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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  • 51.RL: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:38 pm

    Lambie zero from two

    Steyn zero from two

  • 52.CAPECRUSADER: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:38 pm

    shocking decision!

  • 53.RL: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:38 pm

    Pro is as blind as Bryce Lawrence :grin:

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

    @Dawn, are u posting from yr Blackberry, if so does it go quickly. Reason i am asking i got the new Bold 9900 yesterday.

    Unfortunetly it will only be internet connected from 1 March.

    am hopeing i didnt get such a pricey phone and it is just as kuk as nokia.

  • 55.YoMama: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:39 pm

    PROfessional linesman

  • 56.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:40 pm

    BB is cool to post from but all phones are foolish!

    Congrats you’ll wonder what you did without it.

  • 57.YoMama: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:40 pm

    @YoMama(YoMama)-55:

    Saved by Uncle Jonathan

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

    Bismark Power FTW!!!

  • 59.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:41 pm

    Lol Pro is back!

  • 60.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:42 pm

    Can’t believe no score in this game yet

  • 61.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:43 pm

    @Nils(Nils)-50:

    You’re looking watching the Bulls looking for excitement?

  • 62.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:43 pm

    er, watching the Bulls looking for excitement rather.

  • 63.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:43 pm

    Buuutcherd pass! Rushed it…

  • 64.fantasticbarnsmell: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:43 pm

    that’s kak

  • 65.CAPECRUSADER: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:44 pm

    whitehead:another stormer that won’t be missed at newlands it seems.

  • 66.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:44 pm

    @Dawn, thnx, ja its very different.

  • 67.YoMama: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:45 pm

    Is this still pre-season?

  • 68.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:45 pm

    Guns you excitable puppy

  • 69.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:46 pm

    Farking farward pass… sies man…

  • 70.CAPECRUSADER: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:46 pm

    bulls scrum turbo-reversed there a bit.

  • 71.fantasticbarnsmell: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:46 pm

    i’ve only been watching the last 10 minutes, this is terrible!! whats going on?

  • 72.Nils: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:47 pm

    @Tartan(Tartan)-61: Well, I did expect some excitement from both teams from this deservedly (as it seemed) hyped-up SA derby. The “real rugby”, “the most physical conference”, etc.

    I really did expect something reasonably big.

    Sofar, Highlanders 6-0 Crusaders a while ago seems like Rolling Stones performance, really.

  • 73.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:47 pm

    YoMama!
    :lol:

  • 74.Nils: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:49 pm

    Ok, there’s still time for something.

    Go Sharks!

  • 75.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:49 pm

    Peterson is styleing at center.

  • 76.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:49 pm

    Nils, meet RL. RL, Nils.

  • 77.CAPECRUSADER: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:50 pm

    silly penalty sharks!

  • 78.YoMama: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:51 pm

    Dawn
    <3

  • 79.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:52 pm

    Pre-season!

    Best post of the night.

  • 80.CAPECRUSADER: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:53 pm

    rubbish!

  • 81.YoMama: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:53 pm

    A Sweaty palm arm wrestle

  • 82.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:54 pm

    It’s like watching 30 Pierre Spies out there – has anyone turned up?

  • 83.IAAS: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:54 pm

    What a boring, error ridden 1st half. Which is reflected in the score. Sorry to see Sadie go off early.

  • 84.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:56 pm

    @Tartan(Tartan)-82: Yes some of the sharks players sertianly have turned up. Sharks game to win or lose atm. Lets see what bulls come back with in SH.

  • 85.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:58 pm

    Marcell Coetzee having a cracker.

  • 86.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:58 pm

    @Guns(Guns)-84:
    Don’t disagree with it being the Sharks’ game so far, but they’re making silly decisions at crucial times as well.
    Can see them blowing it open if it stays scrappy though.

  • 87.CAPECRUSADER: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:59 pm

    if they dish up this rubbish ,then pre-season should be cancelled…..waste of time and money.

  • 88.RL: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 19:59 pm

    What a really boring match – did 52,000 people really pay to watch that kak!

    Hell man both these teams are utter kak coached by utter kak coaches.

    What the hell are they doing on that field? Lambie’s ankles are too thick and Syeyn is as thick as ever.

    Bullies mssing Matfield big time – those locks are kak.

    Nooooooo I’m out.

  • 89.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 20:01 pm

    no score @ half time :shock: what a snorefest in snorCity

  • 90.ashampoopaloo: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 20:02 pm

    clash of the titans 0-0 after 40 min of flat out massive adrenaline charged power rugby shows how evenly matched these two teams are. Sharks seem to step up for Bulls encounters, they had the better possession and domination of exchanges so far.

    Two No.7′s Coetsee and Potgieter both massive.

    Viljoen looking solid. Kruger at 5 big contribution

    Both teams very evenly matched, top rate rugby out of the highest level, first game of season showing the depth of SA talent second to none.

  • 91.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 20:04 pm

    Bring on the Kings!

  • 92.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 20:04 pm

    I am loving the game, it is 2 be expected to play like this, lots of newish players geling.

  • 93.RL: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 20:06 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-91: shut it :razz: they were moered by 90 points by my team.

  • 94.Mighty Horua: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 20:07 pm

    Vrek boring match!

  • 95.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 20:08 pm

    well he cant and wont miss that one..

  • 96.YoMama: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 20:08 pm

    If the Bulls are only going to play that one move all day, then they should stick Basson on the right wing and then have Steyn kick on to mVovo.

    Why does it take a doos like me to be smarter than the “brainstrust”.

  • 97.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 20:08 pm

    0-3 skop n jag

  • 98.Mighty Horua: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 20:08 pm

    Bring on the Kings!

  • 99.Guns: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 20:09 pm

    @YoMama(YoMama)-96: Thank goodness its you and not them! :D

  • 100.YoMama: Reply to this comment
    24 Feb 2012, 20:09 pm

    Good job Pro!

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