Brave Bulls topple Tahs
3 May 2008
The Bulls seriously dented the Waratahs’ play-off chances with a 16-13 victory at Loftus.
The Tahs needed at least four points from this game to ease the pressure on them but they took just one, making victory in their trip to Newlands next week crucial.
The Bulls weren’t spectacular but they were efficient and rightly came out of this one with the points.
With torrential rain battering Loftus officials should have called this one off and set up a swimming contest. To say conditions spoiled the spectacle would be a gross understatement. It completely destroyed it.
This meant the game was always going to take on a Test match nature, with both teams playing the percentages and seeking to gain territory by kicking into the corners. The set phases took on added importance and in this regard the teams couldn’t be separated.
The handling of both sides was understandably poor, but it made no sense to even attempt to get the ball through the hands considering they were dealing with a slippery pill.
When they opted to go the direct route and keep it in the heavies the Bulls looked the better side. They had been second best at the collision points in the early exchanges, but remedied that as the match progressed.
Their early lethargy in that facet of play did cost them, though, with Wycliff Palu setting off from 25m out, breaking a couple of tackles and offloading to Rob Horn to score. To their credit the Bulls never panicked and stuck to their attacking and defensive structures.
JP Nel was injured which prompted a backline reshuffle which saw Morne Steyn shift to inside centre with Wynand Olivier outside him.
Hougaard was in the match immediately, sinking a drop goal. The pivot has come in for a lot of criticism but nobody can dispute his value in conditions like these. He pinned the Tahs back in their half with a series of perfectly weighted nudges and kept picking off his strike runners with short pops. Nothing more was asked for or needed.
His opposite number Kurtley Beale opted for a series of grubbers through the Bulls defensive line who were pushing off the mark quickly to cut down his space. His influence would grow as the match progressed.
Steyn landed a penalty to take the Bulls into the break just a point shy of the visitors, and they started the second half brilliantly when Derick Kuun finished a long-range counter-attack that featured some superb inter-passing in the build up.
The Tahs, sensing their play-off hopes where under threat, cranked up the pressure. The Bulls, though, stood up to the challenge well and it was them who crafted the better chances. But decision-making and skills cost them and when Beale kicked a penalty to draw to within three points (13-10) the Bulls knew they had a tough 35 minutes ahead of them.
The young Tahs flyhalf then kicked a drop goal to level the scores. The Bulls, however, rallied and camped in the Tahs half but again they spurned a number of chances through poor handling. They eventually profited through a Steyn drop goal with seven minutes to play.
The Tahs stretched the Bulls in the closing stages and only an outstanding tackle by Wynand Olivier on Beale prevented them from stealing victory. They held on desperately for a well deserved win and in the process done a huge favour for their South African counterparts, the Stormers and Sharks.
Bulls- Try: Derick Kuun. Conversion: Morne Steyn. Drop goal: Derick Hougaard. Steyn. Penalty: Steyn
Waratahs- Try: Rob Horne. Conversion: Kurtley Beale. Penalty: Beale. Drop goal: Beale
By Ryan Vrede
309 Comments
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3 May 2008, 18:31 pm
Well done Bulls, great result…..(especially for us Sharkies)…..pity about giving them the bonus point though.
Now if someone could only teach Zane Kirchner how to kick properly…….that really was atrocious.
Did anyone notice how much better the Bulls back line looked when dumbass JP Nel left the field?
3 May 2008, 19:15 pm
Bulls
this is far better, Tacitus you may appear on this blog again
3 May 2008, 22:26 pm
The Bulls win also opened the door for the Blues and the Chiefs. The Highlanders are the only NZ team not in the hunt any longer.
3 May 2008, 23:37 pm
well the results this weekend definitely favoured the SA teams vying for semi positions. apart of course from the sharks losing in christchurch which most would have predicted anyway. they must be looking forward to heading home again as it has not been along and difficult tour for them.
the sharks can kill off the chiefs semi chances next week, and the stormers can send the tahs back to oz needing to win their derby against the reds. and then of course the hurricanes and blues have to face off in the last round of the competition with one of those teams likely denying the other.
i would not bet my house on predicting who will occupy places 2-4 at the end.
4 May 2008, 10:41 am
Another bad day at loftus as this win will only strengthen ludekak`s and slaaptjips`s chances of staying at loftus,which for the bulls is a bloody disaster.As a bulls fan i am heartsore when i think of how LAUREL AND HARDY could be in charge for another year and inflict even more damage on the bulls.
4 May 2008, 11:10 am
Goeie wen Bulle – julle kon verder gewen het as die heelagter beter geskop het.
4 May 2008, 12:26 pm
#304 munkiboi:
Very wise Munkiboi. Hold your bets for at least one more week anyway.
The worm has many turns in it yet.
Sharkies, and many others still in with a great show. This weeks loss by the Waratahs may be the death nail to them just the same.
4 May 2008, 14:51 pm
#295 Pirlet BEL:
Hell yes!
Looked at him, on the replay, just now.
He could have been Mike Schutte jnr, such a sore loser…
Regte ‘moer my gesig’ .
Nee, hy is n poephol, vir seker….
4 May 2008, 20:09 pm
#305Blueboy
What optimism. I’m a Blue Bull and your comments are misplaced.They’re improving and credit must be given. Good show by Sharks and Stormers, Stormers to take S 14 this year!
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