Bulls up against it
16 May 2006
Bulls assistant coach Mike Bayly has admitted anything less than a 100% performance against the Crusaders on Saturday will result in defeat.
“The Crusaders are an awesome team, but we have the belief we can get the result we want,” Bayly told keo.co.za from the team’s hotel in central Christchurch. “However, if we perform at 90% we will lose, we know that. We need to be at 100% if we are to have any chance of upsetting them.”
Bayly said that the training session on Tuesday had gone extremely well, with all 24 members of the squad taking full part. “Everyone is fighting fit and we should be able to pick the squad we want for the game,” he said.
The Bulls will need to exert huge pressure in the forward exchanges if they hope to nullify the considerable threat of Dan Carter at flyhalf. “If we can put pressure on their pack, which we know we are capable of, then we will hopefully be able to put pressure on their No 9 (Andrew Ellis) and spoil his service to Carter. If Carter can get good quick ball then we could be in for a long evening.”
Bayly praised the ‘Saders and said that Carter was not the only threat in the backline. “Aaron Mauger and their outside backs (Caleb Ralph, Rico Gear and Leon MacDonald) are supremely gifted players. We will have to extinguish the threat on the outside too if we want to progress.”
By Andrew Hollely
48 Comments
16 May 2006, 10:53 am
Keep Carter quiet and 50% of the battle is won.
16 May 2006, 10:55 am
jondood – I owe you a few beers. Get in touch. If Stan is around in London – welcome to join.
16 May 2006, 10:57 am
if everything gels it could be one of the greatest SA wins in Super Rugby history. and it is certainly possible. these kind of things do happen. i can’t wait
MASJIEN!!!!!!!!!!
16 May 2006, 10:59 am
The bulls 100% is still not good enough to beat the Sades. No SA team is good enough except the Stormers.
16 May 2006, 11:01 am
lol bigg have you been smoking with keo or something?
16 May 2006, 11:02 am
No Kidding Mike.
Dont tell your backs to run it now.Let the big boys in the front to do the dirty work.
16 May 2006, 11:06 am
Jusm – I have been smoking dagga with the Jake White…
16 May 2006, 11:06 am
Do you think they took Steve hofmeyer with them to Christchurch?
16 May 2006, 11:11 am
What time is the game on Saturday morning ?
Bulls will realy have to go out and play with passion. Believe in them self and do it for south africa. Will take alot out of them because the Saders will be no walkover. The team who are infront after the first half will win this one.
16 May 2006, 11:15 am
Andre @ 09h00.
Ruud – They are taking all their ma’s, pa’s, oupa’a, ouma’s, tannie’s en Oom’s. The bulls ban’t play without their families in the stadium
16 May 2006, 11:17 am
Bigg
You forgot the mandatory moustaches and blue helmets…
16 May 2006, 11:24 am
The bulls, with there one-dimensional style, are going to get belted on Saturday. The Sharks were definitely the best of all the SA teams in the S14. As a Stomers supporter, I was bitterly disappointed that we spoilt it for the Sharks. They are capable of giving the Crusaders a run for their money. I still can’t understand how we(Stormers) can lose against the bulls but beat a much better team(Crusaders) and almost beat the Sharks in their own backyard.
“Bulle neem julle pille”…julle gaan?????? Saterdag.
16 May 2006, 11:25 am
Rudebud – What is going on here? Some oke is big g, jonnow & now ruudboy. They must like our names and thats as close as they gonna get
16 May 2006, 11:25 am
MarkV I am glad we spoilt it for the Sharks
16 May 2006, 11:45 am
bly stil Bailey
die enigste kans wat ons het is om onderskat te word, en nou lap jy die hele game plan uit!
die enigste openbare stellings wat jy behoort te maak is om die Crusaders te prys vir hoe goed hulle is en te vertel dat die spelers vlugflou is en maar net hulle bes sal probeer en kyk wat gebeur.
16 May 2006, 11:50 am
bulls to lose by 50.
16 May 2006, 11:52 am
bigg, I too am a stormers supporter. Lets not get ahead of ourselves. I dont see the bulls pulling it off although there is always a butterfly in the stomach when an SA side plays in a semi or a final.
