Bulls brace for Testing semi
12 Oct 2009
Vlok Cilliers believes the Bulls’ semi-final against Western Province at Newlands could take on a Test-like pattern.
Neither side has been struggled to cross the whitewash in the tournament – WP scoring 51 and the Bulls 56 tries (an average of 3.6 and 4 respectively) – in the league phase.
The Bulls defied expectations against the Chiefs in the Super 14 final in May, shelving a pragmatic approach for a high-tempo, expansive one, which saw them thump the New Zealanders 64-17.
Province have been relatively impressive with ball in hand to date, and certainly possess the personnel to try and run the burly Bulls off their feet – a tactic some of the Pretoria union’s opponents have adopted with varying degrees of success throughout the tournament.
However, Cilliers, the Bulls’ kicking coach and former Springbok, predicted that the skill of the respective packs and their primary kickers, and the redundancy of bonus-points, could see the semi-finalists travel a more circumspect route in pursuit of victory.
‘It’ll definitely take on a Test-match feel, particularly since there are going to be around 20 Springboks on the field,’ Cilliers told keo.co.za.
‘Those players know what it takes to win pressure matches. It’s going to be an extremely tight game, with neither side wanting to gamble in their half.
‘Big play-off matches like these are usually decided by the team that makes the least mistakes, and I don’t think this one will be any different. I think whoever is able to remain defensively solid for the 80 minutes and the team that kicks better will take it.
‘I highlight tactical kicking because I truly believe it will be decisive,’ he continued. ‘We won’t take any chances and we’ll have to focus intently on kick execution. They have very good quality backs who have the ability to strike from broken field. We’ll have to concentrate hard on our kicking and not give them any opportunities to counter-attack.
‘The goal is to minimise the mistakes.’
The Bulls have one of the world’s finest halfback pairs in Fourie du Preez and Morne Steyn, and if Province fail to place sufficient pressure on them, they have the ability to dictate the flow of the contest.
In addition, Steyn has emerged as arguably the world’s most prolific goal-kicker, and Cilliers said his value in this regard would be amplified in a knock-out match.
‘He’s been really phenomenal this season,’ Cilliers said of Steyn, who he has spent years tutoring in the science of kicking, both at goal and out of hand.
‘He’s striking the ball so well and the confidence he gets from his goal-kicking spills over into the rest of his game. So often the converse is true – I’ve seen many goal-kickers fall to pieces when they aren’t slotting their kicks.
‘I think Morné’s boot could definitely be the difference in a game that is expected to be very close. Five penalties usually means 15 points for the Bulls, and teams find it hard to rebound from a deficit like that.’
Cilliers did, however, stress that to rely solely on Steyn and Du Preez to pin Province in their half would be foolish, explaining that other players in the back division had a crucial role to play.
‘I’m happy with the progress [fullback] Zane Kirchner and [wing] Francois Hougaard are making in terms of their kicking,’ he said.
‘Their tactical decision making has become sharper and their execution better under pressure. Their high ball retrieval has also come on in leaps and bounds. That’s testament to the hard work they’ve put in in those areas.
‘We’ve tried to put them in match scenarios in training, where we expose them to the same level of pressure they’ll encounter in a match. They’ve excelled, but we’re not naive, and know that a match situation is very different to training. How they respond there will be crucial if we hope to win.’
By Ryan Vrede
177 Comments
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12 Oct 2009, 13:29 pm
Ducksy, it’s how you would pronounce temper, if you had a lisp
12 Oct 2009, 13:30 pm
SHARKS LOVER: Are you 100% sure ? I dont recall watching Beast play U21, but I do recall watching him play for the Wildebeest, and that was at prop. But, anyway – not really that important..:-)
I dont deny we will have to be at our best, I am just saying that the media are making more of a thing out of this than it warrants. Kind of like the 2007 World Cup final.
The result was never really in question – but, hey, its not good for a competition when the final is a dead rubber…so – then you get all the hype.
I my opinion it is hype – Cheetahs in all probability will bring their A game, but to beat the Sharks in Durban is not going to be easy.
12 Oct 2009, 13:30 pm
#148 sharks_lover: mmmmmmmmmmm………..don’t think I can take your “facts” seriously anymore Dusky !!!
12 Oct 2009, 13:31 pm
BUCKT – Or if you had no front teeth ? Like 80% of the fans at Newlands on a Saturday afternoon ?
12 Oct 2009, 13:33 pm
#149 Dusky: #150 sharks_lover: At half time i knew we were in trouble….wp were blowing hard….seemed out of gas….but i reckon those lions on the up and up…good for them, if they appoint H Meyer they will be a real top contender soon.
