Brittle Bulls edge Rebels

Brittle Bulls edge Rebels

4 May 2012

RYAN VREDE watched a fine attacking performance from the Bulls undermined by a poor defensive one in their 41-35 victory over the Rebels.

From a Bulls perspective this match should be remembered less for the five tries they scored and more for the awful defensive display that allowed the lowly Rebels to run in five of their own. They are undoubtedly South Africa’s best attacking force but if their defensive struggles continue they won’t mount a serious title challenge. A better side would have scored more often and indeed beaten them on the strength of their defensive performance tonight.

They had secured a four-try bonus point by half-time but, tellingly, had allowed the Rebels to do the same. Their gainline fight was weak, allowing the Rebels to consistently run at an unset defensive line. They scored almost every time they entered the Bulls’ red zone and the ease with which they did so should be deeply concerning.

Only a Morne Steyn penalty separated the sides at half-time (31-28). The Springboks have recruited Bulls defence coach John McFarland, who has built a reputation for forging his sides into formidable defensive units. But he’ll have a significant amount of work to do in the weeks ahead. This was expected to be their easiest assignment defensively, with the Waratahs, Chiefs and Highlanders in wait.

They will, however, draw confidence from their potency on attack. Their primary strike runners brutally exposed the Rebels’ own defensive vulnerabilities, bossing the tackle fight, which allowed them to control the flow and tempo of the match when they were in possession.

There will also be renewed optimism about Morne Steyn’s match-winning potential as a goal-kicker. The Springbok flyhalf has been inconsistent with his kicking to date, but tonight his rhythm seemed to have returned, evident by him landing a clutch of touchline conversions.

The match settled down in the second half then exploded into life going into the final quarter. When JJ Engelbrecht touched down and Steyn banked his fifth conversion of the evening you thought the Bulls would close the game out. But just three minutes later the Rebels cut their line once more in a move that culminated in Cooper Vuna grabbing his second try of the match. Kurtley Beale had matched Steyn with the boot and kicked the extras to set up a tense final 10 minutes with the Rebels trailing by three.

Steyn sunk a penalty with eight to play and the Bulls did enough to hold but they will be acutely aware of fundamental flaws that need to be addressed.


411 Comments

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  • 51.David: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:18 pm

    Bulls game looking really impressive, but the Rebels aren’t exactly a major threat.

  • 52.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:19 pm

    Good try, Rebels are playing well. I think THe Bulls will wear them in 2nd half!!

  • 53.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:20 pm

    Weak defence again!

  • 54.Atlas: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:20 pm

    Skrew the bonus point, just want the win

  • 55.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:20 pm

    Bulls defense has been poor so far, but looking sharp on attack against an equally leaky Rebels side.

  • 56.ufo: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:21 pm

    sheesh…

    what the hell’s going on here…?

    c’mon bulls…!!

  • 57.David: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:21 pm

    @race of tan(race of tan)-44:
    More importantly, who does he think he is? :lol:

  • 58.David: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:23 pm

    @Atlas(Atlas)-54:
    As a Stormer, I agree with you. :lol:
    Too late though. :evil:

  • 59.willievz: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:23 pm

    Guys I can’t watch the game but what is the verdict on

    Hougaard
    Morne
    JJ
    Loose trio

  • 60.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:24 pm

    Aish een vir my, een vir jou…

  • 61.ufo: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:24 pm

    That’s more like it…!!

  • 62.willievz: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:24 pm

    @Atlas(Atlas)-54: Well we got the bonus point now!

  • 63.SpiesIsWorthless: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:25 pm

    Spoes having a shocker in defense.

  • 64.Stawm: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:26 pm

    @Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-16:

    Hey prefect UFO – any comments on this post? You know, like you normally do?

  • 65.SpiesIsWorthless: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:27 pm

    @willievz(willievz)-59: Hougaard lethal as always. Brilliant service. Steyn’s distrubtion and goalkicking’s been great. Havent really noticed JJ. Potgieter and Stander doing well to account for the absense of you know who…

  • 66.David: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:27 pm

    Damn, the Rebels courage in going for 7 deserved that.

  • 67.wpstormerbok: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:28 pm

    Bulls forgot to do tackling drills this week?

  • 68.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:28 pm

    The Bulls are playing into the Rebels hands. They need to slow this game down a bit. Mind as long as the Bulls stay one try ahead!!