16 May 2006, 11:53 am
The Bulls almost seem to get overawed by the big names when they play the Crusaders. The yforget that they are big names too, and that it is about matching each guy man for man… and thinking on their feet.
16 May 2006, 11:59 am
A huge problem is that the bulls are the worst SA team as far as travelling is concerned (except the cats of course)
16 May 2006, 12:20 pm
Markv everything you said there is just dof.
If th Bulls are that one dimensional why are they heading to the Semis and not the Stormers and Sharks?
16 May 2006, 12:30 pm
ons nodig hougie op flyhalf hy sal vir carter stil maak
16 May 2006, 12:43 pm
Drunk ****** nah i think Jaco vh should be flyhalf.
hes on fire at the moment.
Lets hope they do us proud. at least they have gotten into the semis twice in the last two seasons, so anyone of the Stormers fans who sit an mock them are just laughable.
16 May 2006, 12:43 pm
i think this might be closer than expected, the bulls know they have nothing to lose, hopefully they change their tactics and run it, this will not only surprise the crusaders but the whole of SA.
16 May 2006, 12:44 pm
drunkmonkey, what are you sipping on, Hougart is not bad, but never in a million years in the same class as Carter
16 May 2006, 12:44 pm
attacking rugby for 80minutes, its a mindset.
16 May 2006, 12:52 pm
Did u say Hougie good …hougie makes good look bad. Hougie the bomb man.. he deadly he like a rotweiler on defence and his kicks as deadly as cruisemissile…. his line out kicks defestate any team.
Hougie should be springbok no1 flyhalf
16 May 2006, 12:52 pm
Guys, all this stuff about big names and gameplans? The only Bulls names known in CHC are Matfield and Habana – the rest are unheard of or unpronounceable. Maybe this is to the Bulls advantage but as for the gameplan, Robbie Deans worked that out long ago. Pretty simple really – he showed that at Fortress Loftus a few weeks ago. Listen to what Kiwi commentators have to say on Thurs on Wrap Downunder / Re-union, Laurie Maines and Tony Johnson sum it up well.
The Bulls have done well to get this far but remember they sneaked into this through
(a) that last 10 minute blitz on the Brumbies by the ‘Saders doing SA sides a favour and (b) the first half one sided game at Newlands which they won fairly (except for the TMO decision) and definitely squarely!
It is afterall #1 playing #4 at #1′s homeground. And guys, if it goes pear shaped for the Bulls, (let’s hope it doesn’t) don’t use that travel fatigue excuse – the Crusaders arrived in CHC from SA last Mon night (as did the Bulls) and played on the Fri night (the Bulls are playing Sat.)yet played their best rugby in the last 10 minutes!
16 May 2006, 12:55 pm
Drunkmonkey,I’m glad you are the only person in SA who rates him so highly.
His defense is average,his attacking skills are kak,his goal kicking is good and his punting isn’t to bad (except when he has to travel).
I would rate him behind Jaco,AP,Butch,Ruan,Russell,Bosmen etc etc.
16 May 2006, 13:04 pm
oh please how many curriecups have those players won let alone to say how many curriecup finals they played?
16 May 2006, 13:05 pm
u guys see
u dont know your rugby cos Hougie the best…. u guys can be glad he resting. ;]
16 May 2006, 13:07 pm
Bigg, you spoilt nothing, you are in for a HUGE hiding sat, & you are going to wish you never spoilt it for the Sharks, you are going weep, when the CRUSADERS WHIPE THE FLOOR with the Bulls & I hope it is a record score.
16 May 2006, 13:07 pm
He can rest into retirement for all I care
16 May 2006, 13:10 pm
ahhh the last time the sharks played a curriecup final … hougie destroyed u guys. ;] Hougie has won every curriecup final he has played in.
16 May 2006, 13:15 pm
Surely you cant atribute that to him. Barry and Joubert have won many currie cups too and they are morons. It is a team effort and very rarely an individual performance.
