Bones take a beating from Bully Boys
1 May 2006
The bones, consistently accurate in the last eight weeks, took a beating at the weekend as the Stormers and Bully Boys came good.
The bones had predicted victories for the Sharks in Pretoria, while also giving the Cheetahs and Crusaders a win. The Force were also due a historic first Vodacom Super 14 triumph.
The Sharks defeat is the most significant because it ends their play-offs challenge. The Sharks, on the road, will have more chance of success than the Bully Boys, who once again showed their brutality when playing at home. The Bully Boys on the road are more gravel than granite, but in Pretoria they have the ability to grow extra arms and legs.
The intensity of the Bulls in the first 40 minutes was the equivalent of an assault — as Sharks prop BJ Botha would no doubt tell you. The Bulls had the bonus point by halftime, but they did not have the win until the final hooter. The Sharks were given unanimous backing on this site (70 percent of the poll voted in their favour) for good reason. They are a quality side and the manner in which they fought back from 27-3 to be in a position to win the game was revealing of the improvement this season.
When the Bulls’ intensity dimmed on the hour, the Sharks started to find space and a bit of go-forward and their ability to offload in the tackle, change the line of attack and run the support runner into space troubled the Bulls defence.
The brutality of the first 40 minutes, though, was just too much for the Sharks and their championship aspirations were bloodied on Saturday night. Another whose championship could be over is the Crusaders. I know it is a big call. They lost for just the first time in 17 matches and a year ago they were as emphatically beaten in Pretoria, only to then go on and win the championship.
But they look like a side that has hit the wall in the last fortnight and the two epic encounters with the Hurricanes and Waratahs seem to have taken everything out of them. They will struggle to beat the Bulls in Pretoria and the Brumbies in Christchurch could easily do them as well, which would mean they may end up fourth on the table and needing to win twice away from home to claim the title. They’ve done it before, but rarely have they looked so out of sorts in successive weekends at this late stage of the competition.
The Stormers, for once this season, applied the blowtorch for 80 minutes and should have won by more and scored the bonus point. The Stormers pack was dominant and the Crusaders have now struggled against the Sharks and Stormers forwards. I can’t imagine them relishing the prospect of Pretoria this weekend — especially with the Bulls having to win to stay alive in the play-off race.
Crowd support this weekend was brilliant in Pretoria and very good in Cape Town, given the Stormers horror run at home. That 30 000 still made it on a cold and windy evening tells you how strong the brand is.
Individually, there were some fine performances and most of them came from established Springboks. The Bulls lock pairing of Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield were colossal, Pedrie Wannenburg has been the most consistent South African loose-forward all season, Schalk Burger was huge in Cape Town and Gary Botha and John Smit enjoyed a hectic 80 minute struggle in the front row.
Andre Pretorius showed more confidence against the Force, but again his goalkicking was not good enough, while Meyer Bosman would have backed himself to kick the conversion to sink the Blues.
The most pleasing aspect of this weekend’s matches is that every South African team played for 80 minutes, probably for the first time this season. The Bulls and Sharks were hammering away at each other on the siren, the Cats kept the ball for two minutes after the siren to score a match-saving try, while the Cheetahs also retained possession for two minutes after the siren to score a try that put them in a position to win it.
And in Cape Town the Stormers went in front after 30 seconds and never let up.
It was a heart-warming weekend for SA teams and while it won’t be reflected in Super 14 silverware, we could see the results in the international season.
243 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] Show All
2 May 2006, 10:32 am
He still needs a season or two London. Prove himself consistently
2 May 2006, 10:32 am
The sharks should have spiked the Bulls Brandy and coke.
2 May 2006, 10:33 am
Team for after WC07
15 JP Pietersen
14 Ndungane
13 J Fourie
12 J d Villiers
11 B Habana
10 M Steyn
09 R Pienaar
08 J Smith
07 S Burger
06 L Watson
05 R Skeate
04 V Matfield
03 BJ Botha
02 John Smit
01 JD Moller
Bring it on
2 May 2006, 10:34 am
I would still take him to the world cup as backup to JDV.
2 May 2006, 10:35 am
If they spiked the bulls drink with Brandy & Coke they wouldve moered the pom pom girls. You know those Northern Transvalers cant handle brandy
2 May 2006, 10:36 am
Megrat, nice team. I would still take Bakkies though and Steencamp/Os.
