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
26 Feb 2012, 08:13 am
So this means the first name pencilled into the Boks teamsheet will be Morne Steyn.
Even Spies said the Bulls aren’t comfortable with the ball-in-hand approach.
I wasn’t expecting anything different?
Skop-en-jaag it is then.
26 Feb 2012, 08:21 am
Meet new bulls, same as old bulls.
26 Feb 2012, 08:28 am
So thats their plan? The rest of their game was flat and not indicative of a champion team.. Predict a very long season and very dissapointed fans..
26 Feb 2012, 08:35 am
I must say that Basson is fantastic in the air – just a pity his defense is suspect. A win is a win and they deserved it. As the season gets going they may have to change the skop and jaag and try and keep possession.
26 Feb 2012, 08:48 am
Why must it be an ugly win over a beautiful defeat?
Why can we not produce beautiful wins?
26 Feb 2012, 09:09 am
That kick and chase won’t work with Australasian teams. Why The Sharks fell to pieces is another oddity.
26 Feb 2012, 09:11 am
I think it is very pragmatic to go for a kick and chase approach when you have new combinations playing their first game of the season under new stricter applications of the breakdown laws which they still need to get used to.
In fact, I reckon Heyneke will do pretty much the same for his first test, given the small amount of preperation time.
That doesn’t mean that the Bulls – or Boks for that matter – won’t add more attacking strings to their bow as the season progresses.
26 Feb 2012, 09:21 am
I watched some of the game, but all I saw was the Bulls trying kick and chase. They gave away possession about 10 times. It was pathetic and should never be praised. I must have missed the single successful kick and chase. I am glad the Bulls think this is a successful gameplan. It makes it alot easier for other teams who’d they normally beat if they played rugby. Keep up the good work.
26 Feb 2012, 09:27 am
@garth(garth)-8:
Keep thinking that.
26 Feb 2012, 09:40 am
the bulls won… that is all that counts…
their ‘new’ game will develop through the season… and it’s great to have their traditional game to fall back on… if they have to to win tight games…
for me what’s important is getting three saffa sides into the play-offs…
as tac said the other day… the conference system is stacked against saffa sides, so getting the wins is all that is important to me…
sharks will be back and up in the top 6 before too long…
26 Feb 2012, 09:44 am
@ufo(ufo)-10:
Yes, the Sharks have a lot of quality to fall back on. And once Alberts is back they’ll be a different kettle of fish. Don’t rate Deysel that much, other than at lock, but Alberts is key to their campaig.
I see Keo rates the SA teams’ chances, but I reckon that’s more a reflection of the deteriorating quality of especially the Aussie franchises. It’s all very well for us to get 3 teams in the play-offs, but that means little if the Aussie conference is so poor that the Reds end top of the log with ease.
Then all three our play off teams still have to travel for their play-off games, meaning nothing for SA as we lose all three.
Much better for only 1 SA team to make it, but that one getting a home semifinal.
26 Feb 2012, 09:57 am
yeah… tac…
i agree with what you say… and alberts is key to the sharks there’s no doubt…
i agree with you about the reds… they do have the easy route to the top… there’s going to be little we can do to stop that… but i reckon they will not be as good this season… (still very good though)
last year they caught everyone by surprise and everyone kept thinking they would eventually lose and fall off… which didn’t happen… this year everyone will take them a whole lot more seriously… expect cooper to come in for pressure tactics…
my thinking is getting three sides into the top six so that the reds have to play 2 saffa sides in the semis and final…
but a long hard season ahead and there are going to be many upsets and twists along the way…
26 Feb 2012, 10:42 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-11:
I agree with you 100%.
Wouldn’t it be great if the Stormers repeat the effort of last year and this time go on to clinch the deal.
26 Feb 2012, 11:15 am
@IAAS(I am a stormer)-13:
It’s good to have a dream.
