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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  • 201.ryecatcher: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:16 pm

    Well played Bulls.Could & should have won by far more,
    but first time tackling by loosies
    and backline centres almost non existent.
    Conference points system is ludicrous.Stormers and Bulls
    10 points more than an Oz..side yet one of them will not make
    it to finals

  • 202.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:17 pm

    @cane(cane)-189:
    only 13 plus…?…

    honestly cane…. must you always be so insulting..?…

    8)

  • 203.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:17 pm

    @cane(cane)-200:

    Must be Keo TV slowing things down ;)

  • 204.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:19 pm

    I always look forward to Tac’s unbiased take on a Bulls performance…

  • 205.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:20 pm

    @cane(cane)-197:
    Pat is a goner, no sympathy for him……. not enough of you Irish/Scots in the team…..need stayers

  • 206.Cheetahs27: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:20 pm

    @cane(cane)-187: Exactly. Away win is never a given. Unless you playing the Lions. Even the Cheetahs lately… given 2 NZ teams (Chiefs and Landers) points in SA. Not good.

    Nice win for you today… I’m assuming you support the Hurricanes.

  • 207.Atlas: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:20 pm

    @Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-196: Now you know how I felt all season. But it will be back to normal soon :lol:

  • 208.cane: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:21 pm

    @houston, we have a problem…(The baastard formerly known as bakkies.)-202:

    Options were:
    - Draw
    - Win by less than 13.
    - Win by 13 or more.

    Best I could do Bakkies.
    8)

  • 209.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:22 pm

    @Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-204:
    :lol:

  • 210.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:22 pm

    @Atlas(Atlas)-207:

    Yeah can only be good for SA rugby mate. That is what really counts after all.

  • 211.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:23 pm

    @houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-209:

    I guess you can’t wait either… :lol:

  • 212.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:25 pm

    Been waiting all day to see what Nikita will be up to on Keo TV. I guess Keo is punishing us…

  • 213.cane: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:25 pm

    @Cheetahs27(Cheetahs27)-206:

    You assume right.

    Cheats became my favourite non-nz Team last year, for their enterprising and attractive rugby.

    Great to see them lift themselves and their long suffering fans.
    8)

  • 214.ufo: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:26 pm

    @Cheetahs27(Cheetahs27)-195:

    hehehe…

    yip… notwithstanding your performance on saturday… i’m very nervous for out match-up…

    yes, their tackling wasn’t the best that’s for sure…

    agree with you about the stormers… i really like the obvious camaraderie and ‘playing for each other’ that is so evident amongst them… their really is a great team spirit that has evolved their over the last couple of years and is really good right now… attitude is so important in rugby and i was also very impressed with our guys against the force… really thought we may lose that one… but the heart the guys put into the match was awesome…

    the 12th is gonna be a humdinger…!!

  • 215.deon: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:27 pm

    The Bulls defence coach is going to be the ‘Boks defence coach?? Hopefully we get some Stormer’s defence tactics rather than what the Bulls have shown. Perhaps Jean de Villiers will make a difference, because the Bulls organisation on defence is just not right.

  • 216.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:28 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-214:

    Me too mate! They are so unpredictable and many a SA team has ruined our chances, not withstanding the Lions.

  • 217.Cheetahs27: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:31 pm

    @cane(cane)-213: I think that is half the problem though. We give people wonderful entertainment but for us supporters it is not very entertaining when we 11th on the log. Yes we play great running rugby but everyone knows we not really a threat. We often underestimated and then get good wins against top teams but there is no consistency.

    But this year has somehow seemed better. Hopefully we will take 5 vs the Force this week.

  • 218.cane: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:31 pm

    @Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-205:

    I thing you are right, Pat is a goner.

    But if I was on the Blues Board, I’d vote for him to continue.

    Auckland should cut all their “mercenaries” and stick to Northland, NH and Auckland boys.

    If they cannot get a decent team out of that lot, something is wrong.

  • 219.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:32 pm

    Why was this so close

    Thought it was going to be a pinkwash

  • 220.cane: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:32 pm

    @cane(cane)-218:

    P.S.

    With the odd pinched Counties boy.

    8)

  • 221.ufo: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:33 pm

    @Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-216:

    they all seem to reserve their special performances for us hey…? :lol:

    anyway… outta here…

    good luck to the saffa teams tomorrow…

    cheers all…

  • 222.cane: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:33 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-219:

    Hi sugar.

    8)

  • 223.cane: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:35 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-221:

    Goodnight from the Pacific Rim UFO.

    8)

  • 224.David: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:35 pm

    What the Bulls are showing is that it takes a while to move to a different attacking approach and maintain the same defensive structures. The Stormers have the opposite problem. I think we’re seeing what HM envisages as the way he wants the Boks to play but McFarlane still needs to come to grips with creating a system that provides defence from attack as opposed to the Stormers problem of maintaining a defensive structure that can quickly change to attack.

