked 9 from 10 and kept the Bulls scoreboard ticking over. Many of the kicks were difficult, but he showed that Orlando Stadium is no obstacle.

11. Francois Hougaard – 8

Minimal opportunities on attack, but stepped well when needed. His defence is under-rated, and he came in to make spot tackles whenever it was needed.

12. Wynand Olivier – 6

Quiet on attack and just couldn’t really break the line. Solid in defence but blotted his performance with a late hit.

13. Jaco Pretorious – 7

Minimal chances on attack. Carried the ball strongly an his defence in midfield meant the Crusaders couldn’t get the momentum they enjoyed in their previous encounter.

14. Jaco van der Westhuyzen – 8

Mopped up loose ball effectively, made his tackles and solid in all aspects.

15. Zane Kirchner – 7

Solid in all the basics and followed his kick well that led to his try. Hitting the backline really well and dangerous on attack, but will be disappointed to have spilt 2 balls on attack.

16. Bandise Maku – 7

Did his job well and ensured the scrum got better when he came on.

17. Bees Roux -

Not on long enough to make a decent rating.

18. Flip van der Merwe – 7

Great ball carries and provided the necessary impact when he came on.

19. Derick Kuun – 7

A handy player to bring on and took over Stegmann’s role to ensure the Bulls lost nothing. Worked hard on defence, making important tackles.

20. Jacques Louis Potgieter -

Not on long enough to make a decent rating.

21. Stephan Dippenaar – 7

Has been good on defence and whilst he doesn’t stand out, he does his job well.

22. Pedrie Wannenburg – 8

Carried the ball strongly, allowing the Bulls to play off him.

A historic occasion at Orlando Stadium, Soweto as the Bulls bring rugby to the colourful township!

There are many variables that could influence this game.
Have the Bulls lost momentum?
Will the travel affect the Crusaders?
What effect will Orlando stadium have?
Are the Crusaders peaking at the right time?
In 80 minutes we’ll have the answers.

Victor Matfield plays his 100th super rugby game for the Bulls! What a champion!

3rd Min – Spies!!! Oh what a start. The Crusaders had all the early ball, knocked the ball on and the Bulls took the ball through the phases beautifully from side to side and made great progress over the advantage line until Spies had too much pace and power for the try.
Morne Steyn converts to give the Bulls a 7-0 lead.

5th Min – The Bulls machine is starting well. An up and under from Steyn is spilt from Colin Slade, the kick through gives the Bulls a 5m scrum.

6th Min – Too big, too strong. Danie Rossouw crashes over after 2 phases from the scrum. The TMO rules it was knocked on. That’s a poor call and I hope it doesn’t influence the game.

9th Min – Penalty to the Bulls. Guildford knocks on and the resulting offside give the Bulls a penalty.
Morne Steyn sets a new record for points in a season with well over 200.
Bulls lead 10-0.

10th Min – Matfield takes the ball from the kickoff but the Bulls can’t get the ball back and the Crusaders have an opportunity near the Bulls line.

11th Min – The Crusaders drive it over the line and McCaw scores the try for the Crusaders.
Carter kicks the conversion to narrow the gap to 10-7.

14th Min – Charge down from Deon Stegmann and the ball rolls out just 1m from the tryline. Crusaders throw into the lineout.

15th Min – Try! Zane Kirchner follows his up and under, it comes off the Crusaders player head and Kirchner’s following up nets him the try.
Morne Steyn converts to extend the lead to 17-7. What a start to the game!

18th Min – A shoulder charge from a Crusaders player. Why wasn’t he sinbinned? Can I cite him!
Morne Steyn from 35m out nails a difficult kick.
Bulls lead 20-7.

20th Min – Crusaders take the ball through the phases, but the Bulls defence is solid.
Crusaders can’t get over the advantage line like they did 2 weeks ago, and they are simply going lateral so far without any punch.

21st Min – Bulls penalised at the scrum. Carter will kick from 39m out.
Boooo!
Carter kicks a tough one and the score is now 20-10.

24th Min – Potgieter penalised at the ruck. Crusaders nailed from the resulting lineout as they go wide, and Olivier makes a good tackle.
Dickinson makes a crucial steal and isn’t penalised at the breakdown. Where is the consistency? Matfield not happy and rightly so.

