Steyn boots Bulls to victory

Steyn boots Bulls to victory

24 Feb 2012

RYAN VREDE watched Morne Steyn score all the Bulls’ points in their 18-13 victory over the Sharks in a compelling match at Loftus.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer is a firm believer in Steyn’s match-winning ability with the boot and tonight he displayed his value in tight contests, his five penalties and a drop-goal starting the Bulls’ new era in the best possible manner.

The Bulls started poorly then morphed into their archetypically efficient self, with Steyn’s tactical kicking and goal kicking central to their success. The method is well known and predictable, but when it is executed with the efficiency it was in the second half the Bulls are nearly impossible to beat.

The Sharks, starved of possession, grew increasingly desperate, and that desperation manifested in their attacks becoming progressively more cavalier. One such move late in the piece dragged them back into the match, but the Bulls were resolute in defence under enormous pressure. The nature of this victory will be an important part of this young Bulls side’s education. For the 40 minutes when it counted they conjured the tactical intelligence and granitic spirit of the championship sides that have preceded them.

There was also an interesting sub-plot to emerge. The performances of youngsters Juandre Kruger, Francois Hougaard, Francois Venter, CJ Stander, JJ Engelbrecht, Pat Lambie, Marcell Coetzee and Anton Bresler suggested that South African rugby has a bright future.

The first half was a forgettable affair. There was always going to be energy, physicality and intensity but neither team managed to channel those things to their advantage on attack. A scoreless first half bore testament to this, with a string of fundamental handling errors (the majority committed by the Bulls) and ill-discipline robbing the contest of any flow.

Both sides struggled to control possession through multiple phases. Certainly some brutal defence contributed to their struggles in this regard, but that alone cannot mitigate this shortcoming given the calibre of players on show. They often went wide without earning the right to do so through purposeful phase play. A measure of pragmatism was lacking, with little appreciation shown for playing in the opposition’s territory and backing pressure defence to force errors.

This all changed for the Bulls in the second half and they systematically built a lead after forcing errors from the Sharks in kickable positions. The Sharks will lament three missed penalties, two of which you would have backed Lambie to bank. But overall they were outsmarted by a superior side on the night, with Steyn securing yet another famous Bulls win at Loftus.

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337 Comments

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  • 1.IAAS: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 18:06 pm

    Got Bulls by 12. Conditions will be superb.

    Then it’s 3 from 3.

    Cool.

  • 2.Michael: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 18:08 pm

    Come on Bulls! Give your pot-bellied supporters a heart attack with excitement.

  • 3.YoMama: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 18:13 pm

    At last, the season gets underway and we can exorcize last year’s demons.

  • 4.Pot Blou Gevaar: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 18:20 pm

    SNOTKLAPPE..!
    “op Loftus,
    waar dit rof is”.

  • 5.YoMama: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 18:37 pm

    All I want for Christmas is a great level of play by old players and new that will have the Shackledraggers and Sheepshaggers wallowing in their tinnies.

  • 6.CAPECRUSADER: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 18:42 pm

    just in time to see the boertjies smashing themselves to kingdom come.

  • 7.RL: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 18:44 pm

    I don’t know why the Guppies are consifered “favourites”. It makes no sense at all. So I am going for the Bulls by 5 or more.

  • 8.Cheetahs27: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 18:57 pm

    Early season rust will keep this game tight but think the Bulls will take it by about 5 or 6. Good luck to both.

  • 9.willievz: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 18:58 pm

    streaming link anyone?

  • 10.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 18:59 pm

    The first big win? Somehow doubt it.

    Got Bulls by 3 in the Bru and could see arguments for a win by 1-8 for either side.

  • 11.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 18:59 pm

    SHARKSSSSSSS

  • 12.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:00 pm

    Tacitus will be here if the Bulls win.

  • 13.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:02 pm

    Let the carnage begin!!!!!

  • 14.simbachips: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:04 pm

    Finally…

    The rugby is here, I can breathe again :)

    GO SHARK!!!

  • 15.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:05 pm

    Watsup guns! No workout today?

  • 16.IAAS: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:06 pm

    What’s going on here?

    I see Jonathan Kaplan even has a pink wristband.

  • 17.Pot Blou Gevaar: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:11 pm

    Good start Bulls…

  • 18.RL: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:12 pm

    Does not look like a sell out crowd – someone is confused.

    If the Bulls lose this one then expect Loftus to become ‘more blue’ as in ‘chair blue’ as the season progresses.

  • 19.RL: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:15 pm

    Mvovo still hasn’t learnt to hold the balls with his left arm – and Guppies punt him as a Bok winger.

  • 20.RL: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:17 pm

    and Lambie hasn’t learnt to kick for poles – wth has he been doing in the off-season.

  • 21.Atreides: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:18 pm

    Jirre but that Bresler can like to haf one blerrie lekker hairstyle ne!

  • 22.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:18 pm

    Suurgat.

  • 23.RL: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:19 pm

    and Ludik is still the same – very average.

  • 24.Jeraldjay: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:19 pm

    @RL(RL)-18:
    Ja, lots of empty seats.

  • 25.RL: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:19 pm

    papbek

  • 26.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:19 pm

    Jacques Potgieter is hot hair and all

  • 27.Pot Blou Gevaar: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:20 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-22:
    absolutely!

  • 28.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:20 pm

    Jinne you can moan about everything!

  • 29.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:22 pm

    Bismarck freaks me out, idiot.

  • 30.CAPECRUSADER: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:23 pm

    boring kicking game!

  • 31.RL: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:24 pm

    @Treehugger(Treehugger)-29: why? it was JPP that conceded the penalty.

  • 32.CAPECRUSADER: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:24 pm

    sadie,the johnny wilkinson of saffa rugby?

  • 33.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:24 pm

    Basson doing really well under Morne Skop n’ Jag…

  • 34.Pot Blou Gevaar: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:25 pm

    Unlucky Sadie

  • 35.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:26 pm

    Nice offload JPP looking the part at Centre!

  • 36.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:27 pm

    say what taking too long to pass??

  • 37.Pot Blou Gevaar: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:28 pm

    F**kin Flip!

  • 38.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:30 pm

    was talking bout the one before, am on nokia, takes 4 ever to type and send.

  • 39.CAPECRUSADER: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:30 pm

    chillyboy nearly knocking ludick senseless.

  • 40.RL: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:31 pm

    AC joint

    EINA!

    Sadie is out for a long time.

  • 41.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:32 pm

    ha ha laugh Viljoen gets it!!

  • 42.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:32 pm

    had the distance just little to the right…

  • 43.CAPECRUSADER: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:33 pm

    poefta spies nowhere to be seen.

  • 44.YoMama: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:35 pm

    @CAPECRUSADER(CAPECRUSADER)-43:

    That’s because the entire game plan is 9-10-11

    No space for 8

  • 45.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:35 pm

    What is going on Morne???? Another miss :O

  • 46.BULLET: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:35 pm

    Massive surprise to see Bismark giving away stupid penalties.

  • 47.CAPECRUSADER: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:36 pm

    steyn,you tosser!what have you been doing in the off-season.

  • 48.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:36 pm

    Solid tackle by Lambie!

  • 49.BULLET: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:36 pm

    @Guns 45,
    Just as well he is such a good running flyhalf

  • 50.Nils: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:37 pm

    Great stadium but I would be lying if I said this potentially humdinger derby isn’t rather boring. And so much for “the most physical” conference.

    Both teams sleeping.

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