Given that the Stormers got clobbered in their HOME playoff by the travelling Crusaders last year, and given that the Stormers are significantly WEAKER this year than last year, I’ll leave it to you to decide how realistic that dream is.
26 Feb 2012, 11:32 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-14: The Stormers are not weaker this year. We are stronger. We have more muscle in the forwards, more flyhalf options, springbok midfield, plenty of pace in the back three and a very reliable goal kicker. We miss Flo, but that is it.
26 Feb 2012, 11:34 am
@stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-15:
Are you having a larf?
26 Feb 2012, 11:34 am
Good to see this bulls confidence.Fair play to them,they played to their strength and won.Personally,i don’t think this is a good bulls team.The Sharks can only blame themselves for the defeat on Friday.They were absolutely poor playing the breakdown situations.They were slow to support their ball carriers at the breakdown collisions and allowed the bulls to dominate with ease.In my opinion, their breakdown commitment was cowardly at best , but I really don’t want to upset Shark supporters this morning.The Sharks will be better when their real warriors are back.
26 Feb 2012, 11:38 am
I see a lot of people moaning about the bulls kick and chase game,i watched the lions ans cheetahs game and lo and behold all i saw was a kick and chase game from both teams and nobody moans about them,as usual it looks as if the rest of sa rugby fans want the bulls to fail,but they have a saying in scotland “get it right up ye”,and i say that to all the non bulls fans on this website “get it right up ye”,GO BULLS.
26 Feb 2012, 11:40 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-14:
The Stormers will improve even after yesterday’s effort. But then, so again will the Bulls because they were far from convincing on Friday.
I was yanking your chain. The SA conference is wide open. And there’s still a long way to go. It’s far too early for anyone to start making predictions.
26 Feb 2012, 11:42 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-16: Far from it. How are we weaker this year/
26 Feb 2012, 11:46 am
After getting to our seats 30 minutes after the game had started due to entry gate chaos, having to fight for our seats with the ignoramuses who obviously couldn’t count beyond 10 and were unaware that the alphabet went beyond G, the rugby was the last thing on our minds. Like their team, the Loftus Management obviously hadn’t realised that Super Rugby had started. The non-existent cold drink vendors, together with the non-existent main screen, and the 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). My wife and kids and I had just survived 45 minutes of the most harrowing experience of our lives due to the malfunction of gates 8 and 9. Having been informed that we could only enter at gate 8 (FF Block East Stand), several thousand people arrived from opposite directions, surging from north and south in a pathway of +-5 metres fenced on each side and against gates 8 & 9 that weren’t working, literally trapping those in the middle . You could barely lift your arm from your side never mind trying to escape. And then came the drunks and the brainless, who thought that if you just pushed forward that was going to solve the problem.
I have not read a single media report on this, however we should be grateful that we were not front page news. The potential for disaster was there, and believe me the thought of crushes at soccer matches or the recent UJ stampede crossed our minds as we battled to breathe.
Goodbye Loftus – never again.
26 Feb 2012, 11:53 am
All I can say is that if this is the type of rubbish that is going to be served up – made even worse by the now constant shrieking of the refs’ whistles, I am afraid this Super 15 is going to be a turn off for many, many spectators.
You might want to go and see who can score most penalties – go ahead but I reckon the fans will raise a few concerns over this lot.
The only thing of promise I saw over the weekend was a couple of decent youngsters at lock for the Bulls and Stormers and JP Pietersen putting on a credible performance at centre – definitely worth another look at there. Same can’t be said for Habana who, as usual for the past two years, should have the courtesy to remove himself from proceedings and let some youngster with ability take his place.
26 Feb 2012, 11:56 am
So the Bulls have abandoned their plan to play expansive running rugby – this goes against what Heineken wanted. He is not there to teach bonehead Ludeke how to transform his team and like a little lost dog Ludeke is reverting to what knows, what Heineken taught him …… kick and chase.