29th Min – Crusaders have all the ball in good field position. Morne Steyn kicks well deep into Crusaders territory.
Bulls getting penalised heavily. Stu Dickinson what a moron! Boooo. Ellis should have been penalised for holding on.
Carter kicks from halfway but misses it. Justice. The score remains at 20-10.

32nd Min – Crusaders finally penalised for not rolling away. Thank you Stu Dickinson.
Morne Steyn to attempt from 55m out.
He nails it! Unbelievable. Score now 23-10.

37th Min – Bulls lose a lineout. Victor Matfield has the ball poached from the lineout by Whitelock. Bulls penalised 5m out and now they get a warning.
Crusaders take a scrum 5m out.
The clock ticks towarard half time. Hold em out boys!

39th Min – Spies! du Preez initally hacked ahead and then Spies kicked upfield and was in a race with Guildford. 80m upfield and the Bulls get a penalty.
From the right hand touchline Steyn misses. Pity.

Half Time Bulls 23 Crusaders 10

After the initial lead the Crusaders have come back strongly with all the territory and possession. The Bulls have defended well and ref Stu Dickinson has been very harsh.
The Bulls will be happy with the lead and need to start strongly and try to make the Crusaders play catch up rugby.

41st Min – The Bulls have been strong in the second half all season. They will be confident with a good lead and induce the early error but are penalised at the scrum for breaking his bind.

44th Min – Bulls steal the lineout and go wide. They try to reycle in the middle of the field. Dickinson allows the Crusaders to steal with du Preez complaining. Dickinson having too large an influence for me.

45th Min – Steyn kicks too deep and the Crusaders have the ball in great attacking position.
Sean Maitland scores down the right hand side. Potgieter couldn’t make the covering tackle and the Crusaders are now right back in this game.
It should’ve been a penalty to the Bulls 2 minutes ago in a kickable position. Big big influence from Dickinson.
Carter nails the kick to make it 23-17.

48th Min – Finally a penalty to the Bulls. The Crusades were holding on and Stegmann was on his feet.
Steyn nails it to make it 26-17 and gives us a bit more breathing space.

52nd Min – Bulls starting to wear the Crusaders down. Morne Steyn with the snap drop goal but just shaves the right hand pole.
Daniel Bowden got bowled over by Francois Hougaard and Bowden is out for the count.

54th Min – Flip van der Merwe on for Danie Rossouw, and this is where the Bulls may have an edge, in the replacements.

56th Min – Wynand Olivier penalised for a late tackle. Crusaders refusing to lie down here.
Pedrie Wannnenburg on for Dewald Potgieter.
Bulls penalised 42m out.
Carter misses the kick. The score still 26-17.

57th Min – Chris Jack on for Brad Thorn.
Robbie Fruean also leaves and Tim Bateman on.

58th Min – Crusaders get the turnover, and kick ahead. Bulls escape fortuitously!
A try here by the Bulls will break this game open I feel.

63rd Min – Fourie du Preeeeeez! What a try. I had felt the champion scrumhalf was a bit quiet, but he had a great left shoulder from the scrum, and saw the space and scored a brilliant individual try.
Morne Steyn with an important kick from the left hand touchine and kicks it.
Bulls lead 33-17.

67th Min – Derick Kuun on for Deon Stegmann, and Stephan Dippenaar on for Jaco Pretorious.
Bulls have a scrum on the Crusaders 22m line.
Bulls awarded a penalty and step up Morne Steyn.
Steyn makes it 36-17.

70th Min – Bandise Maku on for Gary Botha.
Game effectively over now.

73rd Min – Power scrum from the Bulls. Crusaders look to be tiring, and the Bulls earn the penalty.
Morne Steyn makes it 9 from 10 and the score now 39-17.

78th Min – Crusaders running from everywhere, but it’s all academic now.

79th Min – Sam Whitelock gets a consolation try. Bulls losing intensity on defence. Fair enough.
Carter kicks the sideline conversion and the score is 39-24.

Full Time Bulls 39 Crusaders 24

A well deserved victory on a momentous occasion in Soweto.

What a fantastic stadium, atmosphere and result. The Bulls were more clinical, opened the lead, and the Crusaders couldn’t penetrate the Bulls defence often enough even though they had plenty of territory and possession in the first half.

