Poor defence could derail Bulls
16 Mar 2010
The Bulls have to make significant improvements on defence if they are to sustain their title charge.
Their defensive failings have been largely overlooked because of their attacking prowess (they are the tournament’s leading try-scorers with 24).
However, their defensive line has looked porous at times from structured play while fundamental errors and lapses of concentration in defending broken field attacks have been prevalent in their four matches. This has seen them concede an average of 3.75 tries per match – a woeful record for a team who have consistently been among the tournament’s best defensive units over the last four years.
The Brumbies, Waratahs and Highlanders threatened to exploit this newly developed vulnerability, but faded under attacking pressure from the Bulls. More experienced units, particularly on their home track, without the legion of blue-clad disciples screaming support for their demi-gods, and with the lung-busting altitude being a non-factor, would have sustained that pressure and possibly emerged with a victory.
The Bulls have seemingly mastered the art and science of attacking play under the new breakdown law interpretations but are nowhere near as efficient from a defensive perspective. This needs to be remedied as a priority, before an acute problem becomes a chronic one.
Significant progression needs to be made in a week and there are few sterner tests of a team’s capacity to resist than the Hurricanes. The Wellington boys have admittedly fallen short of the standards they’ve set for themselves on attack, particularly in the Republic, but their opposition’s contribution to their relative impotency must not be overlooked.
It is in the careful analysis of those matches, the Stormers’ performance being the prime example, that the blueprint for an improved defensive showing is found.
The Stormers bossed the tackle point in their 37-13 defeat of the Canes at Newlands on Saturday, and subsequently gave themselves a better opportunity at contesting the ball on the deck. The Canes were seldom able to recycle the ball quickly, and this gave the Stormers’ defensive line opportunities to reshape.
All teams rely heavily on the momentum gained from a speedy recycle to break down their opposition, but where the elite ones are able to adapt to a more pragmatic approach, the Canes tend to be fairly inflexible tactically. Cut their supply and their potency is severely diminished.
The Bulls rarely allow open wounds to fester, their 2008 title defence being an exception, and one can rest assured that there’ll be an intense focus on that facet of play ahead of the Canes litmus test on Friday.
Sound defence has been the cornerstone of every successful rugby team, and if the Bulls are to reaffirm their credentials in that regard, it begins with passing the aforementioned test emphatically.
By Ryan Vrede
202 Comments
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16 Mar 2010, 07:31 am
Here is your Bulls article for the day Tacticus! Enjoy!
16 Mar 2010, 07:37 am
Too much is being made of the Balls defense so early in the tournament. Kiwi teams give away just as many tries every year.
16 Mar 2010, 07:43 am
@Predawn: That’s a very broad, airy fairy statement.
I dont see the Crusaders giving away that many points week in, week out.
16 Mar 2010, 07:46 am
@WP_:
Nor the Stormers!!
16 Mar 2010, 07:46 am
die Bulls must be every cape coloured, supporting NZ teams, worst nightmare …. unbeatable…destroying everything. Well done Bulls ….
16 Mar 2010, 07:49 am
@wpw: Exactly or any other titlt contender like the Brumbies…
16 Mar 2010, 07:55 am
have said before that the Bulls need to address their defence…
but let’s face it… if they keep playing like this it hardly matters except from the perspective of giving away bonus points to the losing side…
it rather like saying Mike Tyson has poor defence… who cares… he’s still gonna klap you…
16 Mar 2010, 08:03 am
I wish the ******* media would stop lamenting this bunch from Wellington.
All I heard last week is what a good outfit they are and how they are going to tear the Stormers apart, smarting from their defeat by the Cheetahs, blah, blah, blah, yadda, yadda, yadda…
Did anyone see the look on Conrad Smiths face after Cory Jane was pole axed, and the the Fijian and Joe had turned their masterful defence into koeksusters for the second time around??? “Who the **** put me on the plane out here… I wanna go home”
Did anyone notice hoe ineffective the great Nonu is??? He has simply been reduced to nothing but a tackling thug, mastering the art of spear tackles and high shoulder charges agter being tormented by better opposition for two weeks in a row.
The Bulls will kill them this weekend and then all our wonderful journo’s might eventually stop singing their undeserved praises
16 Mar 2010, 08:08 am
@Bod:
I wish you would stop using foul language!!
16 Mar 2010, 08:09 am
@Zulu_baby: Most of the so called cape coloreds support the Bulls , Oasis one of thier main sponsers comes from the cape colored community , catch a wake up.
Re the bulls defense , I disagree , they will come right when they need too , they have the second best point diffs in the S14 so I dont see a problem. Watch them tighten their belt when they need too.
16 Mar 2010, 08:09 am
@Bod: The canes are similar to the stormers. They get hyped every year. Its expected of them to play expansive rugby. They are very inconsistent. The Canes will bounce back when they return home.
16 Mar 2010, 08:11 am
@sparticus: The bulls will play smart, pressure rugby overseas and grind out 3 wins from 4.
16 Mar 2010, 08:11 am
@WP_: Dont see the crusaders team scoring that many points either. Look I am a Stormers die hard all my life but you cannot help but admire the Bulls rugby. Well done to them.
