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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  • 151.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:32 pm

    Early hit-in by Blues, this is quite a poor reffing display. He rewards them

  • 152.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:33 pm

    @ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-146: even with steggies there where will the creativity come from?

  • 153.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:33 pm

    @ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-146:
    yeah they are missing him skoppie but the whole team is playing kak

  • 154.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:34 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-151: i think he was unbiased

  • 155.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:34 pm

    @ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-146:

    Indeed.
    But with better kicking we could have been within striking distance, (and better resets)

  • 156.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:34 pm

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-147: Now that is one of the most profound statements ever. Sharks relied on Lambie for 2 weeks, and he failed. What happened? Sharks lost. You see banana, if you miss kicks, you might just lose.

  • 157.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:34 pm

    @Wezwp(Wezwp)-150:

    I thought mauls qualified as “Bulls running rugby”

  • 158.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:35 pm

    @Wezwp(Wezwp)-154:

    Of course you do hahaha.

  • 159.cab: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:35 pm

    agmefok, i thought welshie had given up the bottle, what game he blowing?

    check that mealamu climb into that first scrum with the new frontrow on, great player, bulls gotta step up tempo otherwise blues will wind this down. play some liefling ekse ffs..

  • 160.Dwarslat: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:35 pm

    Die Flou Nulle moet miskien maar liewers in hul pienk pajamas begin speel.

  • 161.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:35 pm

    @Kleuter(Kleuter)-156:

    :lol:

  • 162.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:35 pm

    Walsch has a hard-on. He is so happy now.

  • 163.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:36 pm

    @Kleuter(Kleuter)-156: au contraire, the Sharks know how to score tries at least.

  • 164.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:36 pm

    Always have, always will.

  • 165.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:36 pm

    @Tartan(Tartan)-157:
    Only if it does not get stolen by the opposition :)

  • 166.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:37 pm

    The Bulletjies on da udder hand don’t know n ander way to play.

  • 167.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:37 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-161: Was expecting something like this. Too many young guys not able to put last week’s success out of their minds.

  • 168.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:38 pm

    told tac about this potgieter boytie….knock-on specialist…

    morne is playing kak today…put in fouche ludekak

  • 169.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:38 pm

    Bulls finding every way possible to lose this game
    poor performance

  • 170.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:38 pm

    Don’t worry bulls fans it will only do Sa rugby a world of good. It just means the stormers wil take their rightful throne as the best rugby team in the southern hemisphere. I predict another stormers/highlanders semi at newlands like in 1999 when braam was putting away the penalties, slaptjip and breyton running in the tries, corne pulverising the opposition…….ok ok you know what i mean…………………..stormers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 171.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:40 pm

    @Wezwp(Wezwp)-170: are you pissed? Calm down dude.

  • 172.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:40 pm

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-163: Really my French connection man? How many? You scored 1 in 2 games. Today you scored against Lions at home. But leave it there, you are obviously in the mood to brag a bit after today. Your mouth was tjoepstil for 2 weeks, now you kraai.
    Congrats on your team.

  • 173.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:40 pm

    @Kleuter(Kleuter)-167:

    Perhaps, but losing 2 star players together with many injuries to other usuals, and a poor kicking display makes for what we see (not to mention some reffing blindness, the penalty on CJ should have gone the other way, missing hightackles and huge offsides from both sides at times)

  • 174.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:41 pm

    their rightful throne as the best rugby team in the southern hemisphere.

    The Stormers?

    :lol: :lol: :lol:

  • 175.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:41 pm

    @Wezwp(Wezwp)-170: Excuse me for not taking your prediction seriously.

  • 176.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:41 pm

    @Wezwp(Wezwp)-170: nope but i’ll piss on the bulls and your grave.

  • 177.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:41 pm

    @Kleuter(Kleuter)-172: your turn to cry is yet to come. Perhaps in 10 mins?

  • 178.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:42 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-173: True. This will be a tough year. Top 6 and I’ll be happy.

  • 179.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:43 pm

    Ahhh the good old Bulls maul, reminds me of a beautifully coordinated heavy infantry rolling phalanx of the Hellenistic Period.

  • 180.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:43 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Anairetes agilis)-173: stop mentioning who you lost, in a long competition like this you need strong back up. you dont see the crusaders complaining about losing mccaw and carter

  • 181.Clanerk: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:43 pm

    @Kleuter(Kleuter)-172: Typical Shark behavior. Nogal on a thread that has fokkol to do with the Sharks, it’s how they roll.

  • 182.IAAS: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:43 pm

    Too little too late

  • 183.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:43 pm

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-177: Cry? Why? It’s not the end of the world. But your world wont get any better soon. Sharks will be nowhere again this year. And you lost John Smit only.

  • 184.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:43 pm

    Toldja

    Blues will run out of steam

  • 185.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:44 pm

    ‘n soen vir a drie.

  • 186.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:44 pm

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-171: nope but ill piss on the bulls grave as well as yours.

  • 187.Tartan: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:44 pm

    …….. That’s not Steyn, it’s an imposter.

  • 188.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:45 pm

    @Clanerk(Clanerk)-181: Wooden spoon use to be an okay oke. Think he lost his marbles along the way. Sourpussy now.

  • 189.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:45 pm

    @Kleuter(Kleuter)-183: as if that is meant to make me think. You sound like a teenager. :roll:

  • 190.Michael: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:45 pm

    Damn Bulls and Waraths have cost me points.

  • 191.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:45 pm

    @Kleuter(Kleuter)-178:

    Actually, I think like last year, the Bulls will become more rampant as the season progresses, but for slightly different reasons, these youngsters will learn fast, AND we have a nice gap in the SR season where the youngsters will be able to reflect a bit and some smaller games and test experience, back to the SR and we will be steaming ahead.

  • 192.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:45 pm

    the bues must just hold the bulls out to deny them the bonus point……and dream on hugh bladen a victory is beyond them.

  • 193.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:45 pm

    @Wezwp(Wezwp)-186: bizarre post.

  • 194.cab: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:47 pm

    yessus tuis met melktert en koeksisters, what happens on tour?

  • 195.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:48 pm

    @wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-193: my posts are not for the faint hearted, if you cant take the heat get out the kitchen.this is stormers country mate

  • 196.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:48 pm

    Jeez, Zane really being uncontrolled in his enthusiasm to look useful.

  • 197.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:48 pm

    Wez.

    BLADEN IS NOT COMMENTATING

  • 198.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:49 pm

    bulle fairweather fans going home :-)

  • 199.Clanerk: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:49 pm

    @Wezwp(Wezwp)-186: A bottle too far?

  • 200.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2012, 20:49 pm

    So after all that the Bulls are only 2 points ahead of the Sharks on the log…

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