Well teams are shaking off the early season rust and will have taken note of this Bulls approach. The Bulls may achieve success with kick and chase against limited attacking team like the Sharks or the Stormers but when they come up against teams that have no problem playing with width, taking the ball up through many phases their kick and chase will be exposed for what it is …. Ineffective under the current law interpretations.
Next week we will see how they go – the Cheetahs played well and with one tough match under their belts they will be ready for the Bull. We will see how an attacking team rips their skop game to pieces.
26 Feb 2012, 11:56 am
@Rad1(Rad1)-21: jeez that’s terrible. There was someone else who mentioned that there was at one stage a very real prospect of a stampede/crush. SA has one of the world’s worst records when it comes to stadium deaths/mismanagement in football – you would think that stadium management for all sports codes would be very much ‘alive’ to this issue.
26 Feb 2012, 11:57 am
Sharks should start with Jordaan from now on. This guy looks like he takes responsibility for creating things and is hungry to be in the action. Let him play his natural game and the Sharks may have a decent centre at last.
26 Feb 2012, 11:57 am
I heard the commentators saying ,after nearly 20 minutes,that people were still streaming into the stadium. Hopefully the new stadium legislation will sort out these rogue operators in due time.
26 Feb 2012, 11:58 am
@grunk(grunk)-22: I agree – the first round was completely dominated by the refs’ whistles. This is NOT what we want to see, can’t they (IRB) work that out? The break down are and the scrums are a complete happy go lucky farce.
26 Feb 2012, 12:00 pm
@Rad1(Rad1)-21: Well said man – FYI did you know that the guppy tank is a potential death trap every time a match is hosted there? Yes it is true. Do some research and you will realise the danger of that place. FIFA calls it a death trap and soon the IRB will too.
26 Feb 2012, 12:02 pm
Look, it’s clear that the Bulls must spend a lot of time working on those up and unders for Basson, etc to chase. However if I was a Bulls fan I would be worried by this:
“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…”
A one trick pony is very easy to work out.
26 Feb 2012, 12:05 pm
@RL(RL)-28: LOL! I have been to Kins Park many times and have never noticed or felt threatened by the potential for any crush. What nonsense.
I have not been to Loftus. I have been to stadiums around the world to watch rugby – NZ, Paris, Twickers, Millenium, etc. But the only place I felt was dangerous was Ellis when everybody rushes for the buses after the game. Bodies being crushed, big dutchm*n shouting and swearing, families getting separated… I won’t visit Ellis Park in a hurry again.
26 Feb 2012, 12:10 pm
If the Sharks showed more balls at the breakdown they might just have prevented Bulls bombs raining down from the Pretoria sky.
26 Feb 2012, 12:12 pm
Lions beat Cheetahs by slotting 9 (NINE) from 11 (ELEVEN) kickable penalties served up on a plate by the so called ‘new’ IRB breakdown law or scrum infringement directives… rugby is not getting any prettier.. if anything its getting a damn sight more ugly by the year and by the game…
Now how come in NH fixtures the teams plus the ref’s manage to put on some vestige of a continuous ball in hand type show where ball in hand patient build up continuity rugby gets rewarded, and where momentum and continuity often extends well into multiple ball carry phases.., whereas here its ref shrieking whistle after ref shrieking whistle where the conductor in the middle is the main feature of the orchestra and his personal stamp on proceedings makes or breaks any teams opportunities or chances?
Bulls and Sharks came out with all six shooters blazing chucking the kitchen sink at each other and intending to run each other ragged with a flat out expansive speed merchant game, by half time it was obvious that Sharks had the better control through the phase play and were dominating exchanges in midfield and through maintaining better possession, so Bulls reverted to ‘traditional’ SA folklore rugby, play without the ball, defense wins games, power pressure up and under kick and chase rugby, force the opposition mistakes and play the percentages.