16 May 2006, 13:22 pm
Daniel Carter (Crusaders) 5 35 32 2 197
Peter Hewat (Waratahs) 4 29 33 0 177
Stephen Donald (Chiefs) 2 18 28 1 133
Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies) 9 15 17 0 126
Cameron Shepherd (Force) 7 16 18 0 121
Ben Blair (Highlanders) 0 13 27 0 107
Percy Montgomery 7 17 12 0 105
Peter Grant (Stormers) 1 14 23 0 102
Derick Hougaard (Bulls) 0 12 22 1 93
Meyer Bosman (Cheetahs) 0 9 21 0 81
u guys check the top 10 leading point scorers…. Hougie there above bosman and just imagin he hasnt played last 7 games.
16 May 2006, 13:23 pm
tompig when the last time province has won anything?
16 May 2006, 13:34 pm
On Crusaders ball, the Bulls should constantly wheel the scrum so that the Crusader forwards are moved away from Carter, giving the Bulls loose forwards the opportunity to apply pressure.
Defence should be as flat as it was against the Stormers. Soft, heavy footing will make sidestepping difficult.
Bakkies coming on later helped provide continuity, should do so again.
Body position should be lower during the driving maul. They should do this until all Crusader loose forwards are drawn in before giving the ball to the backline.
When making contact it should be with the same committment showed in the first half against the Sharks.
Should they get this right it should be a good game to watch.
16 May 2006, 13:34 pm
I must have been 10 it was so long ago……
Besides 2000/1 currie cup, they won front row seats to see other SA sides play better rugby
16 May 2006, 13:36 pm
Blah blah blah
16 May 2006, 13:37 pm
sharks supporter Dawn????
16 May 2006, 14:25 pm
Monki ***,
So Peter Grant didnt play some of the games…and is above hougie…..Jy pluk ‘n lat vi jou eie …
No gameplan the bulls try, it simply wont work, they only wanna be the best SA side… not the best s14 side…..mission acc…they will crash by 20 points
16 May 2006, 15:58 pm
The only thing in the Bulls favour is that they do not have any South African TMO’s for the game!
16 May 2006, 16:11 pm
when the stormers and province do well sa rugby does well.hope stormers start winning or else the world cup is a goner
16 May 2006, 21:41 pm
This weekend the Bulls will all be our Bokke. Every South African will and should be behind them.
17 May 2006, 00:31 am
Hey Chuck Norris, better check whether the CIA edits the rugby you see on your TV buddy. That 2nd Habana “try” on Sat – can’t remember what the TMO’s name was (nor do I want to) but he was sure South African and he sure stuffed up in favour of the Bulls!
17 May 2006, 07:14 am
Hay.. theres only 1 way the bulls can win this game.. And theres only one way….
Close down Carter.. the two fastest forwards in the bulls(most probably wannenburg and spies or gary botha) should consistantly run at dan on defense. Carter is only human and he DOES crack under pressure no matter what people say.. Thats his 1 and only weakness.. Try will most probably come from this tactic(leaving space on defense) “But at the end of the day” it will prove dividend.. Crowd carter and he will throw the bad pass.. If the bulls do ONE thing in the on Saturday(or sunday in SA) it is Sprint on to Daniel carter and the bulls win win the game.. the only other crusader in the backs that will fill carters shoes if he has a bad day is mauger.. And even he can be stopped
GO BULLE
17 May 2006, 08:21 am
carter needs a tackle from bakkies that will make him so scared he wont touch the ball.
17 May 2006, 12:37 pm
I reckon that tere are more than enough world class players in teh Saders that te Bulls shouldn’t just worry about carter! Looking at the stormers game, there were quite a few mistakes that the Bulls made, which teh Saders would have scored off, but which the Stronters were to useless to make teh most of.
Also, only two f teh tries were properly structured backline moves, and one of these was from **** defence by Joubert – expect no such thing from the Saders.
The Bulls will have to think and think hard ALL the time if they want to win. Also, their forwards will have to receive the ball at speed to crash it up, not standing flat, or else they will be driven back in the tackle. Their body positions going nto the tackle must be low and protecting the ball.
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