Praise for Bulls’ aerial assault
26 Feb 2012
The Bulls’ tactical kicking in their victory over the Sharks was identified as the outstanding feature of their play.
The Bulls started poorly, playing uncharacteristically expansively in their territory. However, they settled into a familiar pattern in the second half, and suffocated the Sharks, whose attacks became increasingly desperate, which in turn benefited the Bulls.
Morne Steyn scored all of the Bulls’ 18 points off his boot, but his pin-point tactical kicking was also central to their success. The height, weight and placement of the punts gave his chasers every opportunity to put the Sharks’ receivers under pressure and often forced infringements at the subsequent breakdown or compromised return options (kicks or runs).
Even in light of a mass departure of senior players as well as director of rugby Heyneke Meyer, the Bulls looked organised, purposeful and efficient once they had settled. Sharks coach John Plumtree said his team’s response under pressure was poor but added that when the Bulls are that accurate in that pattern there isn’t much you can do to counter them.
Ludeke said: ‘Our tactical kicking was the standout aspect of our performance. The primary kickers did their job well and the chasers were excellent at contesting in the air or making a strong tackle on the receiver.’
Captain Pierre Spies said their tactical kicking allowed them to build pressure in a manner they weren’t able to with a ball-in-hand approach and pointed to their breakdown work after the ball had been received by the Sharks as being decisive to the outcome. ‘It was the most important facet of play in the match,’ Spies said. ‘We kept our focus, they lost their concentration and Morne could punish them.’
Sharks captain Keegan Daniel agreed. ‘That’s where the match was lost, yes,’ he said. ‘We lost focus and didn’t react to their pressure well. It was good to know we could get ourselves back into the game [with a late try] but those errors at the breakdown cost us.’
Plumtree, however, retained belief in his attacking approach despite its execution failing at Loftus. ‘We would have taken an ugly win rather than a beautiful defeat, but the way we played in those last couple of minutes is what makes us a formidable opponent and that’s how we want to play this season.’
139 Comments
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26 Feb 2012, 19:59 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-99: similar to a jockbok trying to serve both god and lucifer at the same time?
26 Feb 2012, 20:03 pm
@CAPECRUSADER(CAPECRUSADER)-101:
Capo, last year you were a big Stormers supporter. Why the sudden change?
26 Feb 2012, 20:08 pm
@Rad1(Rad1)-21: I have been to Loftus many times (other stadiums as well) and never experienced anything like what you are talking about. What makes me think you are completely over reacting is your statement:
“non-existent block numbers, with the non-existent row numbers (sorry, there was something on the floor that looked like it had been hand-painted by a 3 year old on a sugar high)”
This is absolute rubish and I think rather a case of you not looking properly. The malfunction at the gate is unfortunate and I am sure caused some frustration. But most of your frustration could have been avoided if you hadnt pitched up at the last minute. Remember, if you are not on your seat 15min past kick off it is not unreasonable for some oke in the top row to assume you are not comming (this is not only a Loftus issue). And also, once the game has started cooldrink vendors are wary to move around too much out of fear of obstruct spectators. (also, this is not only a Loftus issue).
My advice, next time you go to any big game, try and be seated at least 30min before kick off. And also important, if your team gets beaten, try and stay objective.
This would not only alleviate a lot of frustration but also help dady to keep his cool and retain the respect of his family!
26 Feb 2012, 20:10 pm
Michael Jones AB flank also refused to play on Sundays
Sunday as the Holy day is actually a throw back to the Romans who worshiped Sun day as their holiday before they became Christian
If any these dudes were seriously religious then they wouldn’t play on Saturday because that was the Sabbath day when JC was around observing his cultural heritage day of recuperation and prayer
and if Sonny Bill was a practicing Muslim he would refuse to play Friday
IRB should get consensus on which day is officially the day you don’t don your rugby kit to go to war for your country, could get a little confusing for those spread across the no play on Sabbath cultural divides
26 Feb 2012, 20:10 pm
@IAAS(I am a stormer)-102: ET fucked his brain solid
26 Feb 2012, 20:12 pm
@IAAS(I am a stormer)-102: who is capo?