It worked for Bulls same way as it worked for Jake White and PdV under John Smit through 2007-2009, but it didn’t work for Boks through 2010-2011
Its got to be a case of knowing when to go the aerial bombardment route and when to keep ball in hand, the successful teams will know not to get stuck in either rut and mix it up appropriately and according to conditions and proceedings.
26 Feb 2012, 12:13 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-30: believe what you will. Fact is Mr Price park is not safe enough to host any FIFA sactioned match – the Den is. Fact is if the IRB get their act together Kings Park and Newlands will never host an international rugby match again.
26 Feb 2012, 12:18 pm
@stormerforlife(stormerforlife)-31: the Sharks loose trio is not right. Kanko is a no no, Daniel isn’t even assured of his place (let alone being captaincy material) and Marcel Coetzee is the best of them. Not a fetcher in sight. Botes looked ok when he came on but he is not viewed as a starter any more. The breakdowns were a big problemo for the Sharks last year – doesn’t look like they have learned…
26 Feb 2012, 12:21 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-32: you are right – bizarrely NH rugby is looking more attractive than ours. Far too many penalties in our rugby at the moment.
26 Feb 2012, 12:24 pm
#21 Rad I am sorry that you and your family had a bad experience at loftus and i hope something like this NEVER happens again at loftus,i hope the bulls management apologize to the public for this unacceptable behaviour,this must have spoiled the game for you and your family all i can write is SORRY.
26 Feb 2012, 12:29 pm
Those Cheetahs were lucky to only concede 11 kickable penalties – this filthy schmuck should have been given a red card. He deliberately dropped the birthday boy on his head. Their plan was obvious – playing obstruction all night – off the ball kak – preventing Lions from clearing the ruck. It cost them two penalties but they should have gotten more yellow cards for their negative play.
Two week ban for Cheetahs centre
Cheetahs centre Andries Strauss has been handed a two week suspension for dangerous play in the Super Rugby match between the Lions and the Cheetahs in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Strauss was shown both a yellow card and a white card for a tip-tackle on Lions forward Wikus van Heerden in the 12th minute of the match by referee Mark Lawrence.
A white card is part of an experimental system being used by SANZAR this season, and puts a player ‘on report’ for suspected foul play to be referred to a citing commissioner for another look.
The 27-year-old broke law 10.4 (j) by lifting a player from the ground and dropping or driving that player into the ground.
Van Heerden was lifted past the horizontal and driven into the ground head first during the incident.
SANZAR Duty Judicial Officer Mike Heron accepted a guilty plea to the citing from Strauss, and confirmed that he had no previous disciplinary matters and was very remorseful.
Heron stated that: “The player had been in contact with the Lions player (Van Heerden) and stated that he had apologised to him. Strauss’ understood from Van Heerden directly he had suffered a concussion.
“I determined that the tackle was in breach of 10.4(j) but that it was not executed intentionally – it appeared to me that the player did not intend to drive van Heerden into the ground, rather having tipped him, he failed to get him to the ground safely.
“As has been stated in previous seasons, these tackles are unacceptable and dangerous. The player, by his admission, immediately accepted that. Taking into account all the circumstances, I am satisfied that the appropriate entry point is lower end, meaning a starting point of three weeks suspension. The injury to Van Heerden and the need for deterrent takes the penalty higher by a week. Then applying the full discount for the immediate plea of guilty (25%) and a further week discount for the remorse shown and exemplary character outlined to me.
“That results in a penalty of two weeks. The player is therefore suspended from all forms of the game for two weeks, to and including 11 March 2012.”
26 Feb 2012, 12:32 pm
#28RL I have never been to the Kings Park in durban can you tell me why is is so dangerous to go there,.On tv the seating arrangements look ok,are the problems in the bowels of the stadium.