I’m not convinced with Ndungani yet either.
2 May 2006, 10:37 am
At least they wouldnt have moered the Sharks!!
2 May 2006, 10:38 am
this skeate will have to show what he’s worth against the bullas
he is below average so far
fortunately he shaved off that *** moustache
only a tomato for him
2 May 2006, 10:38 am
Ye I had to go for Skeate as two bulls locks is too much
and Ndungani is a quota player although he is good but maybe not the best
2 May 2006, 10:39 am
And as for Os I dont think he will make it after next years Cup
2 May 2006, 10:40 am
Ross Skeate instead of bakkie. You must have had some of that dinky chocolates Moegrat.
J VD Westhuizen
Ndugane
Fourie
Habanna
De Villiers
Pretorius
Du Preez
Pedrie
Watson
Smit
Botha (k)
Matfield
Steenkamp
Botha
Moller
2 May 2006, 10:42 am
Xktreni, Botha as captain, ARE YOU MAD??????
Nice team. I would still go with Burger and John Smit though.
2 May 2006, 10:44 am
Bench
J.P Pietersen
Ruan Pienaar
W.O
Joe Van Niekerk
A.J Venter
B.J
Chilliboy
2 May 2006, 10:45 am
I guess I will use this thread to congratulate the Bulls on a great game on Saturday. Well done, that pack really packs a wallop. That said, I’m not feeling down cos my team played really good rugby and the best part was that iot was the youngsters doing some amazing work (so much for the doomsayers who allege that the Sharks will suffer once the old-timers retire, our success is base more on our youth). The performace of the Bulls pack is great news for the Tri-Nations while Morne Steyn also showed why (I believe) he is a much better player than De Waal,Grant etc. But lets not loose all touch with reality and suggest Bok teams like in (211).
2 May 2006, 10:47 am
Porra,
i think your boys need some fruit and veg after losing out by 1 point and meyer missing the winning conversion…
2 May 2006, 10:47 am
Look what happened when the Aussies made Ricky Ponting Captain. Before that he was a real hellraiser. Added sense of responsibility will settle him. Just get someone more eloquent to do the media thing.
2 May 2006, 10:48 am
Xkreni WP
In your team AJ Venter and J vd West will be to old by then (or is this your current team not “after WC07″ team?)
Also to have Bakkies as captain is madness, he is to prone for a yellow card
2 May 2006, 10:49 am
Thank you Ben M. We graciously accept. I think it is a damn fine team.
2 May 2006, 10:50 am
moegrat
I have not forgotten. Just wondering if you would own up.
We can carry it over to the Stormers game. I dont mind.
But to be honest right now I am more curious about the Stormers vs Sharks game this weekend.
2 May 2006, 10:50 am
And after the appointing Pontinga as Captain the lost the ashes for the first time in 20 years
2 May 2006, 10:51 am
AAh Moegrat
Ek lees soos my gat. It is for WC 07. When last did Bakkies receive a yellow? Is Burger not more of a liability in that department?
2 May 2006, 10:52 am
They are still the best side in the world Moegrat. With Ponting as the number 1 test batsman. It was a wobble but they will regain it.
2 May 2006, 10:53 am
Ye its going to be a good one, Sharks on a low and Stormers on a high. If the Sharks played like they did in the second half against the Bulls then the Stormers is in for a long evening.
Anywas, gotta go. And im confident i can scratch the 100 bucks in a few weeks time, only time will tell
Cheers
2 May 2006, 10:58 am
Moergat,
BJ Botha end Burger have a much bigger yellow card liability factor than Botha. Botha is the dominant enforcer lock in world rugby at the moment. no SA team without him. end of story.
2 May 2006, 11:05 am
i watched the Cats game and to entertain myself I imagined that Andy Turner had sold movie rights to Hollywood and Steven Spielberg was making an epic called “Ludeke’s List” it is a tragic tale of young lives ruined and the hopes of a whole community dashed and culminates in a popular uprising and civic unrest. Marvin the Martian is playing Earl Rose and Stiffler is playing Grant Esterhuyzen. Britney Spears will star as Wickus v Heerden.
2 May 2006, 11:09 am
i think saders just wanted extra pocket money…. now the stormers thing they the best. Sharks should bring the chockers back to earth.
