Excellent Anscombe buries Bulls

Excellent Anscombe buries Bulls

10 Mar 2012

RYAN VREDE reports on the match where Gareth Anscombe scored all the Blues’ points in a 29-23 victory over the Bulls at Loftus.

Where has this kid been? The Blues have kept faith with the mediocre Michael Hobbs (unavailable tonight) but the 20-year-old Anscombe has surely ousted him through this accomplished, all-round performance. His goalkicking was particularly impressive, outshining Morne Steyn, whose two from six return – the majority of those easy shots – was out of character.

The Bulls just never settled into a distinctive pattern despite bossing possession, territory and the set phases. Credit to the Blues, who, after building a 12-point lead at half-time, played intelligently and forced the Bulls into expansive attacks. The Blues held firm in defence, waiting for runners to isolate themselves then stifling the recycle or forcing infringements at the breakdown.

The Bulls started in the worst possible fashion, conceding a try three minutes into the contest when Anscombe snatched a loose ball and sprinted 50m to score and convert.

However, the Bulls rebounded well, profiting from a man advantage after Ali Williams had been binned with Pierre Spies rounding off a slick blindside move. The Bulls built immense pressure thereafter but butchered a number of scoring opportunities in the Blues’ red zone. They will lament this period when they review the match.

Steyn had missed the earlier conversion attempt then sent an easy shot wide to further compound the Bulls’ struggles. He traded penalties with Anscombe thereafter, but the latter was over the whitewash again just before the break, after a Bulls move broke down well upfield. Anscombe kicked the conversion to give the Blues a commanding 20-8 lead at the break.

Steyn banked three but Anscombe kicked a beauty from the touchline to keep the Blues’ tally ticking over. And the Blues got better as the match progressed, exhibiting none of the tactical naivety that had marked their previous defeats. They punched up through phases and Anscombe continued his kicking masterclass, adding his fourth penalty of the evening to take his side 15 points ahead.

With seven minutes to go the Bulls set up a tense finish, Bjorn Basson scoring. But Steyn pushed his effort wide and despite a late try from Basson the Bulls never threatened to steal the points.

Their limitations when asked to chase a game were brutally exposed tonight. Their impotence is concerning but there is time to remedy their shortcomings in this regard.


482 Comments

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  • 1.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 18:39 pm

    Young Bull Dragons

  • 2.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 18:56 pm

    go the blues!

  • 3.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 18:57 pm

    i hope the Scots give the irish a hiding.

  • 4.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 18:59 pm

    @Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-2: The Blues or the guys in blue?

  • 5.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:01 pm

    die blues,nie die bulle nie.

  • 6.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:08 pm

    @Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-5: In daai geval hoop ek nie jy bly of werk nog in SA nie? I’m not there but I support ALL our teams. Sies man!

  • 7.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:10 pm

    @Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-5: And let me guess, you live in or very close to Pretoria?

  • 8.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:10 pm

    ek is n sharks onderstuener.niks so mooi soos pretoria na die bulle verloor het nie.ek woon en werk in sa.

  • 9.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:11 pm

    @Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-8: Sad indeed.

  • 10.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:12 pm

    @Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-8: Construction?

  • 11.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:12 pm

    waar woon jy kleuter?

  • 12.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:13 pm

    Wait till he start telling you about his Indian girlfriend.

  • 13.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:13 pm

    Ontario, Canada

  • 14.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:13 pm

    Joel Stransky you are a bitter old fool, and a pathetic commentator for South African teams.

    By the way, a post-2007 Bulls team is not the same without Stegmann.

  • 15.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:13 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-12: ;-)

  • 16.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:14 pm

    @Kleuter(Kleuter)-13:

    WHOO!! moet seker moer koud wees daarso ou pel.
    Wel Ek is tans in Steelpoort en dis amper elke dag bo 40 grade celcius hierso, so ;)

  • 17.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:15 pm

    geniet jy kanada kleuter?hoe is die mense?

  • 18.IAAS: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:16 pm

    @Kleuter(Kleuter)-15:

    He shouted for the Canes against the Stormers as well. He’s not worth the PT.

  • 19.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:17 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-16: Redelik koud, maar eintlik ‘n heel matige winter gehad.
    @Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-17: @Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-17: Geniet dit ja. Mense is nice oor die algemeen. Kry ook maar jou damduikers,

  • 20.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:17 pm

    iaas i support any side that will benefit the sharks if they win.

  • 21.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:19 pm

    kleuter elke plek het maar sy goed en sleg,eks net bly jy geniet dit daar.dis n grot besluit en aanpassing wat nie almal kan reg kry nie.

  • 22.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:20 pm

    pierre just told morne “los the running rugby kak, skop hom”

  • 23.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:21 pm

    Jaaaa wat, Stevie, Mr. “he who controls bla bla bla”…rubbish penalty. These refs should really get a shakeup. For heavens sake.

  • 24.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:21 pm

    someone is going to get a moerse pak today

  • 25.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:22 pm

    hmm. I backed the bulls. I’ve yet to pick a crusaders or blues game correctly…

  • 26.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:23 pm

    at long last the vulnerabilities of the bulls will be exposed. these kiwis care nothing of reputations

  • 27.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:23 pm

    @Wezwp(Wezwp)-24:

    your laaitie been in your whisky cabinet again?

  • 28.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:25 pm

    @Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-21: Weet ja. Mis baie dinge in SA, maar eks bly ek het dit gedoen.

  • 29.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:25 pm

    @Wezwp(Wezwp)-26:

    Dont be jealous sakkie, any team would struggle without two of their star players of the calibre of Stegmann and Hougaard.

  • 30.Guns: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:26 pm

    Bulls Get out of Jail Free card, Ali Williams gets the yellow..

  • 31.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:27 pm

    What a question is that?

  • 32.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:27 pm

    kleuter net sos daar die dinge is wat jy mis is daar ook die dinge wat jy nie mis nie.ek het nie n probleem met expats nie tensy hulle sa badmouth.

  • 33.Guns: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:28 pm

    Ball went back. Try.

  • 34.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:29 pm

    @Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-32: Stem

  • 35.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:29 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-29: The big loss was Stegman, Vermaak is more than a capable sub for this game..

  • 36.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:30 pm

    injuries only reveals a teams’s depth or lack thereof.

  • 37.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:31 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-29: the stormers lost schalk and he’s more important than hougie and stegman put together.

  • 38.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:32 pm

    Blues will run out of steam quick sharp

  • 39.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:33 pm

    kaptein sweatband is on fire vanaand!

  • 40.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:34 pm

    @weakoma(weakoma)-35:

    CJ is new, Im just worried about his pacing, he will be super tired by the final quarter.

    @Wezwp(Wezwp)-37:

    ja-ja…

  • 41.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:34 pm

    no try, short and knock on surely. BUT IT’S TMO TIME!

  • 42.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:35 pm

    Liar!

  • 43.Guns: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:35 pm

    Lost back again but clearly short.

  • 44.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:35 pm

    Ha ha, gotta love the communication ballsups between TMOs and refs…

  • 45.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:36 pm

    that first try of the bulls so was a knock on before the try occurred.

  • 46.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:37 pm

    i told tacitus about this daniel pienaar boy, he loses the ball in contact quite a bit.

  • 47.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:37 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-39:

    Captain Elastoplast, get it right ;)

  • 48.Guns: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:38 pm

    Since when were u allot to grab a players head and throw it into the ground? Mealamu..

  • 49.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:38 pm

    Kirchner needs to stop with his semi-goosestep, it only breaks his momentumn.

  • 50.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 19:41 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-47:
    He’s clearly Captain Rambo

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