26 Feb 2012, 12:33 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-34: wakey wakey somebody took off his black-white dynamite blinkers.. I been telling you this for how long already..?
go tell it to the rest of your guppie yuppie Kanko cantankerous kryptonite worshipers
You cant have 2 prancing show ponies and only one grafting carthorse busting the opposition door down
Marcel Coetsee is your best loosie by some distance… so Alberts will have to go to 8, Coetsee at 7 and then Daniel might be valuable at 6 though he’s not a to the ball player and likes to play the same roving roaming renegade game that Kanko molds his game around and disappears into obsolescence, that’s why it don’t work, Daniel and Kankowski are one too many split peas in a full pied pod, one too many show ponies to make any dainty dish in any bodies recipe…..
26 Feb 2012, 12:42 pm
@blueboy(blueboy)-38: The stadium has to comply with a whole host of safety requirements – currrently it does not. The east and west grand stands are also too steep and is an evacuation nightmare – a death trap according to FIFA. It was one of the reason Moses was built. The full report iis somewhere on the FIFA website.
26 Feb 2012, 12:48 pm
#40RL Does loftus measure up to FIFA`S rules and standards.
26 Feb 2012, 12:53 pm
@blueboy(blueboy)-41:It was upgraded for the world cup to meet FIFA standards. They need to fix their gates!
26 Feb 2012, 13:00 pm
Yes i agree with you this problem must never happen again the public`s safety is paramount,and the good name of the bulls could get damaged by this bad publicity,i am just glad there were no injuries or fatalities.
26 Feb 2012, 13:58 pm
I’ve always been nervous at Loftus games. The narrow stair cases from the upper levels (as opposed to the big spiral ramps at most stadiums) seem genuinely dangerous. Plus the I experienced the exact same crush mentioned here at the Lions-Boks game in 09, it was genuinely scary.
I hope to hear some official comment from the bulls soon…
26 Feb 2012, 14:08 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-7:
As I thought, JP was not cited, although it seemed much more brutal and off the ball than the one which Strauss put on Wicus, should make one thinking?
ad@Rad1(Rad1)-21:
Perhaps the Bulls have down graded Loftus to meet soccer standards?
26 Feb 2012, 14:19 pm
@Tartan(Tartan)-2:
I can live with that.
Do you think perhaps that means that this team will also win 3 Super Rugby titles within 4 years?
26 Feb 2012, 14:20 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-45: The man had a genuine fear for his family’s safety.Witty or stupid remarks, simply not on mate.
26 Feb 2012, 14:28 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-32:
Kicking possession away at test level is punished, both Farrell and Priestland(?) when kicked yesterday, it was usually aimed at touch or at the corners.
I watched Gloucester vs Harlequins too, Nick Evans gave a devastating demonstration of gaining territory by kicking, what a boot!
Should have made you thinking: if Henry summoned the hapless Donald for the RWC final and ignored Nick Evans, it surely was because ‘Sir’ potz had no concerns regarding the outcome. In other words, if the RWC Final’s result was in any doubt, the NZRU would have bent the rule, simply too much money and national pride was at stake!
26 Feb 2012, 14:33 pm
@stormerforlife(stormerforlife)-47:
I went many time to Loftus, never experienced such a chaos, and I do believe the man.
And what makes you thinking that the safety and order standards at Loftus were NOT purposely degraded by the Bulls management to save money?
26 Feb 2012, 15:21 pm
50
26 Feb 2012, 15:22 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-32:
Another good post.
26 Feb 2012, 15:53 pm
The moment the Sharks started pushing the ball past 10, and brought in a real scrumhalf to add fluidity, the Bools were in trouble. For all the praise of the Bools’ aerial game, they scored no tries and were hanging on for the win.
It’s disappointing. If ever SA rugby is going to become less predictable, this is the year after the RWC and the Bools are the team, to do it. The Stormers and Sharks already play a broader game, but given the Bools’ influence in matters Bok, they have to come to the party.
It’s obvious we are in for another four years of skop en donder.
26 Feb 2012, 15:56 pm
Terrible story re Loftus. Not nice to have your family caught up in such a situation.
