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, 19:24 pm
Pee Wee: where does this comment fit in the context of what we’re talking about here?
2 Apr 2012, 19:27 pm
15. Taute
14. Aplon
13. De Jong
12. Steyn
11. Hougaard (looked ordinary over the weekend but is class)
10. Goosen, jou doring
9. Pretorius
8. Coetsee (Spies getting there)
7. Alberts
6. Brussouw (Kolisi on his heels)
5. Bekker (Kruger close 2nd but had to go with the combo)
4. Etzebeth
3. Cilliers
2. Ralepelle (If he was white I’d still select him ahead of Bissy)
1. Oosthuizen (Kitshoff in the mix)
2 Apr 2012, 19:30 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-195: @Hondo(Hondo)-198:
The Cheetahs backs have always been very good. They don’t have any choice but to play with their backs since their forwards can’t seem to dominate their opposition even though they usually have very good front row players as well as good loose forwards. I guess their lack of quality locks are their down fall.
In any case, they return to SA with 11 points out of a possible 20. A very good return indeed. They set the bar quite high for teams like the Pink Bulls and the Sharks when they go overseas. That amount of points are about par for Stormers the last few years on tour.
“Strauss is more of a leader from the front and a better hooker and better scrumming technique,…”
…and then we also know that Bissie is not that great with his throwing in the line outs.
So, if Strauss is better than him on the basics of hooker play and Chilliboy is outplaying him currently, doesn’t that make Bissie the 3rd best hooker in the country at the moment? If you then go ahead and select the 3rd best hooker to reward him for having to play behind JS the last few years, doesn’t that make Bissie a quota?
@Robzim(Robzim)-196:
Nick Groom, yes.
I believe kicking is a much easier skill to learn than an abrasive attitude.
2 Apr 2012, 19:30 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-200:
I think the lesser teams will get their chance tomorrow.
Monday is usually and deservedly so for the big boys, Tuesday for the mid table strugglers like the Sharks, Wednesday for the Lions and Thursday and Friday for the top guns again.
The Cheetahs might get a bonus article this week though, so maybe they will feature Tuesday and Wednesday.
2 Apr 2012, 19:38 pm
Does PinkBull give you Wiiiiiiiins….?
2 Apr 2012, 19:46 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-204:
Hahahaha.
Really funny.
2 Apr 2012, 19:55 pm
@nama1(nama1)-206:
Funniest man in Durbanville!!
2 Apr 2012, 19:57 pm
@carol(carol)-207: Hi Carol, had any snow yet?
Seems weather will change from sublime to su-sht
2 Apr 2012, 19:59 pm
“Lesser teams”!!!!!!!
Now you gonna make him mal.
2 Apr 2012, 19:59 pm
@carol(carol)-207: So your Bulls team got a hiding on Saturday? you should support the Stormers
2 Apr 2012, 20:01 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-204: Not that any of these articles matter, are read, or are of any quality….
You could just do a headline like…
“Luke signs for the Bulls….” Discuss..
And then open the comments box
2 Apr 2012, 20:03 pm
@JL1(JL1)-208:
Well if we have snow I now have a new JCB Loadall on the farm so at least we can dig our way out this time!!
@JL1(JL1)-210:
Didn’t the Bulls look wonderful in pink? I think it was a great move. Spies wore it particularly confidently I thought!!
Winning/loosing…hey ho, it is just a game!!
2 Apr 2012, 20:04 pm
@blue and white stripes(blue and white stripes)-202: Terrible team, absolute terrible
No wonder you support the Sharks, seems you know sweet fnny all of rugby
2 Apr 2012, 20:07 pm
@carol(carol)-212: Hey, Pommie check your spelling, or do like a loose Spies?
I had to dim my brightness on my 55inch LED 3D TV, it was so pink
2 Apr 2012, 20:09 pm
@carol(carol)-212: It is just a game? Very English
2 Apr 2012, 20:12 pm
Vol dinge vanaand
2 Apr 2012, 20:15 pm
@JL1(JL1)-214:
My spelling is very slapdash…..and the Bulls were VERY bright!
Thinking I should mow the grass but you know what….I can’t be arsed!
Looks like you have got your feet up tonight and are in the mood for trouble!!
2 Apr 2012, 20:19 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-209: Lol Dawn, why would that comment make me mal? Rob is clearly looking for a fish to bite and besides, it aint true!