16 Mar 2010, 08:12 am
sparticus …dont be a puz now … i’m not talking of the cape bulls …i’m talking of those dumb f&ck supporting NZ teams when Stormers play against them
16 Mar 2010, 08:15 am
Bulls will also be strengthened by the return of Bakkies, Akona and Chilliboy. Bulls and Stormers should make the semi’s.
16 Mar 2010, 08:16 am
@sparticus:
Dude, just ignore the idiot!!!
16 Mar 2010, 08:17 am
@sparticus: Meet too. First a stormers fan then i support the other S.A teams.
16 Mar 2010, 08:21 am
@iori Yagami: True regarding Bakkies but the other 2 ? Sorry they make the team weaker , Stormers also have Fondse , Kid Koster , De waal returning so jaa its looking good.
@ Zulu_baby , ok dude whatever. And teh sharks dont have problems in the camp.
16 Mar 2010, 08:21 am
Whats the record for back to back Super rugby title wins? Crusaders 3 in a row?
16 Mar 2010, 08:24 am
@iori Yagami: I dont think Chilliboy will strengthen our team. He obviously got the talent, but the bulls should let him play a whole season of vodacom cup, then a whole season of currie cup and then maybe he can show us all that he can play Super 14. I thought he had the work rate of a young Schalk when he was U19/U21 but since then he had been injured too much.
16 Mar 2010, 08:24 am
@wpw:
Foul language?? Que??
I just have this intense dislike of the majority of journo’s whose lack of insight and ability to think rationally and for themselves continues to astound me.
Once I am off the subject I am actually quite a good oke..
16 Mar 2010, 08:25 am
@sparticus: Lol They should add something, they are springboks!! But you probably right. No place for them anyway. Chilliboy will sit bench and akona wont even feature in the match 22. But good to know you have them there.
16 Mar 2010, 08:25 am
“Sharks Rift”
“Poor Defense could cost Bulls”
“Inexperienced Lions”
…..but then the “Stormers will Flourish”
why do I get the feeling this may be a cape bassed site
16 Mar 2010, 08:27 am
@Horings: True. He was rushed too quickly into the top level. Should of cut his teeth in lower level rugby. But time is still on his side.
16 Mar 2010, 08:29 am
@Gonzo Journalism: Yes, it is based in Cape Town.
16 Mar 2010, 08:36 am
I agree with UFO’s analogy here – the Bulls are a lot like Mike Tyson. Sure, he got hit a fair bit in his time. But it only pissed him off and made him hit the other guy more and harder.
16 Mar 2010, 08:37 am
When is the Bulls getting Wilhelm back? Another quality lock that plays for the Bulls.
16 Mar 2010, 08:45 am
@ufo:
lol…classic
16 Mar 2010, 08:50 am
@katman: A famous quote from Tyson, a reporter stated during pre fight interview that his opponent has worked out a plan to beat him, he responded by saying “everyone has a plan until they get hit”……IE the Hurricanes !!!
16 Mar 2010, 08:51 am
once they head overseas it’s not going to be as easy as it was on loftus
they’re gonna have to improve unless they plan on taking 20 000 fans with them and the loftus stadium
16 Mar 2010, 08:52 am
The Stormers and Bulls are playing two different types of games, the Bulls are playing attacking rugby which will lead to tries being scored against them because of the game beeing so open. When you play that type of rugby one has to just score more tries than the other team (in a nutshell), which is exactly what they are doing, brilliant.
The Stormers are playing the defence game, they are playing test match rugby (same style) which relies on strong defence. The game isn’t a high scoring game and when they play beter opposition the score line will be close. If one makes one mistake or they get one bad call it could cost them the game against top opposition (the Brumbies game).
Which game style is suited to Super14, well only time will tell.
16 Mar 2010, 08:55 am
@Kea-Cat: The semi’s and finals will most likely be played test match style… unless it’s at Loftus
16 Mar 2010, 08:56 am
@Gonzo Journalism: Iron Mike was always good for a quote.
16 Mar 2010, 08:57 am
@st.a.t.w: This is true, but I reckon du Preez and Steyn can play a more disciplined, territorial game if they want to, and I reckon the Bulls forwards can utilise the pick and drive, and rolling maul more if they want to, and that the Bulls can play a game focused on set pieces if they want to.
All in all, the Bulls do have a plan B, this is evident from the last 100 years of Bulls rugby. If they want to play a defensive game, they can, and have in the past.
16 Mar 2010, 09:01 am
yes Ryan, finally you get to listen. Even though the title isn’t “Bulls’ defensive frailities a worry for Ludeke” it is good that you paid attention. Some of those “demi-gods” [i can't marry this reference with the ultra religious bulls] are weak on defence.
Jaco Pretorius better come back soon, can you imagine all of105kg Robbie Fruean running straight @ Stephan Dippenaar’s 85kg frame? check what happened to stephen brett for the answer!
