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
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1 May 2006, 13:54 pm
PissAnt,
Agreed on gameplan but I would prefer Bulls to play like they did against Cats (2 half) and Sharks (1 half). Meaning the bulls dictate the flow of the game by keeping the ball. None team can score trys without the ball. The earlies season gameplan was due their personel at 10. Derrik is a great kicker but has been always poor with ball in hand. Bulls were not confident in their back line with derrik at 10. With Steyn different story.
St.Petersburgbok,
Hope Matfield can learn but it look to me he doesn’t have that mongrel like Johnson. Just one examle, don’t remember what game it was but remember Corry getting into trouble with ref, and Johnson just grabbed Corry in one hand and thrue him away from the ref.I had impression Corry would have sinbinned had Johnson not interfiered. Just Imagine Corry thrown away and he said nothing and obeyed. Now that tipe of authority I would like to see from our captain.
1 May 2006, 13:57 pm
Bossman at 12 could be interesting. At least he was playing 12 when cought JW eye.
1 May 2006, 14:00 pm
cic,
i agree on the sentiment of keeping the ball in hand rather, but i think the problem with the bulls in the beginning of the comp was not so much the #10, it was their loosies.
up and till recently the loosies have underperformed, now, they are doing extremely well and look like they have clicked for the first time this year (dlulane perhaps?).
to employ an effective running type of game your loosies are vitally important. this is why i believe the sharks were no-where in the first half, their loosies were completely overshadowed and ditto for the bulls exceptional first 40, their loosies lead by pedrie was nothing short of spectacular.
throw in brilliant performances from a tight 5 player like bakkies who carried the ball brilliantly and no team would have come close to the bulls last saturday.
that is of course unless the oppo team’s loosies got stuck in too.
this fridays game with the saders loosies is going to be vital and where the game is going to be won or lost.
1 May 2006, 14:00 pm
Jean DeVilliers has had his best games on the wing.
He has excellent skill and rugby brain as well but he is a player that needs a little time and space.
Don’t underestimate his pace as well….he’s pretty quick.
1 May 2006, 14:05 pm
storm-saam,
yip we are in minority, but both appear to think Barry has much to offer allround at 12. I like the combo of JdV and JF and think it could become one of the best ever, but Barry is also a very good 12.
1 May 2006, 14:06 pm
yet again i agree StP (seems to happen often lately).
this is exactly why i think there is a huge difference in a playmaker and game breaker.
JDV can turn a game on his head (gamebreaker) as can habana, fourie and joubert (like he did 2 years ago). they need space and they need to be put into space.
their running angles can rip opposition teams apart.
all they need are great playmakers to put them into space or give them space and time.
it is like a fullback knowing just when and how to join the line and at what angle.
1 May 2006, 14:10 pm
PissAnt,
Since the beginning of the S14 I have said that Cronje is not an eightman. You need a quicker, more scillfull player at 8. Cronje is genuine blindside flank. It was at blindside where he exeled in previouse seasons.
1 May 2006, 14:11 pm
Recently JDV hasn’t appeared to be the world’s greatest midfield defender.
Maybe he would be better as a wing/flyhalf? Similar to Pieter Rossouw’s role under Mallett?
1 May 2006, 14:12 pm
Agreed PissAnt,
Bulls had same quality at 12 in late EB. Unfortunately he was too white to play for boks.
1 May 2006, 14:15 pm
St P on post 40.
The Bulls have had 15 years or so & have not done what the Sharks have done in Super rugby!
You got your chance now, home games a plenty. If you don’t make it, the Bulls will be the Chokers.
One thing to remember is the Sharks have had a succesful season, when you compare the overseas tour. In fact, to be neck and neck with the Bulls after the favourable draw the Bulls had this season is a credit to the sharks or a discredit to the the Bulls.
I watch in anticipation if the Bulls will choke or make it to the semi’s. I wish you the best of luck too.