2 Apr 2012, 20:24 pm
@Robzim 204 – lmfao! thats funny, but so true!
2 Apr 2012, 20:30 pm
@JL1(JL1)-213:
The team I chose is based on in depth examination of each game played throughout this current season.
List your team and let’s see if you in actual fact know anything about the game.
2 Apr 2012, 20:30 pm
D@mn, now I have to wait till wednesday for a lions thread. Luv those lions.
2 Apr 2012, 20:31 pm
My bok picks:
1. Beast
2. Biz
3. Coenie (no one sticking their hand up at 3)
4. Estebeth
5. Bekker
6. Brusouw
7. Burger
8. Alberts
9. Sarel
10. Goosen (he is the general we have been looking for)
11. Le Roux
12. Steyn
13. Fourie (JDJ is close, but has not been scoring thanks to his inside partner)
14. Hougaard (a much better player with a little space)
15. Viljoen
Its strange that we have so many quality looseheads compared to tightheads
2 Apr 2012, 20:34 pm
Stormers sitting nice and pretty. No other team has had so many home games so what a dream of a draw they have had… let’s wait a little first before we make sweeping statements!
Lack of bonus points may yet bite… hard!
2 Apr 2012, 20:34 pm
55 inch LED TV?
How completely awesome are you?
Living the dream I’m sure.
2 Apr 2012, 20:36 pm
1-Desre Greyling
2-Cillygirl
3-Wendy Kruger
4-Phyllis v d Merwe
5-Jenny Kruger
6-Cindy Stander
7-Jacky Potgieter
8-Petro Spies
9-Francis Hougaard
10-Molly Steyn
11-Blommetjie Basson
12-Winny Olivier
13-Johanna Sadie
14-Aikona Ndungane
15-Zelda Kirchner
2 Apr 2012, 20:38 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-223:
Nice home games to start off with but a heavy tour schedule. Crusaders in Christchurch must be the most difficult game to win in the competition.
2 Apr 2012, 20:41 pm
@wp_boytjie(wp_boytjie)-226: I have watched my team play the Crusaders in Chch before. Shall we say they were “out-psyched” even before the kick off. That’s how intimidating the venue but mostly the calibre of the opposition are.
Still, can’t think of a better time to play them. They don’t look as hot this year.
This S15 format is a complete joke. The Sharks don’t even play the Crusaders this year!
2 Apr 2012, 20:45 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-224: Seems I gt a bite, thank you for not disappointing me
2 Apr 2012, 20:47 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-227:
Also not so fond of the format. The Australian conference is much weaker than ours or the Kiwi’s. I look at sides like the Force and Rebels , jeez even Griquas’s Currie Cup team in Kimberly would give them a good go.
Sharks in 2006 lost to the Saders in Christchurch to a last minute Carter drop , that’s the closest ive seen a SA side win there of what I can remember. I’m not feeling too confident against them after last year , we saved two of our worst performances for them.
2 Apr 2012, 20:49 pm
@garth(garth)-222: Garth a good team way better than Black and Whites team
2 Apr 2012, 20:52 pm
@wp_boytjie(wp_boytjie)-229: Rather surprisingly, the Lions have beaten the Crusaders in NZ! 32-31 in Nelson in 2001.
Even more surprisingly, as this was when they couldn’t buy a win at home not to mention away, the Bulls as N Tvl are the only SA team to have beaten the Crusaders in Christchurch. They won 34-18 in 1996, but don’t forget this was the year the Crusaders finished stone last!
@JL1(JL1)-230: if you look again you will see it is “Blue and White Stripes”. How embarrassing.
2 Apr 2012, 20:54 pm
What an amazing record the Crusaders have! To be able to say they have lost only 2 games at homes since 1996 to a South African team is just incredible.
2 Apr 2012, 20:55 pm
Yoh in 1996 the Sharks smoked the Crusaders 58-26! The Lions smoked them 55-23 that year too.
2 Apr 2012, 20:57 pm
@wp_boytjie(wp_boytjie)-229: oh and in 1997 the Sharks drew 26-26 with the Crusaders in Christchurch, and the Stormers as WP drew there 16-16 in 1996.