The travel and altitude sapped their energy and the Bulls could grind down the victory in the second half as they so often do.

The Bulls go into their 3rd final next week and will play either the Stormers or Waratahs.

Vodacom man of the match: Fourie du Preez

A historic occasion at Orlando Stadium, Soweto!

The Bulls host the Crusaders for their 3rd semi-final clash, this time at the unfamiliar venue of Orlando Stadium in Soweto which has never been used for a super rugby fixture!

THE SOWETO STADIUM

The Bulls are excited to be playing in a new stadium, in a new environment and facing a new challenge. Rather than being bitter at having to leave the fortress of Loftus (as many pundits expected), collectively the Bulls are buzzing at embracing the situation they find themselves in.

“It’s a great stadium, and it may be a first time for us, but if you see the players walking around, they are taking pictures and really enjoying the experience” said Bulls captain Victor Matfield.

“The pitch is soft and fast, and this is our home game. We will do whatever we need to, to win the game on Saturday. This game is great for our country, and it is great that rugby comes to Soweto, especially if we want to grow the game in all areas of the country. To see the game sold out is amazing, and we’re expecting a mini-Loftus on Saturday” continued Matfield.

“I hear the stadium is sold out, which is great. People said that our supporters would stay away because of the perceptions they were supposed to have about Orlando, but the Bulls fans have shown their loyalty in packing in. They’ll be important in lifting us and making it as intimidating for the Crusaders as possible.”

GOOD LUCK FROM PROF FRTIZ ELOFF

As reported on the Bulls website, Prof Fritz Eloff, former president of the Blue Bulls and South African Rugby Football Unions turned 90 on Tuesday.

He wished the Bulls luck for the semi-final against the Crusaders, requesting a win to celebrate his 90th birthday.

“It is great to see them doing so well and I am sure they will go all the way again. Tell them I support them wholeheartedly for the weekend. The fact that the match will be played in Soweto is also a massive occasion for all and I am sure it will be a huge success” said Prof Eloff.

MILESTONES

Bulls captain, Victor Matfield plays his 100th Super rugby game for the Bulls (it will be his 108th super rugby game after playing 8 for the Cats early in his career).

“I’m proud to have played 100 Super Rugby games for the Bulls, but the 100th will be sweeter if we can win” said Victor Matfield.

TEAM SELECTION

The Bulls have made 15 changes to the side that lost to the Stormers, restoring their preferred, most experienced lineup. The starting line-up features 14 players who have won the Super 14 previously.

Jaco Pretorius returns from injury to shore up the midfield defence. His presence could ensure the Crusaders don’t find the midfield holes they discovered 2 weeks ago.

The side is well balanced and in Danie Rossouw and Flip van der Merwe there are 2 form locks who can help negate the suspension of Bakkies Botha.

A 5-2 bench gives the Bulls cover later in the game when I expect the altitude to take effect and the Bulls can put the Crusaders away like they did 2 weeks ago, and like they have done in the 2 semi-finals they’ve contested in Pretoria in 2007 and 2009.

DO THE CRUSADERS HAVE THE BLUEPRINT?

After their close loss at Loftus 2 weeks ago, the Crusaders have publicly stated they believe they have the formula to beat the Bulls. On that occasion they moved the ball wide at every opportunity, utilising the wrap-around and playing at a high-tempo to gain momentum and get over the advantage line. Going forward they were able to dominate the breakdown and utilise quick ball to send the Bulls backpedalling at a rate of knots.

Bulls captain Victor Matfield wasn’t so sure the Crusaders would be able to, or even attempt to replicate that attempt. Semi-finals are often tighter, like test matches and as the league match showed, when the pace slows down, the Crusaders struggled to get in behind the Bulls and Deon Stegmann was the one bossing the breakdown.

Speaking to Keo.co.za, Victor Matfield said “The last time we played they were chasing a bonus point to stay in the semi-final mix, so their approach was understandable. This is a semi-final were bonus points are of no consequence, so we’re not paying too much attention to what they are saying in the media.”

“Semi-finals have usually resembled Test matches quite closely, in that teams are reluctant to take risks in their own territory and prefer to play for field position then pressure the opposition into errors. We’re covering all our bases, and our philosophy has always been to focus on what we do well. If we prepare thoroughly and play to our potential we believe we can beat anyone. We have to muscle up in contact, especially on defence. We let them get across the gain line too often at Loftus, and when you allow a side as good as the Crusaders to build up momentum you’re always going to struggle” said Matfield.