1 May 2006, 14:17 pm
The main difference for the Bulls that playing a specialist opensider like Dulane makes is that they can be more expansive. Without him it’s risky to have a breakdown out wide which has led to the obsession of keeping the ball tight.
Having a genuine openside flank opens up far more possibilities than just fetching the ball when it’s lost.
1 May 2006, 14:31 pm
Has anyone thought about the nightmare that Jake has in the leadup to the WC?
We have 6 Tri Nations this year alone. A home and away series against England plus others I’ve forgotten. I assume we’re not cancelling next years TriNations either.
He’s got to find an expanded squad that includes experience, new players who can take over in case of injuries, which will happen, plus have sufficient black player to fill in for other injured black players.
Whilst he’s doing this he has to ensure that he can put together various combinations that takes these factors into account.
He’s going to earn his money, believe me.
1 May 2006, 14:32 pm
How many S12/S14 titles have the Sharks got in their cupboard?
Since 1990(your greatest ever day apparently)……how many CC’s have you got compared with the Bulls in the same time frame, given you have that “apparently” superior game paln?
Sharks have had a great season because they were expected to be so poor.
Bulls season will be considered a bloody disaster if they don’t get to the final.
We set that “expectation bar” just a little higher in Tswane.
David
Agreed about Dlulane and the expansive game…..also don’t underestimate JP Nel and and Welsh’s ability to clear a ruck as well.
1 May 2006, 14:36 pm
StP
That’s one of the factors I meant. It’s all very well for Welsh or JP to clean out a backline ruck but it doesn’t help if the forwards aren’t fast enough to secure it.
The opensider also acts the link with the backs in so much as quick clean out means quick ball.
1 May 2006, 14:42 pm
Dlulane in has lived up to the bulls expectations when they decided to invest in him. Which I can not say about other imports Cotzee and Scholtz. I have seen BB in VC last couple of weeks and couldn’t answear the question why on earth did bulls let Molefe go to lions and bought those two dinozaurus with little brains and no hands? Apart from WO we don’t have quality inside cneter at the moment.
1 May 2006, 14:47 pm
The Bulls didn’t want to let Molefe go…he wanted to go.
1 May 2006, 14:50 pm
St. Petersburgbok,
Are you sure? Who would want to leave bulls country?
1 May 2006, 14:58 pm
St PBok.
I think what people are trying to say is that the Bulls gameplan is awesome at Currie Cup level an to an extent at Super 14 level (at home anyway), but the Sharks gameplan is better suited to an international gameplan where packs just do not dominate like they can at domestic level.
Man for man sharks team cannot compare with the Bulls but are somehow keeping up with them in this years Super 14 (and the sharks got a nightmare draw).
The Bulls have an awesome team and do have the players to go all the way but not with 10/12 man gameplans. I would love to see a guy like **** Muir coach the Bulls in the future.
1 May 2006, 14:58 pm
Pretty sure….initially I believe he fed them some bullshit story about moving back to where his family is (Kimberley)….only to join the Lions later?
1 May 2006, 15:01 pm
Cab (105):
Barry is a solid inside centre. However, I was ready to lynch him after the early season effort.
I guess the debate is for a playmaker like Jean DV, Hennie le Roux, Heinrich Fuls or for a more physical player like Barry, Japie Mulder, Pieter Muller.
It is interesting that the players that could blend the physical and the playmaking role alternated between center and flyhalf for the Boks. I’m thinking of Michael du Plessis (my earliest memory of a rugby genius), Henry Honibal and Hennie du Plessis.
Maybe Meyer Bosman is that type of player.
1 May 2006, 15:03 pm
LondonShark…..although the argument has merit.
The Bulls with only a handful of wins overseas in a decade of superrugby……surely this is not gameplan alone?
Some pretty woeful individual performances as well as down right rotten luck has seen them suffer overseas.
Seriously…..losing to the Reds?
