Bulls were bullied in brutal contest
2 Apr 2012
MARK KEOHANE, in his weekly Business Day column, says the Super Rugby match at Newlands on Saturday evening was a great advertisement for South African rugby.
The Stormers and Bulls produced an electric contest, which was complemented by an electric atmosphere.
The Stormers were worthy winners and it would have been an injustice — on the night’s performance — had the Bulls even left the stadium with a share of the spoils, which looked the likely outcome with the teams at 17-17 after 77 minutes.
The Bulls were courageous in everything they did, but the cleverness in tactical approach did not match the bravery in the collisions and at the breakdown.
The Stormers bullied the Bulls in contact and the manner in which the final three points were fashioned — from a scrum penalty — was befitting the home team’s set-phase superiority. Young Stormers prop Steven Kitshoff, in particular, produced the effort of a veteran and emphasised his enormous potential.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee and forwards coach Matthew Proudfoot got the selections right from numbers one to eight and each one of the starting pack contributed to a night worth remembering if you just happened to be at Loftus on that awful afternoon some years back when the Bulls scored 75 points against the Stormers.
The Cape Town franchise have come a long way since their lowest point in Super Rugby history and the Bulls have maintained a consistency that makes them SA’s premier provincial and regional side.
The Stormers certainly are no longer the powder-puff brigade and no one can accuse them of being show ponies, although their attack certainly could do with a show pony or two. I had the Bulls to win by 10 because I backed their pack to do enough to give their impressive backs enough ammunition with which to fire.
I got it wrong and the Stormers got it very right because in this most brutal of contests the home team always held an advantage in every collision. Games of this nature are decided by who has an edge in every tackle or every attempt to break the tackle, and I was surprised at how decisively the Stormers dealt with the Bulls forwards-inspired attack.
The Bulls backs were not a factor because the forwards never built momentum and simply did not have any individual or collective ascendancy in determining gainline advantage.
Given the superiority in the contact and the quality of ball given to the backs, the Stormers still struggled to convince on attack and the backs, as a unit, were as impotent as the forwards were potent.
Ironically — and I use the word because he is seen as the glue that keeps the Stormers backs together — captain Jean de Villiers’s structured style is a restriction to the Stormers attack when once he was a revelation in all things creative.
De Villiers shoulders so much defensive responsibility that the natural attacking instincts of his game have suffered.
The Bulls — and most definitely former Stormer Johann Sadie — will learn from the experience at Newlands and they left with a valuable bonus point, while the Stormers got four quality league points.
In a sense it was a win-win for the South African challenge in the competition.
Our two best teams each got something for their efforts, but the Stormers maximised the advantage of playing at home.
Elsewhere, the Cheetahs produced the most inspired performance in their Super Rugby history to turn a 32-11 deficit after 25 minutes into a 47-38 win against the Hurricanes in Wellington, and complete their most successful Super Rugby overseas adventure.
The victory was their second in four tour matches and with a bit of good fortune the Cheetahs could well have won all four matches overseas. They lost to the Brumbies in the last minute and had the chance to beat the Crusaders. It has been a brilliant month for the boys from Bloem, more so because they left SA after taking 50 points from the Bulls in Bloemfontein.
The Cheetahs’ win was also another reminder that to be successful in Super Rugby you need a pack with grunt, as much as you need gifted game breakers. The Canes were feeble up front and the Cheetahs were colossal in the last hour of the match. It proved to be the difference in a fantastic match.
The Sharks continue to battle with the search for an imposing back five in their pack but they did well to beat a confident, if limited, Brumbies outfit in Canberra.
The Lions were again the disappointment of the weekend — and each week shows that they are not good enough. Coach John Mitchell has given them belief and structure and they are the team who best use the width of the park in attack, but they don’t possess the class of player to make all these ingredients a winning recipe.
284 Comments
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2 Apr 2012, 11:27 am
@capebull(capebull)-40:
No ways that Basson’s better than Aplon, maybe a tiny bit faster but Basson can’t tackle to save his life he’s a bangbroek that’s why he’s so quick, to get away.
2 Apr 2012, 11:27 am
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-43: Heyneke could make a coup by making Chilley his bok captain, he plays well enough. Bismark is good but his temper and line out throughs are not good enough
2 Apr 2012, 11:28 am
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-46: great crowd on saturday.was great to see the hundreds of coloured supporters sporting their blue bull tops.i just love democracy….and you and your so-called true stormers supporters need to get with the program.
2 Apr 2012, 11:29 am
@capebull(capebull)-52:
I tend to agree.