2 May 2006, 11:12 am
BIG HAHAHAHA at Earl “Bite the hand that feeds me” Rose. Lovely on attack; shameful on defence. Count your money, Earl, while the Stormers count their lucky stars.
2 May 2006, 11:14 am
londonshark …yes there’s nobody really pushing him but two days in 3 I prefer Barry at 12 and JDV at 14 or 13 ,and WO is in need of some more play. I say pick em all and work with em all and work hardest with JDV as he has it for sure. If he doesnt step up ,use Barry and get WO on the filed too. But i suppose these are our 3 choices. Watch Jake pick big *** and perhaps Bosman as backup (which is ok i suppose)
2 May 2006, 11:26 am
hi all,
**** sitting at loftus leading by 24 pts i thought we had it in the bag… Not happy with the way we let the sharks back into the game!! Bulls have been lacking that aspect the last few months… They even let the cheetah’s back in the CC final!!
A win is a win!! Never seen more scared sharks players on a field in my life… Bakkies even handed T Brown a little pakslae…
Bring on the Crusaders before we clean the stormers!!
2 May 2006, 11:35 am
actually just looking at the log, the bulls loss to the reds was pisspoor.
2 May 2006, 11:38 am
cab
Rub it in.
It was disgraceful.
I still believe that is the final nail in our coffin.
But one can hope.
2 May 2006, 11:45 am
actually jondood i thought the bulls would qualify for a semi after their sharks win, but looking at the log, there’s a good chance they might not, even if they beat the stormers and crusaders.
thats why i look back at the loss to the reds, ridiculous.
2 May 2006, 11:57 am
cab – you can add the loss to the Brumbies as well……
2 May 2006, 11:58 am
Ig
That last try of Mortlock came from a knock on.
I saw it with my own eyes.
2 May 2006, 12:00 pm
Ya jondood – not so sure – reckon the Bulls got lazy as they have shown against – the Brumbies, Sharks, Force and the Reds – someone needs to let them know 80 minutes constitues a game not 20, 40, 60….
2 May 2006, 12:01 pm
And don’t forget THAT loss to the Canes.
2 May 2006, 12:03 pm
There is some real genius thinking in the Bullpen if we hadn’t lost to the Reds,if the TMO didn’t shaft us,if,if,if,if.It’s quite simple really never mind the opposition if you ain’t good to win enough you will be an also-ran. The Bulls are a good side,unfortunately not a great one.The S14 has highlighted weaknesses in their game and a lack of evolution has allowed the opposition to better counter the Bulls strenghts.If the Bulls really want to be a force in this competition they are going to have to improve tactically as this year they have not been consistently good enough to be regarded as real contenders.
2 May 2006, 12:04 pm
rastafox
Surely you can not aim your post just towards the Bulls?
2 May 2006, 12:06 pm
Cab
Look on the bright side. We can now concentrate on the CC where, at least, 2 SA sides will make the final.
2 May 2006, 12:09 pm
hi guys, how about this scenario!
If bulls win their last 2 games with bp they end up on 43. If saders loose their last 2 games (bulls, Brumbies) without any bp they stay on 42.
if thas and canes win one match the saders are out of the semis.
How about that!!!!!!!
2 May 2006, 12:12 pm
Not only at the Bulls,they are however our top side and really should have delivered more this year.The Sharks have surprised and improved dramatically,the Cheetahs are in their debut season,the Cats are currently not deserving of any comment and the Stormers are worth a coloumn on their own.The Bulls had the most to lose this season and cannot be satisfied with this season as it stands.I would love nothing more than see the Bulls sneak into the play-offs and come home with the title,but I am sure there are few who would dispute the slimness of that chance.
2 May 2006, 12:15 pm
Unless its a home semi, the Bulls have fakall chance. What a shame they only just managed to squeak out the Sharks who travel much better.
2 May 2006, 14:27 pm
Sharks got rattled, they did… Bulls had the most impressive start i have seen in a long time, but thats that. Another 10 mins of that game, and sharks would have had it in the bag. Bulls well done, but Sharks remain the better team as a whole and the one that could possibly take it to the end 80 mins to 80 mins to 80 mins.
Don’t thinks Bulls will fire like that again, and even if they do Crusaders won’t be rattled out of their impressive defence like we were in the first 25 min.
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.