26 Feb 2012, 15:59 pm
Well I see I wasn’t the only one to complain about the frequency of the referees’ whistles. We can make some excuses for it being the beginning of the seasons but truth be told the only match even beginning to be worth watching was the Blues/Crusader match – and, if my memory is correct, that was 1 of only 2 matches which was not refereed by an SA ref (the other was by Bryce baby so that doesn’t count).
Pre-season we were told that the breakdowns and scrums were going to be very closely scrutinised. Well done refs – you didn’t let any one down there. Pity about giving us a game of rugby to watch though.
Can’t we go back to basics somewhere with this refereeing ****? A try is worth 5 points – a penalty is worth 3 – and there ends the question of there being any justice. If it takes magnificent effort and skill to get a try then surely to give 3 points for an action not even beginning to have anywhere near that type of effect on a game is totally iniquitous. Either full arm penalties should be given for only the most heinous of offences (and let the rugby players sort out those lying on the ball, bits of jersey tugging etc) or else down grade the value of a penalty to 1 point. The way we are going at the moment is going to end any spectator enjoyment in the game at all. It will be as bad as watching two grunting, groaning and shrieking women playing a tennis final – which is why I’ve given up even looking at those lovely bods as a spectator sport.
Give us a break – and give us back a game that men play and men can enjoy watching.
26 Feb 2012, 16:04 pm
Plum throws in the towel – he knows that his limited guppies (limited by his coaching and his selection for team captain) stand no chance of reaching the play-offs.
Cape Town – Sharks coach John Plumtree believes there are too many derby games on the current Super Rugby schedule.
“We’re playing way too often against the other top South African teams,” Plumtree told the Rapport newspaper after his side went down 18-13 to the Bulls in their season-opener at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.
“It wears the players down to play against each other so often. For SANZAR it’s obviously fantastic because it boosts revenue.
“Just look at the crowd that was here tonight,” he said, referring to the 46 000-strong Loftus crowd.
“You’ll never achieve that with the derby games in Australia and New Zealand. The standard of their derbies isn’t nearly as intense as ours here in South Africa.”
Plumtree feels the South African players play each other into the ground during all these derby games, and by the time the international season starts, the players are either injured or burnt out.
26 Feb 2012, 16:42 pm
The call for an even contest on the ground, is driving all these penalties. And it’s misplaced. In league you have continuity of possession. If we make rugby possession a 50/50 thing in the tackle…..there is NO incentive to play running rugby. Kick the ball 60 metres into the opponents 22, and try for a turnover…..makes more sense.
26 Feb 2012, 16:42 pm
@ RL why do you dislike the sharks so much?!
26 Feb 2012, 17:08 pm
Good grief Scotland scores.
26 Feb 2012, 17:08 pm
w00p
26 Feb 2012, 17:13 pm
There’s a feeling amongst my pals that someone is going to be on the wrong end of a Scotland drubbing.
Young Hogg talked about big time too.
Good start, though the ball looked like it was made of lead going through those phases…
26 Feb 2012, 17:23 pm
I will not babble. I will not babble. I am not nervous. I am not nervous.
26 Feb 2012, 17:32 pm
Oooooh, that’s a sore one…
26 Feb 2012, 17:39 pm
Lol. Our pal RL has a bit of a thing for the Sharks. It’s to make up for the massive chip on his shoulder.
But aaaaaanyway, the Sharks have a very good record against all the SA teams, so we know it is not that.
What I can positively tell you is that even I am sick and tired of all the extra derby games that we now have in addition to the Currie Cup – all the boring bof-bash direct rugby – that I am in complete agreement with Plumtree.
Less is more. Familiarity breeds contempt. The mystique and sense of occasion of playing the Bulls and WP is being eroded, so much so that it’s now “just another game.” I much preferred it when it was just one game against the local foes, it was one chance and that was it until next year. There was so much more interest in those games as a result.
The Currie Cup is all local is lekker. But the whole point of Super rugby from the start was to test yourself against the foreign teams… and now you don’t even play them all!