It will also have other positive effects from a public relations point-of-view if Chilliboy was made Bok captain.
2 Apr 2012, 11:31 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-51: I am saying on Saturday he was better, Geo did not get much chances
2 Apr 2012, 11:32 am
@CAPECRUSADER(CAPECRUSADER)-53:
You love blowing with the wind.
I don’t enjoy your disparaging comments towards the Bulls which are tainting the true Stormers supporters.
As for supporting New Zealand teams, I’m actually fine with that, people must support who they want.
But I do have a problem with “tweegesig” supporters who’ll support the Stormers while they’re winning (i.e. “jumping on the bandwagon”) but jump over to support the Blues or Crusaders if the Stormers aren’t winning.
In short – I detest fair-weather supporters in general.
2 Apr 2012, 11:32 am
Perspective is always so elusive in Cape Town whenever the Stormers show a hint of promise.
The Stormers won their home game against the Bulls by 3 points, and against a depleted Sharks team by 1 point. Well done on that.
Now let’s not start polishing the imaginary trophy just yet.
2 Apr 2012, 11:33 am
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-54: Not to mention Minster of Sport. Regardless of that I think he ‘s good enough
2 Apr 2012, 11:33 am
@capebull(capebull)-55:
Oh okay, my bad.
2 Apr 2012, 11:34 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-57:
And the bulls beat a reds team that was creamed by the force…..lets not jump on the wagon yet??????
2 Apr 2012, 11:35 am
“a great advertisement for Yappie rugby” ?!
kick
chase
kick
chase
kick
chase
kick
chase
kick
chase
- Final whistle -
yep, absolutely thrilling !
2 Apr 2012, 11:37 am
Stormers true test starts this weekend… Away from Newlands…
2 Apr 2012, 11:38 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-57:
We haven’t crowned our team champions anywhere during this season, yet you guys went through multiple rugby org@sms after beating a DEPLETED Reds outfit who got bossed by the lowly Force.
You’re the one dreaming, Captain Whoop-@ss
2 Apr 2012, 11:38 am
First opportunity to visit the site since Saturday.
Well done Stormers.
As expected it was brutal with not much in it.
Take a bow Eben, Siya!
Maar onthou.
Loftus wag.
2 Apr 2012, 11:40 am
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-56: what give you the impression that i am supporting the stormers?i am here to comment on rugby ,just like you and unfortunately the bulls aint one of my favourite teams,so yes i am glad that they lost.the stormers will be dealt with later in the competition by the gods of super rugby.the stormers don’t really bother me that much as trophies are not won in march.
2 Apr 2012, 11:40 am
@CAPECRUSADER(CAPECRUSADER)-53: You need to get a team of your own. All you do by turning up to Province matches and supporting the opposition is put more money into WP’s bank account. There is no discrimination at Newlands, all fans are welcome, no matter how stupid some (you) may be!
2 Apr 2012, 11:40 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-64:
No worries about Loftus….at that time we will send the B-team
2 Apr 2012, 11:40 am
@PrickBoks going South(PrickBoks going South)-61: like your posts
2 Apr 2012, 11:41 am
@Hoops(Hoops)-67: good one
2 Apr 2012, 11:41 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-57: The 3 points hardly illustrates the physical beatdown that the Pinkies received, one very dodgy try and another one completely against the run of play redeemed it for you on the scoreboard although I acknowledge this Stormers performance was nowhere near a complete one, just a much better one than the Pinkies. Regardless it doesn’t change the fact that we go overseas undefeated and will go North with some serious confidence.
And this pack is only going to get stronger and build more confidence. I shudder to think what we’ll do to teams when Kolisi, Etzebeth and Kitsoff are two years older?
Interesting to compare posts from you and another Bulls fan like Staal who actually forms largely objective Rugby opinions and hands out praise when praise is due in a respectful manner while you continue to be spiteful.
@CAPECRUSADER(CAPECRUSADER)-53: I’m not bothered by your support of the Crusaders, in fact I relish the fact that within the next couple of years I expect us to be a consistently better team and then watch the flock of you guys coming back because you will be exposed for what you really are- Glory supporters who just want to be on the winning side all the time, I bet you’re not vaguely upset when the Saders lose, but of course you reserve you right to support who ever you want and while I actively engage in it provicialism is pretty stupid to be honest.
On the other hand do you support the All Blacks? Seeing Capetonians waving the New Zealand flag at Newlands often makes me vomit into the back of my throat… That is just trying to be as offensive as possible and stir the pot.