Look for the Bulls to impose their game on the Crusaders, make the Crusaders make plenty of tackles and hopefully reverse the tables.

EXPERIENCE, LEADERSHIP AND ADAPTABILITY THE KEY

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke expects the Crusaders to try and add another string to their bow when they meet the Bulls, as top sides have the ability to read the game and alter their tactics.

“They are too experienced to play in one way for the entire game, particularly if we manage to get on top of them defensively. They’ll certainly have a primary game plan, but the best sides, and the Crusaders are one of the best, are able to switch between a couple of different strategies during the course of a game” Bulls coach Frans Ludeke told Keo.co.za.

Ludeke values his brains trust of Victor Matfield and Fourie du Preez to read the situation and control the tactics which will render his side successful.

“That’s where the value of our experienced players and leadership core like Victor Matfield and Fourie du Preez is found. They are so sharp to spot a change of tactics and instruct the team to make the necessary changes. They are also central to our ability to spot a dead end in terms of our tactics and make the subtle changes that help us strike somewhere else. It won’t be the only decisive factor in winning or losing, but it certainly will be one of the most important.”

Ludeke is also happy with his sides mental status and believes his side can will not be distracted by last weeks loss as they are focused on the job they have to do.

“In 2009, I was struck by how focused the squad was in the week leading up to the match, but from what I’ve seen so far, they’ve taken it up a level” said Ludeke.

MY VIEW

The Crusaders have had a tough schedule in the last few weeks. After travelling to Perth, they moved to Cape Town, to Pretoria, to Christchurch and now only arrived in Johannesburg on Tuesday. No Matter how good you are, it’s got to have an effect.

The key for the Bulls is: start well.
Score early, put the Crusaders under pressure and it’ll be a road to far to travel in the second half at altitude and in a hostile environment.

I am sure the Crusaders will come hard at the Bulls initially.
They’ll want to put the Bulls under pressure, and make the Bulls anxious playing in a new stadium. I’m sure the Crusaders will look to use a lot of width, and the guy who I believe has been instrumental for them is Colin Slade at fullback who hits the line intelligently and distributes the ball to his wingers well.

The Bulls however need to dominate the breakdowns and slow the ball to the Crusaders back, although I’m sure the Bulls defence will operate more effectively with Jaco Pretorius back, and the line can come up as a unit and shut down the Crusaders midfield.

Look also for the big time players to step up. du Preez, Matfield, Steyn, Spies etc. If they can get ball, get the Crusaders
making tackles, they can put pressure on the Crusaders defence and with a few points of their own, the Crusaders may have to chase the game early.

No matter who dominates the opening stanza, the Bulls will be well rested and should be able to stamp their authority in the second half to secure a victory. They deserve it for being league leaders, the most consistent side and setting the pace. The other factor many have failed to mention is the quality of the bench. I;m sure it’ll play a part, and it may just help swing the game late in the second half.

I’m picking the Bulls by 16.


Go Bulle Go!

Vodacom Bulls:

1. Gurtho Steenkamp
2. Gary Botha
3. Werner Kruger
4. Danie Rossouw
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. Jaco van der Westhuyzen
15. Zane Kirchner

16. Bandise Maku
17. Bees Roux
18. Flip van der Merwe
19. Derick Kuun
20. Jacques-Louis Potgieter
21. Stephan Dippenaar
22. Pedrie Wannenburg

Crusaders:

1. Ben Franks
2. Ti’i Paulo
3. Owen Franks
4. Brad Thorn
5. Sam Whitelock
6. George Whitelock
7. Richie McCaw (c)
8. Kieran Read
9. Andy Ellis
10. Daniel Carter
11. Zac Guildford
12. Dan Bowden
13. Robbie Fruean
14. Sean Maitland
15. Colin Slade

16. Daniel Perrin
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Chris Jack
19. Thomas Waldrom
20. Kahn Fotuali’i
21. Tim Bateman
22. Jared Payne


Referee: Stu Dickinson

Previous Super 14 results:

2006: Bulls 17, Crusaders 35 (Pretoria)
2006: Bulls 15, Crusaders 35 (SF Christchurch)
2007: Bulls 10, Crusaders 32 (Christchurch)
2007: Bulls 27, Crusaders 12 (SF Pretoria)
2008: Bulls 19, Crusaders 54 (Pretoria)
2009: Bulls 13, Crusaders 16 (Christchurch)
2009: Bulls 36, Crusaders 23 (SF Pretoria)
2010: Bulls 40, Crusaders 35 (Pretoria)

Bakkies Botha has been banned for 4 weeks!