  • 69.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:28 pm

    8 tries in the first half :shock:

  • 70.ufo: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:29 pm

    Sheesh…

    Bulls…?

    Gotta get it together in defense…!!

  • 71.Atlas: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:29 pm

    @David(David)-58: @willievz(willievz)-62:
    Now both has a bonus point
    This sucks

  • 72.David: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:31 pm

    @willievz(willievz)-59:
    Morne actually taking charge.
    Hougaard giving a polished 9 performance.
    Pottie and Stander good on attack but with Spies poor on defence.

  • 73.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:31 pm

    12 missed tackles by the Bulls!

  • 74.willievz: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:31 pm

    @Atlas(Atlas)-71: Sounds more like a basketball game than a rugby game!

  • 75.Craven: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:32 pm

    Isn’t the Bulls’ defensive coach now also the Bok defensive coach??

  • 76.Atlas: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:33 pm

    @willievz(willievz)-59: Hougie and Morné are having a cracker. So Potties and CJ. Our verdediging is just kak.

  • 77.Bokhoring: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:35 pm

    @Craven(Craven)-75: The players seem to take the loss of the coach really hard

  • 78.Atlas: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:36 pm

    @willievz(willievz)-74: It’s a good running game. We just can’t defend@David(David)-72: touche

  • 79.Loftus: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:36 pm

    Bulls’ defence is simply shocking. Maybe someone can tell them now that the Rebels are exploiting gaps around the fringes at will. With this rookie referee the Bulls will have to establish a 14 point lead and keep it, for a change. This game can go either way now if the Bulls don’t start to defend and stop giving away the silliest of penalties. Play like this on the rest of the tour and we won’t win a single game.

  • 80.Stawm: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:36 pm

    Win or lose, at least the Bulls are scoring tries, and that is what rugby is about. Only that.

    Isnt that right HeavansGayme?

  • 81.Bokhoring: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:37 pm

    The Bulls can’t carry on with this one try for me, one try for you game. The travel fatigue will catch up with them in the last 20

  • 82.Atlas: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:38 pm

    Now it’s our time.

  • 83.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:41 pm

    Bulls need to slow this game down alot. I guess this is what FDP was good at but Hougie will learn.
    However what a great game of rugby to watch!!

  • 84.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:41 pm

    Wow first time I have seen Chilli in this game! Was he hiding in Spies’s pocket?

  • 85.ufo: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:44 pm

    Gotta give credit though…

    Rebels playing very well…

    Bulls must wake up…!

  • 86.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:44 pm

    THe Rebels are going to take this game if the Bulls don’t take control

  • 87.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:44 pm

    Both teams are showing considerable disrespect towards the concept of defensive precision.

  • 88.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:44 pm

    Man, now we have props taking the gap and running 40 meters! Bulls seem intent to lose this one…

  • 89.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:45 pm

    Just had a chance to check the score! Are the Bulls playing badly or are the Rebels playing out of their socks? This is really surprising that the Rebels have scored a four try bonus point.

  • 90.ufo: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:45 pm

    @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-87:

    :lol:

  • 91.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:45 pm

    Potskieter gone

  • 92.David: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:46 pm

    Potgieter off injured.

  • 93.greentea: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:47 pm

    Bulls making the Rebels look good.

  • 94.Craven: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:47 pm

    @Bokhoring(Bokhoring)-77: hehehehe

    They also sucked in defending agaisnt the Brumbies, so this is not a once off thing. Either the Bully boys suck at the tackling, or their coach is not all that.

  • 95.ufo: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:48 pm

    @Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-89:

    bit of both bill…

    bulls defending with ‘disrespect’ as WPTID says… and rebels playing with a lot of confidence…

    who’da thunk…?

  • 96.greentea: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:48 pm

    Isn’t this about the time the Bulls start making eye gouging accusations.

  • 97.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:48 pm

    Rebels gaining meters at will around the fringes, defence non existant.

  • 98.greentea: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:50 pm

    C’mon Rebels.

  • 99.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:51 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-95:

    I had the Bulls by a country mile…

  • 100.ufo: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 12:52 pm

    @Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-99:

    hehehe…

    didn’t everybody…

    ‘cept the rebels mums… :lol:

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