Sanjay's Rugby World

A nine try try fest between the Bulls and Cheetahs showed the new law interpretations will change the game this season.

Whilst I’m not convinced the law interpretation at the breakdown is good for the game, with attacking sides able to monopolise possession and the poor defending side struggling to get hold of the ball, the attitude from the Bulls and Cheetahs was awesome.

At the post match interview both Cheetahs captain Juan Smith and Bulls Captain Victor Matfield said how awesome the new law interpretations are for the fans and running the ball.

“Look, give the Cheetahs credit, they had a go at us tonight and they are a very good side who shouldn’t be written off easily. For us the bonus point away from home with the victory is unbelievable valuable”  said Bulls captain Matfield.

In 2008, the Bulls in particular did not want to adapt to the ELV’s and got left behind. South Africa has some amazing talent out wide, and with the right attitude we can embrace the law changes and make use of these talents.

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske lamented the poor showing from his side, and was not pleased with his side’s effort.

“We didn’t tackle well tonight. Its unacceptable. We also let a few soft tries in and the guys slip the defensive line too easily. We will have to go back and work harder. Our one-on-one defence wasn’t good enough for three of the Bulls tries” said Drotske.

I felt the Cheetahs did not utilise their talent out wide enough. Lionel Mapoe and Jongi Nokwe look dangerous every time they got the ball, which was usually only from broken play. For the Cheetahs to succeed they’ll need to take more risks, and get their wingers into space.

The Bulls showed they have the players, the confidence and the right attitude to repeat last season’s success. With Morne Steyn ever dependable they have all the tools to keep the scoreboard flowing, and 50 points in their first encounter will give them great confidence.

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The Bulls beat the Cheetahs 51-34 in an action packed night in Bloemfontein.

The Cheetahs made the perfect start, a great chase to the kick-off from Jongi Nokwe resulting in the Cheetahs finding space out wide for speedster Lionel Mapoe. Nevermind I thought ref Jonathan Kaplan missed a blatant knock on from Nokwe.

This is a champion Bulls side however, and there is never any panic in the ranks. It was simply get the game plan going, hold the ball through a few phases and let the points accumulate.

The first half was reasonably even in the opening exchanges, with both sides carrying the ball through the phases well and looking to go wide once they had crossed the advantage line.

The Bulls produced some great backline touches, and worked the space beautifully for Jaco Pretorius to score his first try in Super rugby for the Bulls.

Jongi Nokwe then showed his awesome acceleration from a standing start, and it was only a brilliant desperate tackle from Deon Stegmann that prevented the try. It could have been a defining moment in the match.

Morne Steyn then stepped his way beautifully through the Cheetahs defence at the other end of the field and the Bulls had started to pull ahead.

At half-time the Bulls had a handy 23-14 lead.

A penalty just after half-time brought the Cheetahs within 6 points, before the Bulls blew the Cheetahs away with 2 magic tries.

First Wynand Olivier burst through some weak tackles to put Gerhard van den Heever away down the left flank, and then Danie Rousouw produced the deftest left footed chip kick to put Zane Kirchner away for a magical try. It shows the confidence and range of skills exhibited by the Bulls forwards and is a great sign for the remainder of the season.

To the Cheetahs credit however, they came back with two tries of their own to put the Bulls under great pressure. With the gap reduced to 6 again, it was anybody’s game.

The Bulls showed why they are defending champions as their composure and execution sealed the game quite comfortably in the final quarter.

This was not after one of the most dramatic moments on a rugby field however. The lights in Bloemfontein went out, resulting in a delay and the match being completed with semi-darkness on one side of the field.

In the end a 6 try to 3 victory was quite comprehensive, and the Bulls showed they will be a major force again this year. They are the first team to pick up the 4 try bonus point, and appear to have embraced the new law interpretations.

Interestingly the Cheetahs much vaunted scrum was made to look ordinary by the Bulls who have worked hard with Balie Swart in the off-season. The signs look great for the Bulls, and I expect the Cheetahs to get better, but they may still struggle to get many wins!

Cheetahs 34
Tries: Lionel Mapoe, Jongi Nokwe, Juan Smith
Coversions: Naas Olivier (2)
Penalties: Olivier (5)

Bulls 51
Tries: Jaco Pretorius, Morne Steyn, Zane Kirchner, Gerhard van den Heever, Wynand Olivier, Penalty Try
Conversions: Morne Steyn (5), Jacques-Louis Potgieter
Penalties: Steyn (3)

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A rematch of the Currie Cup final starts the Super 14 season in South Africa.