2 Apr 2012, 11:42 am
@Hoops(Hoops)-67:
Yip. I see what you mean. No early celebrations whatsoever.
2 Apr 2012, 11:43 am
All the Bulls fans searching for that 1 “that will shut you up comment”, while the stormers fans a cautiously optimistic and reserved in their praise for their team. Gives good perspective.
2 Apr 2012, 11:44 am
@Hoops(Hoops)-67:
2 Apr 2012, 11:44 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-63: Interestinfg that the Reds team that started against Bulls dad 7 forwards that played last years final , they only missing 2 players of quality, Cooper, and Wing/ Digby , but they are useless.
2 Apr 2012, 11:45 am
I rather enjoyed Pietersen cutting down Spies like that, 25kg weight difference notwithstanding!
2 Apr 2012, 11:47 am
@Bagel(Bagel)-70:
“On the other hand do you support the All Blacks? Seeing Capetonians waving the New Zealand flag at Newlands often makes me vomit into the back of my throat… That is just trying to be as offensive as possible and stir the pot.”
Like booing kickers at Newlands or chanting “Stormers jou lekker ding” while a minute of silence is being had for young rugby players who tragically lost their lives?
2 Apr 2012, 11:47 am
@Bagel(Bagel)-70: It would be interesting to see these guys next year .May players shine year one, they battle to repeat that in year two….
Fleck was good example , the Reds team now.
If they make it next year they will be ok… but they are looking good
2 Apr 2012, 11:48 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-73: @capebull(capebull)-69:
glad you enjoyed it…unlike Tac…
The bulls helped us there and we will not forget that if the bulls needs points…
2 Apr 2012, 11:49 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-71: You misunderstand, by that point we’ll have secured the home semi and can simply send down some fringe players who will probably lose while gaining some valuable experience while the main manne remain at home prepping for the play-offs.
Much like the Bulls did in 2010(?).
(I don’t know when the Bulls game is so may well not have, but it’s a joke – Just like Hoops’s comment – note the wink face)
2 Apr 2012, 11:50 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-76: The booing is kommin, hate it too!
On the minute of silence, I think a lot of these stadium’s PA systems come from the 70′s, I could barely hear a word the announcers were saying….wouldn’t surprise me if half the place didn’t know what was going on
But you always get some pillocks making a racket during minute silences everywhere
2 Apr 2012, 11:51 am
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-54: Can’t see Chilli being selected ahead of the world’s best hooker. Bismark has been unbelievable for the past few rounds. I think his line-out issues have more to do with the serious lack of talent that he’s throwing the ball too – Anton Bresler, Sykes and co must be the least impressive line-out jumpers in the competition. Bismark will be absolutely fine throwing to guys like Bekker, Etsbeth or Kruger. I rate Chilli very highly as a person and player, but I think that a political selection would just be the next step in mismanaging the man’s career.
2 Apr 2012, 11:52 am
Far from the stormers (or their supporters) polishing any trophies…
i think this result is the best possible for our season… it’s a win for which we are very grateful… but although deserved the performance left lots of room for improvement….
so we’ll take the log points thank you very much… but won’t be lulled into complacency or arrogance… so feet still firmly on the ground taking it one game at a time…
remembering well that two of those games will be at the shark tank and the bull ring…
2 Apr 2012, 11:53 am
@Bagel(Bagel)-79:
Haha.
So you’re saying the Stormers will be so successful that they will be able to throw the game against the Bulls at Loftus, and then you get indignant when we accuse you guys of a lack of perspective.
Classic.
2 Apr 2012, 11:53 am
On current S15 form, the Bok team would look something like this:
1. Coenie
2. Bismarck
3. Werner
4. Eben
5. Kruger
6. Brussow
7. Coetzee
8. Spies
9. Hougaard
10. Goosen
11. Le Roux
12. Bosman
13. Ebersohn
14. JPP (I know he’s been playing 13)
15. Viljoen
16. Ralepele
17. Kitshoff
18. Bekker
19. Kolisi
20. McLoed
21. Lambie
22. Taute
I know this won’t be close to the Bok team, but after the first few rounds of the competition, that’s more or less how I rate them.
Not many will agree with Bosman and Ebersohn, but unfashionable as they may be, I reckon they’ve been our best 12 and 13 so far.