26 Feb 2012, 20:13 pm
Capo back already?
The justice system in this country is shocking.
26 Feb 2012, 20:14 pm
hows this cape flats shishkebab pretending he serves some god or other
some these fuckers swear blind they’ll commit murder in the name of their favored weekend deity..
26 Feb 2012, 20:18 pm
@Horing(Horing)-103:
I’m a fairly regular visitor to Loftus and enjoy going there and have never experienced what Rad1 did. Everything is clearly marked and the seats easy to find. But there must’ve been a problem with whoever was manning the gates because I commented as did one or 2 others on the match thread that there were plenty of empty seats 15 minutes after kick-off. Even Hugh Bladen commented that people were still filing in.
26 Feb 2012, 20:22 pm
@CAPECRUSADER(CAPECRUSADER)-101:
If you say so big boy. No idea what you are on about but hey, I’m sure it makes as much sense to you as a Capetonian ‘supporting’ the Crusaders.
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-107:
I bet he’s smuggled a nokia in up his buttcrack. In fact, he’d probably fit an ipad and the charger up there after the many rogerings he gets as a frans.
26 Feb 2012, 20:28 pm
Indeed Jock.
Capo must be one of the more popular wives in Pollsmoer.
26 Feb 2012, 20:37 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-110: Don’t you support the scots as well as the boks?
26 Feb 2012, 20:38 pm
Just ignore the twat
26 Feb 2012, 20:47 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-111: what did this capo do to you chaps?
26 Feb 2012, 20:47 pm
@CAPECRUSADER(CAPECRUSADER)-96:
“scots need independence to get some backbone.nothing but a bunch of poeftaboys”
Only one doos writes that like that. And not using capitals either.
now go and help uncle jack off a horse.
26 Feb 2012, 20:51 pm
@CAPECRUSADER(CAPECRUSADER)-112:
I live in SA, I like the Boks and I root for them unless Scotland are involved, but I’m Scottish, I support Scotland. It’s as simple as that. Not something you would understand of course.
26 Feb 2012, 20:51 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-113: listen here,I am not this capo that you all seem to hate.another thing,if you wanna do name calling I can do it as well.
26 Feb 2012, 20:55 pm
Listen here if you call yourself cape crusader you gonna get flak.
Especially here.
So keep yer shirt on.
26 Feb 2012, 20:56 pm
Just a word of advice.
26 Feb 2012, 20:59 pm
@IAAS :capitols? I have been on many blogs but I never knew perfect english is required for this one !
26 Feb 2012, 21:05 pm
@CAPECRUSADER(CAPECRUSADER)-120:
It’s a dead give away.
You’re not very bright either.
26 Feb 2012, 21:09 pm
@IAAS(I am a stormer)-121: Listen here ,I live in the uk and scots independence is the buzz word at the moment.in any case I am not here to convince you,so carry on chump.
26 Feb 2012, 21:11 pm
Lol what’s all this listen here!
26 Feb 2012, 21:32 pm
@CAPECRUSADER(CAPECRUSADER)-122: shame.
so you live in the uk and support the crusaders from there?
well then you arent a cape crusader are you you doos?
more like a londoncrusader.
if you cant even get this simple thing right then why should your opinion mean anything to us?
26 Feb 2012, 21:41 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-124: born and bred capetonian.been away from the cape for ten years now.love travelling which probably kept me in europe this long.easy to hop over to the states and canada from here as well.grew up supporting nz. rugby.
26 Feb 2012, 21:50 pm
@CAPECRUSADER(CAPECRUSADER)-125: well done for leaving south africa.
the last thing we need is more people with an identity crisis.
like i said, you need to change your nic to londoncrusader beacuse the cape is not your home, emotionally or physically.
with that, i wish you goodnight, i cannot waste my time with people i have absolutely nothing in common with.
