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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  • 301.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 00:40 am

    Might be too soon for Goosen. Let’s see what he can do in Super 15. But he is an amazing talent. Could look like this soon.

  • 302.PrickBoks going South: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 02:41 am

    what an incredibly boring match between 2 talent-devoid teams, without even a miniscule belief in attacking rugby. A typical bonehead bashathon.

    No wonder the whinging Yappies readily produce such Quarterfinal chop suey

  • 303.stormerforlife: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 02:47 am

    The s15 will start at 17:00 today.

  • 304.bryce_in_oz: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 03:34 am

    Typical boorish Plum-for-brains performance…

  • 305.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 03:43 am

    @PrickBoks going South(PrickBoks going South)-302: I don’t think you think before you talk. “Talent-devoid”. Seriously? Either that or you are just a troll trolling to get a reaction – something you are getting now. But honestly, you should take pride in your opinion. Instead, you choose to insult rather than raising facts. Even your name has to insult. Shame man.

  • 306.PrickBoks going South: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 03:47 am

    @Kleuter(Kleuter)-305:

    boring

    bonehead

    bashathon

  • 307.stormerforlife: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 04:14 am

    Sadie said that,since leaving the Stormers, he was fitter,stronger,more powerful and doing things with his body he never knew he could do.He probably wish now that he had shut his trap.

  • 308.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 05:09 am

    Yip yap.

  • 309.stormer in a teacup: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 05:26 am

    Hey Sucksdix. Is there a team you actually support? You know one you are proud enough to name or are you just a little stand for fokkall, worth even less shoe scraping?
    Prove us wrong. Man up. Nail your colors to the mast. Because we have an intense pride in our teams and our country. You appear only to have resentment, envy and spite.

  • 310.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 07:18 am

    Congrats Bulls! Silent and confident and ignoring all the hype from the Shark supporters. A well constructed and deserved victory – a sign of a great team. The game was dull and boring at times but it can be expected from a derby.

  • 311.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 07:19 am

    @stormerforlife(stormerforlife)-307:

    Yeah not the right thing to blurt out and then wobble off injured.

  • 312.rossoneri: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 07:47 am

    Sharks didn’t deserve the try. It was a forward pass. They have gained a losers bonus out of the deal and that is unfair.

  • 313.Suidkapenaar: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 07:49 am

    Total rubbish! Worst game possible. Bulls are going to bore us to death this year.

  • 314.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 07:56 am

    Silly twats.

    Journalist asked him a question about his fitness.

    What was he supposed to say?

    I expect JP to be cited for that miserable excuse for a a tackle.

  • 315.garth: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 08:18 am

    I only managed to see half the game, but heard that Victor Matfield and a few other son this site said that the kick and chase worked for them. How fckn stupid can you be. They kick away all their possession. Every single time they kick they stuffed up. I just lost all respect for Victor. He is clearly the one behind the dumb game plans the books have had the last few years. Now this fool is commentating. Come on MNET, how the fck can this twat and Warren Brosnian be allowed to open their mouths?

  • 316.garth: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 08:19 am

    Spell check clearly needed.

  • 317.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 08:22 am

    @stormerforlife(stormerforlife)-307: all he was trying to say was the Bulls’ “juice” potion is more potent than anything they have in cape town. ask the cappie, chili & bjorn :-)

  • 318.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 08:30 am

    Shut up Garfield.

  • 319.garth: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 08:44 am

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-318: Whatever you say Victor.

  • 320.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 08:47 am

    Poisonous little bigot.

  • 321.garth: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 09:01 am

    I am sure Sadie has now realized he made a mistake by moving north.

  • 322.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 09:06 am

    Swiss chard and green bean smoothie :shock: sounds utterly revolting.

    Only way to have a smoothy is with fruit,nuts and icecream, peppermintcrisp bombed in with that also rather nummy. Jeez foodstuffs have to taste like more :roll:

  • 323.Brigadier Van Zyl: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 09:47 am

    i like it, everyone please keep writing the bulls off because of 1 close crappy game against the sharks.

    both sides look way undercooked from what i saw. Sharks will improve and so will the Bulls.

  • 324.Dual: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 09:52 am

    @stormerforlife(stormerforlife)-303:

    Sê die “een oog”

  • 325.Dual: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 09:54 am

    The s15 will start at 17:00 today.

    Sê die “een oog”

  • 326.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 09:55 am

    Guys, stop talking kek.

    On a serious note: Is it just me or does Anton Bresler resemble an Afghan hound?

  • 327.PrickBoks going South: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 10:50 am

    cant pigeonhole, cant thunk

    DUH !

  • 328.PrickBoks going South: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 10:53 am

    cant pigeonhole, cant thunk

    DUH !

    stupid whinging Yappie

  • 329.Charging Rhino: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 11:43 am

    Did nobody else pick up the deliberate Bulls knee in the back of Lambies head when trying get up AFTER his tackle on Juandre??!! He was not injured in the tackle and fine until one of the Bulls big men purposefully kneed him in the back of the head on route to hitting the ruck. 99% of eyes wouldn’t have been looking there, I was though :-) . The citing guys should take a look at that. That was bad man and deliberate. Far worse than the perceived “dangerous” tackle on Sadie!!

  • 330.greatest13gerber: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 12:21 pm

    One game at time boys

    Natal same story every year. Overhyped and becoming the Blues of SA Rugby

    Morne answerd his critics

  • 331.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 12:54 pm

    Jirre maar daar is baie kakpraters op hierdie site.

  • 332.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 13:43 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-314:
    He won’t be cited
    You need some reality check, have you spotted Pro Legota on the side line?
    Enough said

  • 333.blueboy: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 13:57 pm

    Just when you think skopshite is bad enough with his moronic comments it seems we have a new skoppie in( piel boks going as far away from this site as far as possible).If you are making these “comments” to get attention on yourself forget it you as you are not in skopshite`s league.

  • 334.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 14:00 pm

    @Charging Rhino(Charging Rhino)-329:
    The Bulls would not retaliate against JP, you should know that and JP knew it too.
    JP will not be cited either.
    Also the Sharks forwards seemed not brave enough to defend themselves, let alone to defend their FH, surely Vahl Bartman, AJ Ventr or Butch long since gone?

  • 335.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 14:02 pm

    Howzit Pops

  • 336.Charging Rhino: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 14:13 pm

    @Hondo(Hondo)-334: Ja Im just asking asking if anybody else saw that because the commentators didn’t even pick it up, neither did my mate who’s a Bulls supporter who was sitting next to me on the couch.
    But for those who have PVR and recorded it take another look. Real Real bad cheap shot in the back of the head by a Bulls knee running full-on about to hit the ruck long after Lambie made the tackle…. that’s what knocked him out. And regardless of which side side they play for….. Stormers, Sharks, Bulls, Blues, Reds whoever…. that type of stuff needs to be picked up, addressed and stamped out because next time it could be a more serious injury. Play Hard but Play Clean.

  • 337.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    25 Feb 2012, 15:20 pm

    @PrickBoks going South(PrickBoks going South)-306: It’s okay my man, I understand.

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