The Big Bulls lock was cited by citing commissioner Freek Burger after Saturday’s clash with the Stormers.

The hearing took place at Loftus Versfeld on Monday morning, and after 4 hours it had to roll over into Tuesday.

The news on Tuesday was not great for the Bulls and even the Springboks, with the big man ruled out for 4 weeks.

It’s harsh, very harsh. Botha plays on the edge, a tremendously physical player who occasionally comes into the side of rucks, hits hard and is reliant on getting his timing and arm placement just right.

In the tackle on Gio Aplon that Botha was cited for, he clearly came in from the side and struck the Stormers winger near the head. It was not malicious or reckless in my view, just unfortunate.

My biggest issue is the consistency. Why can other players continually perform similar actions for no penalty, whereas every year Bakkies gets cited for legal and illegal play and gets suspensions that are at the high end of the limit. His history counts against him, and he is a marked man.

Talk to the man, you’ll find a gentle giant. A man who plays his rugby hard and asks for no quarter to be given. But equally he’ll take anything dished out at him and leave what happens on the field. It’s such a shame that Botha is picked on, but he needs to try and stay away from danger.

For their semi-final against the Crusaders, the Bulls will probably partner Victor Matfield with Danie Rossouw as starting lock, with Flip van der Merwe on the bench. The Bulls still possess a world class lock combination, but the omission of Botha is a huge shame.

Bakkies Botha was cited by citing commissioner Freek Burger after Saturday’s clash with the Stormers.

The big Springbok enforcer was playing just his third game of the season and building up his match fitness. He has shown no desire to back away from the physical stuff and on Saturday slowly looked to be regaining his best form as he showed with a couple of strong runs with ball in hand.

The incident he is being cited for happened in the early stages of the match when the Stormers had a ruck on their right hand touch line. Botha entered from the side of the ruck and Gio Aplon was flattened. Reports are stating that Botha did not use his arms and it was a dangerous tackle. He made contact near Aplon’s head, but it was neither malicious nor overtly dangerous, it was more simply a case of Botha entering from the side of the ruck.

C’mon Mr Burger…the Aussies and Kiwis get away with more than that! Because it’s Bakkies there’s the strong possibility that he’ll get more than a few weeks and miss the Bulls semi and possible final just when they need him most. (At least the Bulls have plenty of depth in the locking department and Danie Rossouw and flip van der Merwe have been excellent this year).

The hearing is set to take place at Loftus Versfeld on Monday morning. Let’s hope sanity prevails and we see the big man join his locking buddy Victor Matfield at Orlando stadium in Soweto for this weekend’s semi-final clash against the Crusaders.

A chance to rest our top guys and test our depth!

By wrapping up the top spot on the log, the Bulls have nothing more to gain from this fixture, and this allows he side a chance to test the depth of the players at the Bulls union. Whilst some sides and officials have been very critical of this practice, that is the spoils a victorious side like the Bulls can enjoy.

Other coaches and officials have warned that the Bulls could lose momentum, but I don’t think that will worry the Bulls. What it does allow is for the top guys to start preparing for the semi-finals already, whilst the remaining sides still in contention have to think of a tough final league game. From a mental and physical perspective, the Bulls will be thoroughly prepared for their semi-final!

MILESTONES

The Bulls are looking to extend their winning streak over the Stormers to 6 games having won on their last 5 encounters!

Making their first starts for the Bulls are Tiger Mangweni at fullback (played super rugby for the Stormers and Cheetahs previously), De Wet Barry at inside centre (played super rugby for the Stormers previously), Deon Helberg on the wing (a Springbok sevens representative), Gerrit-Jan van velze at flank (captained Bulls Vodacom cup side to the title last week and former nominee for world junior player of the year)

On the bench Okkie Kruger, Ruan Snyman, Francois Brummer and Stefan Watermeyer will all make their Bulls’ debuts if they take the field.