2 Apr 2012, 20:58 pm
I think JL1 is a few floats short of a parade, a few sandwiches short of a picnic, the lights are on but no-one home and finally……..a few chocolates short of a Easter hamper.
2 Apr 2012, 21:00 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-204: ‘mid-table strugglers’
2 Apr 2012, 21:02 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-231: Haha, blue and white, Eish even more tragic, how come he selects some Sharks in that team of his?
2 Apr 2012, 21:03 pm
@Jeraldjay(Jeraldjay)-235: Ah, at least an opportunity to use all of those in a comment, you life is now complete
2 Apr 2012, 21:05 pm
@JL1(JL1)-238:
Nothing personal, just having a laugh.
2 Apr 2012, 21:08 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-234:
Wow you know your story. Yeah thinking back now in the mid 90′s the Blues were the New Zealand powerhouse team. They gave us a huge beating you probably remember that score too ? Jonah Lomu and that other Fijian wing Joeli Vidiri . eish!!!
2 Apr 2012, 21:09 pm
#225 wp boytjie very funny but you must have been referring to the 2nd raters first half performance where they were on top,and the only reason for that is because our two loosies potgeiter and stander and van der merwe were totally out of it.There was a HUGE improvement from them in the 2nd half and the bulls with 14 men for a while COMPLETELY dominated every facet of the play.The reasons are clear why we did not win the bulls never played as a team for 80 minutes, morne did not kick well and i do not slating referees but AGAIN joubert blew the bulls out of the game,even that last penalty the 2ndraters got according to commentator robbie kempson said it should have been a penalty for the bulls as malherbe scrummed ilegally against greyling,his words not mine.Joubert has really got it in for the bulls and i do not know why,have the bulls pissed him off somehow it is getting bad.
2 Apr 2012, 21:10 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-236: Let’s analyse that for a second:
Stormers table finishes:
96 – 11th
97 – DID NOT QUALIFY!
98 – 9th
99 – 2nd
00 – 5th
01 – 7th
02 – 7th
03 – 9th
04 – 3rd
05 – 9th
06 – 11th
07 – 10th
08 – 5th
09 – 10th
10 – 2nd
11 – 2nd
Average – 7th (when they qualified lol!)
Looks rather “mid table” to me
Can’t argue with facts
Only a matter of time before the aberration is over and true form is restored
2 Apr 2012, 21:11 pm
@wp_boytjie(wp_boytjie)-240: Nah, this is a good website that shows all the results!
http://www.lassen.co.nz/s14tab.php
2 Apr 2012, 21:15 pm
You’d swear most Stormers fans either have short memories or are toddlers, the way they carry on. Or perhaps they have conveniently “forgotten” their rather mediocre history?
Lol, with that history lesson I’m out, squabble nice!
2 Apr 2012, 21:16 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-231:
> Even more surprisingly, as this was when they couldn’t buy a win at home not to mention away, the Bulls as N Tvl are the only SA team to have beaten the Crusaders in Christchurch. They won 34-18 in 1996
They did a bit better in 1996, Northern Transvaal lost the away semi final against the eventual S12 winner Auckland
2 Apr 2012, 21:18 pm
@Jeraldjay(Jeraldjay)-239: Then we are on the same wave length
2 Apr 2012, 21:20 pm
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-245: True, the Bulls made the semi, and the Sharks made the final that year.
The Bulls’ woes commenced the very next year:
97 – 8th
98 – 11th
99 – 12th
00 – 11th
01 – 12th
02 – 12th
They won a total of 10 games in these 6 years!
2 Apr 2012, 21:24 pm
@blueboy(blueboy)-241:
Oh cheer up Drama Queen , life goes on.
2 Apr 2012, 21:29 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-247:
> They won a total of 10 games in these 6 years!
Yes, the professional era hit them without money to pay players’ salaries, that’s why a lot of players went to Louis Luyt’s Transvaal.
NTRU added the Northern stands and with the high inerest rates at the time, rather “borrowed” the money by selling season’s tickets and “losies” for a fixed discounted price for a few years in advance, instead of going to the bank, this meant they had a paid new stand but no money
They only turned it around when the CEO (I think his name was Stefan Pretorius?) hired Heyneke
2 Apr 2012, 21:30 pm
@wp_boytjie(wp_boytjie)-248: Hahaha, his life sucks right now, his life lost, got sucker punched, his lie life did not win against the Stormers
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