Game plan or piss poor team performance?
1 May 2006, 15:07 pm
That is a shame. We urgently need someone as WO’s back up. At the moment the isn’t any player in VC to fullfill that role.
Sharks game plan is good for S14 where defence is not as important as Attack (teams need bonus points). I doubt that it will work in internationals, test are much tighter. No quality international team will alow their opponents to play basketball stile.
1 May 2006, 15:21 pm
cicinno
What about Steyn? He played there for the Bok u21 when Ruan was at 10. This allows you to bring Jaco in at 10 with Loets 15.
1 May 2006, 15:27 pm
Yes David, Steyn was tryed at 12 before, i recall Bulls played him in CC outside hougard, but it never workrd well. His is not strong enough and his defence is not that good at 12. Personaly i’d prefer jaco at 12 if something happens to WO.
1 May 2006, 15:27 pm
ciccino
Of course you could always use Bakkies.
1 May 2006, 15:29 pm
at least many of sa centers whould envy that dummie he threw to the sharks
1 May 2006, 15:31 pm
I wonder if we clone Bakkies and field 15 bakkies how competitive this team would be?
1 May 2006, 15:33 pm
St PBok, true story. The Bulls usually self detruct more than they actually get beaten, but I think that comes hand in hand with not really having a plan B.
The Bulls on there day at Loftus would probably beat the All Blacks. So maybe you are right, its not the gameplan, more of a mental overseas block.
1 May 2006, 15:35 pm
With Bakkies running at me at that speed I’d also buy the dummy!
1 May 2006, 15:38 pm
Keo, if the Sharks travel so well, why could they not win at Loftus? You (and 70% of this site) hoped and willed the Sharks to win, but all in all they were utterly outplayed, they only came back into the game when the Bulls took their foot of the gas. Yes, the Bulls should not have allowed it, but I think they clearly showed how easily they can beat the “best team in the country”. As for Botha’s claims….I tend to agree with St P on the other thread.
1 May 2006, 15:38 pm
it’s the end of the work day. So I am gone home to watch some student rugby superbowl. Cheers everyone.
1 May 2006, 15:44 pm
Slaapsak, the Bulls never took the foot off the gas, thats how they play. They CANNOT maintain for 80 minutes. The moment they rectify that and their overseas hoodoo,watch out!!
1 May 2006, 15:48 pm
I think Oliviers comment on another thread re Jaco and Welsh bringing confidence should be seen in a broader perspective.
Why were they lacking confidence? That can only come from Heyneke and Bayley. I think Heyneke has become so obsessed about his pack dominating that the backs got the message that they weren’t up to it and couldn’t be trusted.
Heyneke must have thought so which is the reason that his game plan had become one dimensional. It also puts a tremendous strain on the forwards.
1 May 2006, 15:49 pm
Londonshark, I must say I’m still quite dissapointed in the Bulls this year. Their draw was possibly the most favourable of all teams if you consider the strength of the opposision they played overseas. (Bulls played Force, Reds, Blues and Chiefs). They’ll never win the S14 until they get the overseas thing together.
1 May 2006, 17:07 pm
Slaapsak, yep. The Bulls should have picked up 6 extra points against the Brumbies and Canes,1 more for a bonus point against the Force and boom, they would be semi final certainties (well, basically).
1 May 2006, 17:22 pm
Agree with David on HM’s lack of faith in the Bulls backline. Not really a good attitude to instill in your players, is it? I normally really rate Meyer as a coach, but this, along with his blind love of Hougaard, didn’t impress. Still, let’s hope all has been rectified now, and that the Bulls play to their full potential in the remaining games.
1 May 2006, 17:41 pm
Yes, Indestructibull, but as David also mentions in post 111, the addition of a specialist openside flanker in Tim Dlulane has given the coach more of an opportunity to play an expansive game.