26 Feb 2012, 22:36 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-126: nice try,bud.i have more emotional ties to the cape than what you,probably,would have towards south africa in your one little finger.in any case, we never had anything in common,so,you are no big loss,buddy.btw,are you telling me that you have something in common with south africa’s other races,i am assuming here now that you are white.i travel at least once or sometimes twice a year to my ancestral home and can tell you now that the country is more divided than anything.forget about the green id….what do you have in common with your fellow south african?
26 Feb 2012, 22:39 pm
@CAPECRUSADER(CAPECRUSADER)-127: …that is now your fellow black,coloured and indian south african.
26 Feb 2012, 22:42 pm
What a waste of time this thread turns out to be.
27 Feb 2012, 00:58 am
ahhh the beautiful game is alive and kicking (pun intended) in SA, kick, kick, kick, boring, boring, boring. Nothing will change with SA rugby at all levels. What a bore…
27 Feb 2012, 01:01 am
@RL(RL)-55: so 46,000 turned up at Loftus…what else is there to do in Pretoria??? nothing I guess, all you have there is one rugby Team. And I have to disagree with the local Derbies here in NZ and AUS, they are as keen as anything SA have, so lets have some objectivity…in all good weekend, boring SA games, kick kick kick – I guess your new Coach will employ the same tactics, oh of course he coached the Bulls once…so what else is new.
27 Feb 2012, 01:33 am
The Sharks were a lot more threatening and direct when Bosman played 10. Hope he gets more game time there and less at 12, which has ruined his career IMO.
In fact, the Sharks have traditionally done well with a strong 10 attacking the gain line (Honiball, James).
Lambie will become that player but he’s not quite there yet.
27 Feb 2012, 02:09 am
I agree with you willie. As a 19 year old he played a fine test at 10 against Wales…..and not such a bad test against France. But we lost that one, so our media crucified him.
Not a super talent, but a damn solid player with a great pass. He should have been left at 10.
And I have to agree with JohnPaul, the Bools game was disappointing. We learned….again…in the RWC , that a team needs backline skills to use good ball. What we saw in Pamplona was just more of the same old tactics that make us the least appreciated rugby super power. Hell it’s not as if we don’t have fast young backs to coach.
27 Feb 2012, 03:39 am
WTF? Were anybody else watching the same game I was watching? The Bulls spent the first half taking it far to the sides and back. they tired teh hell out of teh Sharks first with their superior conditioning.
The Sharks defence was just very good, thats all. Well, not so good they did not give away penalties…. and we made them pay for those. Its easy to makle a team look good as a coach – tell your players to give away penalties rather than tries. and then blame the ref! Fact is the Bulls pressured the Sharks into those peanuts.
27 Feb 2012, 06:09 am
only in whinging Yappieland do they praise the kicking game.
oh wait, theres always England.
27 Feb 2012, 10:33 am
Well done Bulls. Deserved winners. I was actually quite pleased JP Pietersen knocked the ball close to the line because the Sharks first try definitely had a forward pass and I prefer to see my team win legitimately.
Wasn’t a great game, but the Bulls did what was needed. If you are going to play such undisciplined rugby against the Bulls, then Morne Steyn will punish you.
Sharks must learn from this moving forward.
27 Feb 2012, 10:37 am
@PrickBoks going South(PrickBoks going South)-135: In this case, the kicking game deserves to be praised because it got the job done in what was always going to be a very tricky fixture.
It is interesting that if the kicking game did not work on the night, everybody would have been here to level their criticism. It was however, very effective and might well have proved the difference between the two teams.
The game wasn’t as exciting as it could have been, but it is credit where credit is due.
28 Feb 2012, 05:34 am
the running game is praised in Heaven
the kicking game is praised in Hell
28 Feb 2012, 06:05 am
@PrickBoks going South(PrickBoks going South)-138:
Doos
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