I am with Plumtree on this one. We need to bin the boring derbies.
Oh and the Blues/Crusaders – the 2 best NZ teams – played to a half empty stadium, the Reds/Waratahs – the 2 best Aus teams – had a half empty stadium… Lions/Cheetahs was about a third full… crowds for all but the Bulls/Sharks/Stormers games are down in Super rugby… seems I’m not the only one suffering from Super rugby fatigue.
26 Feb 2012, 17:40 pm
This is me, not babbling.
26 Feb 2012, 17:43 pm
Nothing nicer than slo mo scot no 8
26 Feb 2012, 17:45 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-65:
^ that’s babbling
26 Feb 2012, 17:47 pm
come on les bleus
26 Feb 2012, 17:47 pm
I will not waffle nor babble I am not nervous when scotland play.
26 Feb 2012, 17:49 pm
Trans don’t be a killjoy man
26 Feb 2012, 17:57 pm
Ag Transie, now you’ve ruined the friendship….
26 Feb 2012, 17:57 pm
@Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-46:
I doubt it, the talent pool is quite different, and the rule changes brought in over the last few years make the situation on the field different too.
Anyway, reverting to type shouldn’t be that surprising in week one when plan A plainly isn’t working. For all I’m going to mock, the Bulls did win.
26 Feb 2012, 17:58 pm
Trans having us on.
Scot also wear bleu.
Babbling
26 Feb 2012, 18:32 pm
scotland giving the french a good workout here.
While cardiff have stunned the merseysiders over @ wembley
26 Feb 2012, 18:35 pm
Afternoon
I see this is the Six Nations Thread..
Scotland 17 France 23 Rats…come on Scotland
26 Feb 2012, 18:36 pm
Scotland will not survive the full clout of the tricolor turnaround
France toying with the prospect of whether to let rip and apply full scale intensity or just take the Jocks on in their middle of the road mediocre stride.
Check the difference between Barnes reffing and our saffa ref clowns Jonker and Lawrence yesterday. This game allowed to flow into multi phase momentum time and again without the frustrating interruptions of the shrill over purposed whistle, SH ref’s should take some lessons in showing how to provide the audience a decent flowing game of rugby unlike the paucity punctuated stop start refereeing fiasco’s we been witness to here in recent games.
26 Feb 2012, 18:44 pm
Jeebus, where’s my razor blades?
26 Feb 2012, 18:49 pm
Ag they still cute, even when they lose.
Bonny!
26 Feb 2012, 18:50 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-76:
Hi Jock
That was rather anoying…… Hate the French to get a win.
I saw you boys get ravished by the Welsh a couple of weeks ago, it was a painful 2nd half to watch!
The Scottish fans in Cardiff were great as normal. Dawn would have been in heaven at the high kilt count! Knobbly knees and chunky socks everywhere!
26 Feb 2012, 18:51 pm
This is me post-match.
“You bunch of kilt-wearing slackers!!”
26 Feb 2012, 18:55 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-79:
‘You sporran swinging softies’
26 Feb 2012, 19:01 pm
Well done Scotland, another glorious defeat.
When oh when is this try-line malaise going to be cured? It’s coming on near 10 years now…
26 Feb 2012, 19:02 pm
“I oughtta string youse up by your hairy balls!”
26 Feb 2012, 19:03 pm
Hey Carol, yeah Dawn said you were at the game. Not a bad performance from the Jocks then as well and although we’re not winning, everyone is having to work for their wins. Just got no depth to make the next level I think, but Wales are sure looking good for the title this year. Scotland have to win the last two games now. Don’t see why not really.
Still, not a bad weekend, Stormers won and England lost so 2 out of 3 ain’t bad
26 Feb 2012, 19:08 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-83:
Jock, I hate to say it, but I think it’s more likely to be another false dawn. Scotland somehow always of late dig up an expansive and aggressive gameplan against France and it works, playing them close and really forcing them to win, rather than Scotland lose.