Backing up from their victorious Vodacom Cup final are Tiger Mangweni, Deon Helberg, Gerrit-Jan van Velze, Jaco Engels, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Deon Greyling, Fudge Mabeta, Okkie Kruger, Ruan Snyman, Francois Brummer and Stefan Watermeyer

BELIEF

Frans Ludeke the Bulls coach says that his side’s belief has increased even further after the victory over the Crusaders. If the most emphatic victory in a Super 14 final didn’t do it, than the character to win games this year when they’ve been trailing and in difficult circumstances can only make the Bulls even harder to beat, and that’s a characteristic of championship sides.

“It wasn’t the prettiest game and we certainly had our share of good fortune, but sometimes you get games like that and you just have to guts it out. The best sides all share that trait and I was pleased that we were able to come through the toughest test of the season the way we did” Ludeke told keo.co.za.

“It humbled me to see the boys show that type of character. The fact that they were able to put errors behind them and just concentrate on the task at hand says everything about the calibre of this squad, particularly the senior players who always gave off positive energy. The youngsters fed off that energy and they never gave up because the leaders in the squad refused to” continued Ludeke.

“Afterwards you could see in their eyes that they had gone to another level of belief. That happens when you pass tests as difficult as that one was. The Crusaders had some of the world’s best players in their line up and never ever give up. We’re keeping our feet on the ground, but I’d be lying if I told you there isn’t massive self belief within the squad. We believe we can beat anyone when we play to potential” said Ludeke.

Ludeke continued “We got some luck with the last try in the sense that Richie McCaw’s charge down of Morne Steyn’s drop goal could have rolled anywhere, but it broke back to us. The composure we showed in launching that last counter-attack tells me we’re growing into the team we see ourselves being, and Francois’s finish was of the highest quality.”

TEAM SELECTION

This has been a bone of contention with the Kiwis and Australians crying about the Bulls decision to rest many of their stars. They can go fish! This is no Bulls ‘B’ side, it is an alternate side, and they deserve their chance.

I’m sure they’ll do the Bulls proud and be better for the experience in a game that has lost most of it’s meaning for the Bulls. All that really matters is the semi and final.

PREDICTION

Well anything could happen. I think it’ll be tight initially as the sides feel each other out, but in the end the Stormers should be able to beat a side lacking experience at the top level. The pace of the game may take it’s toll on the inexperienced Bulls players. I’d love for the Bulls to win but won’t be unhappy to see the Stormers gain a home semi-final and play the Bulls again in a final at Orlando stadium, Soweto. Stormers to win by 15.

Go Bulle Go!

Vodacom Bulls:

1. Jaco Engels
2. Bandise Maku
3. Bees Roux
4. Flip van der Merwe
5. Bakkies Botha (c)
6. Derick Kuun
7. Gerrit-Jan van Velze
8. Pedrie Wannenburg
9. Heini Adams
10. Jacques-Louis Potgieter
11. Deon Helberg
12. De Wet Barry
13. Stephan Dippenaar
14. Jaco van der Westhuyzen
15. Tiger Mangweni

16. Chiliboy Ralepelle
17. Dean Greyling
18. Fudge Mabeta
19. Okkie Kruger
20. Ruan Snyman
21. Francois Brummer
22. Stefan Watermeyer

Stormers:

1. Wicus Blaauw
2. Tiaan Liebenberg
3. Brok Harris
4. Adriaan Fondse
5. Andries Bekker
6. Schalk Burger (c)
7. Francois Louw
8. Duane Vermeulen
9. Dewaldt Duvenhage
10. Peter Grant
11. Bryan Habana
12. Juan de Jongh
13. Jaque Fourie
14. Gio Aplon
15. Joe Pietersen

16. Deon Fourie
17. Eusebio Guinazu
18. Anton van Zyl
19. Pieter Louw
20. Ricky Januarie
21. Willem de Waal
22. Tim Whitehead

Previous Super 14 results:

2006: Bulls 43, Stormers 10 (Cape Town)
2007: Bulls 49, Stormers 12 (Pretoria)
2008: Bulls 16, Stormers 9 (Cape Town)
2009: Bulls 14, Stormers 10 (Pretoria)