2 Apr 2012, 11:54 am
@capebull(capebull)-77: Point taken, I’ve used that exact line before as once you prove yourself you have to do it again except that people know about you…
But I think the difference with this Stormers pack (And I may sound extremely arrogant here) is that they are all outstanding players, barring Duane and Tian who I think are above-average (Yes I think Brok is outstanding atm). So whereby Cooper and Genia plus Habana in 2006 got smashed because they could be isolated individually you have to take on the entire Stormers pack in targeting them and forwards generally only get better and bigger with age, backs not so much. I mean Etzebeth and Kitshoff are 20!!! Siya is 21! Outrageous…
That said Arno Botha looks to be the business as well as Kruger so no doubt the Bulls will get better as well.
SA rugby looks awesome at the moment barring the Lions although I these injuries have been brutal.
2 Apr 2012, 11:55 am
must also say i like the look of this young tiaan meyer, scrummie for the lions…
reminds me a lot of garth wright….
hope he gets more game time…
2 Apr 2012, 11:57 am
@ufo(ufo)-86: Indeed, he looks sharp. We need another ten or so sharp looking players though.
2 Apr 2012, 11:59 am
@Bagel(Bagel)-70: it’s their democratic right to wave their flags.
2 Apr 2012, 12:00 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-83:
It was tongue in cheek yoh you’re one angry bunny this morning, was it something that happened over the weekend perhaps?
2 Apr 2012, 12:01 pm
@Atreides(Atreides)-80: Agreed I was there no-one had a clue what was happening,
Lets move to Cape Town Stadium
2 Apr 2012, 12:02 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-83: Did you not read the last part of my post? Largely a joke but actually…
I think we will secure a home semi and I form that opinion with perspective based on facts. We secure it last year and our form and players are better this year. The Australian conference is in tatters with the Reds and the Tahs nowhere to be seen and the New Zealand conference is incredibly competitive whereas we only have to really compete with the Bulls (I don’t rate the Sharks). We should beat the Force and the Reds and probably secure at least bonus points against the Saders and Landers on our tour to set up a good run in. Obviously away games against the Sharks and Cheetahs will be tough but I would still put us favourites. Only at Loftus would it be a dodgy call to punt us as favourites thus…
By securing the home semi we can throw the Loftus game. If by throw we mean rest our players, give fringe players a chance, and be sneaky in not allowing the Bulls who will probably be in the play-offs themselves, to get a confidence boost by beating us at home while denting ours at the same time.
Logic.
2 Apr 2012, 12:03 pm
@CAPECRUSADER(CAPECRUSADER)-88: Never said it wasn’t, means I have to tolerate, not like it?
It’s Hellen Zille’s right to call Black people from the Eastern Cape refugees, still pisses me off.
2 Apr 2012, 12:03 pm
So according to Gavin Rich the Stormers team who beat the Bulls by one penalty at home, is awesome.
So if that penalty had gone the other way, and the Bulls had drawn with the Stormers away from home, would that make the Bulls awesome then, and the Stormers poor?
These superlatives are simply thrown around way too quickly by passion blinded “journalists”.
The Stormers won a hard fought game, that could have gone either way, and the Bulls will probably do the same once they meet at Loftus.
Does that make the one team awesome and the other not? Clearly not.
I just have to wonder about these partisan scribes, and what they actually add to the game.
2 Apr 2012, 12:04 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-87:
yeah… injuries hit lions hard… tough situation to be in… i feel for the players, management and supporters…
silver lining is unearthing young talent…
meyer’s definitely one to watch though…
2 Apr 2012, 12:05 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-93:
LOL
You only take ”these partisan scribes” serious when they’re writing positives about the Bulls.
2 Apr 2012, 12:08 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-93: Hey, get over it already. your team didn’t win end of. console yourself with the fact that the stormers will not win the S15. i’m sure the Bulle will be snorting, come the return match.
2 Apr 2012, 12:09 pm
@Atreides(Atreides)-80:
yeah… we had no clue what was happening for that moment of silence… didn;t hear any announcement in the excitement of the build-up… think people were so primed for the game they just wanted it to start already… nothing malicious about it… but can see it sounded bad on tv…
i hate the booing too… wish they would ask for silence or get some campaign going to get the crowd to shut up during kicks…
like at croke park… pretty impressive how they go tjoepstil when whoever kicks…
2 Apr 2012, 12:10 pm
@HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-66: i don’t support their matches and will only go to newlands or any other saffa ground if my beloved crusaders and world champion all black team plays.in any case living in europe i don’t have much time attending games as i normally holiday or visit euro countries like france,germany etc ,etc in my spare time.hopefully i will be in south africa this year to welcome the world champs to african soil.
2 Apr 2012, 12:10 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-93:
You are a sad sad person indeed!
2 Apr 2012, 12:13 pm
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