BTW, I have found this particular thread to be tremendously enlightening re. the finer points of the game. Thanks to PissAnt, David, etc. Let’s hope we can continue in this vein.
1 May 2006, 18:07 pm
Fair point Ikeys, there are certain players that need to be included in order for a more expansive game to be played, but what I wonder is why HM didn’t include those players earlier. Look at the difference between the Bulls-Blues game (bit of a shocker) and the Bulls-Chiefs game (much more promising). IMO players like Dlulane, and also Steyn could have made a big difference if brought in earlier in the tournament.
1 May 2006, 18:34 pm
Thanks for the compliment Ikey, if you’re still around.
In Stuart Barnes (who I know a lot of Muppits reckon is a total idiot) last column on Sky Sports, a Saffa in the UK asked why SA S14 Teams did so badly whilst the Boks did so well.
His response was “the coaches” plus the fact that the Green and Gold jersey transformed a player.
The knowledgable Kiwis also point to our coaching as being the weak point in our system.
Why don’t we take notice?
1 May 2006, 21:41 pm
Keo,
firstly 70% of your muppet population went for the sharks prior to the Bulls game because like you they went with emotion. They went with what they wanted to happen. Your Bones have been off the mark on several occasions because of this.
As I have mentioned before Mark you write off the bulls and the Stormers at your peril.
Yes they haven’t played well this year but they were due to get it right so time.
The Sharks have improved one heck of a lot and mostly due to the battle hardening they have received on the road…Good for them and that will I am sure filter through to the next super series. But the Bulls had to fire and the Stormers had to play for 80 minutes like they know they can play.
The Crusaders are not good SA tourists and the writing was on the wall. I prophecied it and if you don’t believe me check last Sat’s morning posting..I also prophecy that the Waratahs will take the title…
The fact that the Bulls didn’t steamroller the sharks for 80 mins is a matter of concern but we all know including the Bulls themselves what they are capable off if they dedicate themslves to 80 mins of intensity.
I do believe that the 2nd half slip is a captaincy issue and I am sure the pta boys will solve that over the next few months.
Likewise the Stormers know now what is required in the intensity stakes and thus applied they can beat the best in this competition.
Keo….. Think with your kop rather than your heart when you throw the bones again…..
1 May 2006, 22:09 pm
1 May 2006, 22:21 pm
No roar at loftus can make me forget the losses overseas – it was a humiliation – our other teams lost as well, but who have we here , isnt it the BULLS, the “pride of SA rugby?” – they made me a laughin stock and if you don’t mind, I didnt waste my time to watch the last Bull games overseas – the loss to the Reds or the farce against the Force
I do not respect a team that can only crow in its own backyard
I’d rather support the Sharks & Stormers overseas, have they got this “reputation” to defend?
I’ll call you a Bull on Loftus cos all the blue does apparently does somethin to your brain … but on current AWAY form you are not deserving of that name
1 May 2006, 22:37 pm
From my point of view…being a Stormers supporter, I dont see why I should support other SA teams, because sometime we gonna play them aswell…
1 May 2006, 22:51 pm
daardie “mojo” in Loftus se kraanwater werk darem goed, ne !
1 May 2006, 22:56 pm
newlands, if they play your team, fair enough, but against overseas opposition, you just have to shout for the SA guys.
1 May 2006, 23:00 pm
Yep, I agree now Londonshark, but I dont think those Bulls supporters will ever support Stormers, they are just too “hardegat” for that!
1 May 2006, 23:01 pm
come on newlands, we can do it! haha!
1 May 2006, 23:06 pm
Newlands, true story.
1 May 2006, 23:12 pm
David #88 well said, this has not been acknowledged in SA yet, but perhaps the tide is finally turning (10 years too late, but late is better than never.)
1 May 2006, 23:13 pm
I am taking my hat off to all the Bulls supporter who DO support the stormers in the S14…if there are any…I did support Bulls against Force, haha, just to keep them from winning!!
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