As for the weekend….i agree with SL…will be very,very close games…i reckon the experience and composure of the boks in the bulls team may be the difference.
The cheetahs are helleva dangerous…..sharks must spend week on defensive patterns….and a recipe to nullify popeys brussow.
12 Oct 2009, 13:34 pm
If it is to be a Bulls/Sharks final I am behind the Bulls , it will cap a season for their Bok players that will probably never be surpassed !!! lions ,S14, 3N, CC…amazing to have on a cv.
Oh yes some of the Shaks supporters arrogance another reason !!
12 Oct 2009, 13:34 pm
tch tch, there you go insulting someone else again….sort out your inferiority complex and your WP friends will let you sit at their table next time.
12 Oct 2009, 13:37 pm
JUSTRUGBY – Nothing unusual mate – Sharks supporters are used to other supporters supporting anyone that plays against us (even Kiwi and Aussie sides in the Super 14) – dont worry, I cant deny returning the favour for WP/Stormers – so, we are cut from the same cloth.
12 Oct 2009, 13:37 pm
#153 justrugby: dont make ur problems mine
12 Oct 2009, 13:37 pm
are they having extra time if there’s a draw? anyone know…
12 Oct 2009, 13:37 pm
#156 justrugby:
don’t panic mate. keo said bulls/cheetahs final.
therefore it will be a sharks/weepee final.
and the arrogant sharks fans will get another home game at the tank.
12 Oct 2009, 13:38 pm
#156 justrugby: LOL…i reckon you would even back the All Blacks vs the sharks!!!
12 Oct 2009, 13:39 pm
BUCKT – Assuming I would be interested in dropping my standards that low
I would also not sit at a table of WP supporters, unless my back was facing the wall.
12 Oct 2009, 13:39 pm
#161 charo: LOl….in that case I’ll settle for a WP/Cheetahs final !!
12 Oct 2009, 13:39 pm
#160 BuckT: yes
12 Oct 2009, 13:40 pm
#163 Dusky: LOL..
12 Oct 2009, 13:42 pm
#162 grant10: Never !!!!!!
Sharks against any foreign side got mt 100% support….not the players i dislike……… it’s some of their freeeking supporters and old Dusky boy with his latest comments makes it very difficult for me to change my opinion !!
12 Oct 2009, 13:48 pm
#167 justrugby: Ja…only kidding…old Dusky a nervous wreck i reckon….imagine by Friday…fark some okes gonna need tranquilisers…!!
At least heat off wp…everyone written them off…i like it!!
12 Oct 2009, 13:50 pm
#167 justrugby: i fact if wp were up against that bloody popeye brussel sprout i would be on drugs too….the little terrorist gonna bully the guppies at the breakdown all day long!!!
Hier gaan n ding kom!!!
12 Oct 2009, 14:02 pm
#156 justrugby: cheetahs vs Bulls final PAPPA!
12 Oct 2009, 14:13 pm
#168 grant10:
ha not the province supporters….all this chat about luke lifting the cup up at newlands….no pressure there then….
12 Oct 2009, 14:23 pm
#171 gunther: Bulls lose it will be a catastrophe….wp lose a step forward from last year anyway….thanks to luke…the best CC Captain in the land…
12 Oct 2009, 14:31 pm
#172 grant10:
nope losing is never a catastrophe however the pressure on luketo achieve the “destiny” pre-ordained for him by many province fans will be immense….I as for being the best cc captain in the land that depends to who you speak to doesn’t it….kind of like being the best kisser at pre-school….
12 Oct 2009, 14:38 pm
#173 gunther: Ja……Bulls are favorites…deservedly so….there half backs will swing it….best in the world the 9 and 10….WP not even sure who to choose at 9 and 10…thats the difference!!!
12 Oct 2009, 17:42 pm
WP: It’s not too late to bribe the ref… listen to nike… JUST DO IT!
12 Oct 2009, 18:08 pm
#1 Hondo: Attitude is a reflection of leadership,and in Watson WP have the right kind of leadership to lead them against the Bulls.
12 Oct 2009, 18:20 pm
#2 Valkyrie: You really don’t believe that,do you?The bulls are favourites,but if Wp play to their strengths and keep their structure in the fisrt 60 minutes and then give the ball some air in the last 20 minutes we might just steal a win.That’s the reason why I believe Januarie should start the game.Youth can only take you so far,but experience is critical especially if your oppossing scrum half is fOURIE dU pREEZ
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