Whilst games between these sides are always tough and often close affairs, the Cheetahs have yet to beat the Bulls in Super 14 rugby.

The Bulls are the more experienced, battle hardened side. Gary Botha has the distinction of playing his 50th Super rugby game for the Bulls and experience such as that should see the Bulls get home.

There is no doubt the Cheetahs have a tough pack, and pace out on the wings. However it’s the lack of a general at flyhalf that may stop them getting the momentum they need. Riaan Viljoen should be able to use his long boot to drive the Bulls back into their own half, but this Bulls side has got all the ammunition it needs to play whatever style it needs to.

The Bulls may be slightly rusty after little match practice, and the Cheetahs best bet may be to start strong and try to mount the pressure on the defending champs.

In the end the match may come down to goal kicking, and in Morne Steyn the Bulls have a match winner, whilst Naas Olivier can have his off days.

John Mametsa is a late replacement for Francois Hougaard who couldn’t complete the captains run, but Mametsa can do the job and has a high work-rate.

I’m fairly confident of a Bulls victory, but in Bloemfontein, anything can happen!

Vodacom Bulls:

1. Gurtho Steenkamp
2. Gary Botha
3. Werner Kruger
4. Danie Rousouw
5. Victor Matfield (c)
6. Deon Stegmaan
7. Pedrie Wannenburg
8. Pierre Spies
9. Fourie du Preez
10. Morne Steyn
11. John Mametsa
12. Wynand Olivier
13. Jaco Pretorius
14. Gerhard van den Heever
15. Zane Kirchner

16. Bandise Maku
17. Bees Roux
18. Flip vd Merwe
19. Derick Kuün
20. Heini Adams
21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter
22. Stephan Dippenaar

Vodacom Cheetahs:

1. Wian du Preez
2. Adriaan Strauss
3. WP Nel
4. Nico Breedt
5. David de Villiers
6. Heinrich Brussow
7. Juan Smith (c)
8. Ashley Johnson
9. Tewis de Bruyn
10. Naas Olivier
11. Jongi Nokwe
12. Meyer Bosman
13. Corne Uys
14. Lionel Mapoe
15. Riaan Viljoen

16. Ryno Barnes
17. Coenie Oosthuizen
18. Waltie Vermeulen
19. Frans Viljoen
20. Sarel Pretorius
21. Sias Ebersohn
22. Danwel Demas

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan

Previous Super 14 results:

2006: Bulls 30, Cheetahs 18 (Bloemfontein)
2007: Bulls 24, Cheetahs 20 (Pretoria)
2008:Bulls 60, Cheetahs 20 (Bloemfontein)
2009: Bulls 29, Cheetahs 20 (Pretoria)

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The Cheetahs

In my opinion they should be replaced by the Southern Kings. However, they are one of the teams in this year’s Super 14, and my favourite for last position.

Whilst they perform well in the Currie Cup, mental disintegration retards this side in the Super 14. The fact they’ve only ever won 1 away game in Super rugby, way back in 1997 has probably scarred them for life. They compete well against South African sides, but they just don’t know how to beat the Aussies and Kiwis whether home or away.

The Cheetahs need to at least perform well in Bloem to help their fellow South African sides.

The lineout is a potential weakness but they have one of the best front rows around and an awesome back row with captain Juan Smith, Heinrich Brussow and Ashley Johnson, it’s the loss of flyhalf Jacques Louis-Potgieter that will hurt the most. Naas Olivier is not super rugby star material, I’d prefer they gave young Sias Ebersohn a chance. Sarel Pretorius could also be a real threat at scrumhalf.

The midfield is solid with Meyer Bosman, but it’s out wide with Lionel Mapoe and Jongi Nokwe where they have their stars. Those two have genuine pace and represent try-scoring chances. If they can be given the ball in space they could score tries. Last year coach Naka Drotske didn’t give Nokwe a fair run, if he makes the same mistake in 2010 the writing is on the wall.

Watch out for: The loose trio of Smith, Brussow and Johnson. Scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius is nippy and likely to score many tries, and the wings Mapoe and Nokwe are try-scoring machines given any space.

Prediction: Bottom 4