But it never carries over to any of the other games.
26 Feb 2012, 19:08 pm
Scotland try gamely game after game after game, just that losing’s become such a monotonous habit by now that they forgot what winning feels like anymore and they simply lost any belief they can somehow miraculously ever possibly win
26 Feb 2012, 19:11 pm
Lol my third insult “comment publication failed”!
26 Feb 2012, 19:11 pm
@Tartan(Tartan)-81:
Well two against the Frogs isn’t too bad, and for a change the backs played well and largely out did the forwards. Slot Ansboro into that starting line up in place of Morrison and it’s a decent looking attack, although I’d imagine Rory Lamont will be out for a while.
And that scrum was horrendous during the 2nd half. This Euan Murray not playing on a Sunday schit is blerry annoying.
26 Feb 2012, 19:12 pm
Never fear Tartan.
They scored a try today.
26 Feb 2012, 19:19 pm
@Tartan(Tartan)-84:
Sure, I gotcha. And as Skop says, Scotland have forgotten how to win. If they had the attitude and mental strength starting with the england game that they should have won, then the belief might carry them through these type of games.
But as I said earlier, the depth is not really there and although we can field a good starting 15 that would give anyone a game, the replacement don’t always have the same quality as seen with that scum collapse in the 2nd half.
Still, again, some positives to come out of the game (lol ffs) although if we don’t beat Ireland and Italy, it’s going to be a miserable outlook and yes, another false dawn.
26 Feb 2012, 19:20 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-87:
A bit like the Scottish olympic athlete Eric Lidell.
26 Feb 2012, 19:24 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-87:
Yeah, but Scotland ran them close in Paris last time out too, and the backs were on form for that game and that game only that 6N!
Ansboro is a fairly decent upgrade when he’s in yeah, I’m getting a little tired of seeing the Edinburgh Enigma Nick De Luca at test level though – he’s clearly suited to club rugby, but the step up seems to trip him.
And Euan Murray… eish, should be used to it now, but it does cripple the scrum.
@Dawn(Dawn)-88:
Two even! But as said, form against France never seems to translate, le froggies always are capable of letting their opposition play. It’s a bit like that patch of time where if Scotland-England was at Murrayfield in the rain you didn’t bet on England, no matter what the form of the teams.
26 Feb 2012, 19:32 pm
Bad luck Scots But again another loss Not able to finish close to the line again.
26 Feb 2012, 19:32 pm
@David(David)-90:
I worked with a guy from the Western Isles of Scotland where a lot of this stuff goes on. His upbringing was that Sunday was only for reading the bible, even hanging washing on your line meant scandal.
26 Feb 2012, 19:34 pm
But they did score so an improvement
26 Feb 2012, 19:34 pm
Morning Jock where are you these days?
26 Feb 2012, 19:41 pm
scots need independence to get some backbone.nothing but a bunch of poeftaboys.
26 Feb 2012, 19:44 pm
@Tartan(Tartan)-91:
I thought De Luca did okay today as well, but yeah, it’s pretty much the first time.
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-95:
Howzit Pete. Still in Chad for another couple of months I reckon. Struggling with the internet here big time, so I don’t post so much these days as it’s too frustrating.
Kinda like watching Scotland
26 Feb 2012, 19:46 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-93:
It was also prevelent in South Africa 30/40 years ago when sport on sundays was also banned.
There was also a rugby player, I think it was, who refused to play in Sunday matches on tour.
26 Feb 2012, 19:50 pm
@CAPECRUSADER(CAPECRUSADER)-96:
Lol, a Cape Crusader talking about backbone.
Fark me, I’ve heard it all now.
26 Feb 2012, 19:54 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-99:
Yep Like growing up in cape town supporting the the Crusaders gives you back bone
Hey he can support who he wants but Scots poeftas and no backbone?
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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