16 Mar 2010, 09:03 am
The Bulls of 2002-2007 were alway critisised for not being able to adapt their game to the situation. They now have that ability. We definitely have one of the best defensive coaches around, but this season so far has been a perfect opportunity to expand our attacking game. I think we must all just wait for the Blues game in Auckland or maybe even for Friday’s game to see whether all the journos are wrong.
16 Mar 2010, 09:06 am
@sparticus: Not for sure, I agree. The Bulls are playing magnificaent rugby, I love watching them at the moment.
It’s just a little concerning to see how weak their defence actually is. But as long as they score more than the opponents it doesnt matter does it?
16 Mar 2010, 09:06 am
thank heavens the bulls gotta come to newlands….hell i wouldnt fancy a trip to loftus….
16 Mar 2010, 09:06 am
@Storm outta hell: The Bulls and Stormers still have to make the semis. At the moment things look good but the wheel keeps on turning.
I’m a Stormers supporter and I know we are in for a tough 2nd half of the competition. From week 9 to week 14 is going to be murder for us, Blues(a), Chiefs(a), Reds(a), Crusaders(h), Sharks(a) and Bulls(h).
By that time I think the Sharks would have caught a wake up call.
16 Mar 2010, 09:11 am
@Kea-Cat: I’ll take your word for it…I see you know your rugby judging by your place on the muppits leaderboard…
@grant10: Yah…and we owe them for that CC semi..
16 Mar 2010, 09:14 am
@WOLFMAN21:
for that to happen they have to keep their fingers cross that one of those two don’t get injured
that dippenaar laatie along with both wings are going to have to up their game
16 Mar 2010, 09:20 am
@st.a.t.w: Its a reality of rugby that players get injured – it is like saying if Habana and Fourie get injured the Stormers would have nothing left, or if Carter and McCaw get injured the Crusaders will have nothing left.
The Bulls will have Ndungane and Pretorius back soon which will tighten up the defence and will not greatly influence the attacking abilities of the Bulls.
16 Mar 2010, 09:22 am
@Storm outta hell: Thats a game (superbru) which has a lot to do with experience and luck, like Gary Player said, the more you practice the luckier you get. The difficult thing to do is to go with your head insted of your heart, it also makes it easier when your team is wining.
16 Mar 2010, 09:27 am
Akona is a better wing than Hougaard. Stronger in the tackle, a yard quicker, MUCH better in the air and equally as good a finisher. He has to return, the sooner the better. Francois will have to bide his time on the bench with Heinie dropping out of the match 22. Reality is that playing wing in any event does nohing for his Bok ambitions. He will not make the Springbok side as a wing. Habana, JP, Mapoe, Nokwe, Shadow, Odwa, Akona all ahead of him. To impress he needs game time at scrumhalf. 20 – 30 minutes a game the best he can hope for.
16 Mar 2010, 09:28 am
@Kea-Cat: I hear you,I think long and hard about my superbru picks but when the game is on all thoughts of superbru go out of the window as I support all the local sides…
16 Mar 2010, 09:33 am
@WOLFMAN21:
given the position they play 9 & 10 are far more importent then 11 & 13
16 Mar 2010, 09:38 am
People are forgetting that we have such a young team. Bunch of laaities in the backline.
They need more experience.
16 Mar 2010, 09:39 am
@st.a.t.w: Looking at influence on the game and the quality of replacements, this is not the case. Habana and Fourie have made a big difference to the Stormers this season, especially Habana, and the quality and experience of the replacements in those two positions is not particularlly impressive.
The Bulls, however, can call on Heini Adams, a very experienced and talented player, and JLP, again a lot of experience, and someone who can fit straight in at 10. Whilst they are not as good as du Preez and Steyn, the drop in quality is not as high or as serious as it would be if Habana and Fourie were to go.
16 Mar 2010, 09:39 am
Just on the Bulls vs. Stormers:
I honestly think the Bulls are one up on the Stromers. Let’s have a look at the Highlanders vs. both teams. The Stormers kept the Highlanders to ziltch and put 30+ past them at full time. It was a hard fought 30 point victory though and the Stromers never took their feet of the accelerators. They fought for the ball up to the final whistle.
So there I sit in the stands at Loftus, thinking: “I wonder how the Bulls will compare in strategy to the Stormers game?”… Well, the Bulls knocked the Highlanders the f*ck out by the 20 minute mark and scored the bonus point try. They had accomplished what the Stormers did in an entire game, in just 20 minutes. I reckon the Bulls had they stayed on full throttle could have easily scored 100 against the highlanders.
Once they scored the bonus point you could see the Bulls players chilling, even while the game was played. I remember seeing three backs standing in a group talking when the play had already started. At half time I said to my girlfriend, the Bulls will now conceed a few as they are preserving energy for next week. Once the Highlanders scored their first try, we packed up and left as we knew the Bulls had officially stopped playing (even though they still scored 50 points easily). There is nothing wrong with the Bulls defence, bar perhaps a bit of complacency. When the heat is on you’ll see them thrash any side.
I like the Stormers this year and love their brand of rugby, but I am telling all willing to hear, that you are underestimating the power of these Bulls…remember last year’s final against the Chiefs?
16 Mar 2010, 09:46 am
@BokPower: **** ****!
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