  • 225.Cheetahs27: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:36 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-214: The 12th will be huge. Even with Goosen out, Sias is still a very good goal kicker. Just does not get the same kind of distance.

    Really believe the Stormers can pull it off this year. Hope they do (after losing to us twice obviously) lol. But if the Stormers do fail I will be just as happy if the Bulls do it. Sharks not playing great but if they get a run going they could make top 6.

  • 226.ufo: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:36 pm

    @cane(cane)-223:

    sleep tight bud…!! :wink:

  • 227.ufo: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:37 pm

    @Cheetahs27(Cheetahs27)-225:

    from your lips top the almighty’s heart…!!

    yeah, if we don’t will back the bulls 100%…
    \
    cheers mate

  • 228.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:38 pm

    @Cheetahs27(Cheetahs27)-225:

    Such a breath of fresh air! I concur. We need to lift the Super 15, as no team ever has…

  • 229.ufo: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:38 pm

    top = to…

    sorry… rushing here…

  • 230.blueboy: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:38 pm

    The bulls would be sitting pretty now if i was not for that loss against the blues i still don`t know how they managed to beat us at loftus,i hope that defeat does not come back to bite us.

  • 231.Loftus: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:39 pm

    @greentea(greentea)-151: No,I didn’t say he was a cheat,I said the Rebels have the best dissipline in the S15 this year – something I wasn’t aware of before the game

  • 232.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:39 pm

    Should read no SA team ever has lifted the Super 15. Eish…

  • 233.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:39 pm

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

    This headline doesnt make sense. Undermined by a poor defensive one would mean that they lost because of their poor defensive performance. They won Ryan.

    And where is Keo TV its late!

  • 234.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:41 pm

    @cane(cane)-222:

    The only sugar I will abide is Sir Alan Sugar

    For the money

  • 235.Cheetahs27: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:41 pm

    @ufo(ufo)-227: Yeah cheers mate. Have a good 1.

  • 236.capebull: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:41 pm

    Da Fence was down for Rebels….

    Problem around the scrum and with centres, I also don’t like the holding up of a players ala Stomers , the Strompies just does it better.

    I prefur that they, tackle a player low , and steal the ball.

    Interesting how, now , we are talking about the Bulls attack and Strompie defence, how things have changed

  • 237.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:41 pm

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-233:

    Hell I’ve been on and off all day checking to see when it airs… Beyond late mate… Irritatingly late…

  • 238.KWAGGA ROBERTSE: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:42 pm

    No big worries as far as Bulls defence are concerned. Its a matter of making sure when a player commits to a channel he stays in that channel.

    Three of the Rebel tries were scored in the same channel. Straight forward pillar and post at the breakdown point not being done. Easy to fix. Another problem is guys not commiting to the channel where they start the defensive line from. Once again, not that hard to fix.

    What does concern me is that we do allow a guy like Beale to run freely…..Sarel Balsak Willemse and the likes will slaughter them if they continue in that vein.

  • 239.ryecatcher: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:43 pm

    Dawn @ 219.Very clever
    Keep well

  • 240.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:44 pm

    @cane(cane)-218:
    Thankfully your not. Whoever are the talent scouts for Blues should be gone too. Counties got heaps of good talent, just waiting to be poached,….there maybe another Carlos down Horowhenua to.

  • 241.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:44 pm

    I see the salivating for Joanne has started

  • 242.KWAGGA ROBERTSE: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:44 pm

    @KWAGGA ROBERTSE(KWAGGA ROBERTSE)-238: Same thing twice in one post……farket I need to learn how to multitask……

  • 243.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:45 pm

    @ryecatcher(ryecatcher)-239:

    I am that clever

  • 244.cane: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:46 pm

    @Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-212:

    There is theory Bill,
    that Nikita is a ruse.

    And Keo is playing with our emotions.
    And/or,
    Keo is desperate to generate more hits, so wheels out the Gorgeous Nikita.

    8)

    Either way, I’m with you………………………………………..more Nikita please.

  • 245.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:46 pm

    @cane(cane)-208:
    oh ok, thanks for clearing it up, cane.
    :lol:

  • 246.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:47 pm

    @cane(cane)-244:

    Shame

    You sound desperate

  • 247.Cheetahs27: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:47 pm

    @Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-228: Just wish the Cheetahs could have made top 6 this year. Will always back SA teams. Strong Super 15 from most franchises means strong Boks. Lets hope so at least.

    Hope the Sharks can pull it off vs Landers. So kind of payback for last week. lol

  • 248.ryecatcher: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:47 pm

    Daswn I am 73.Dont salivate,only dribble.

  • 249.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:48 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-241: You think Keo will allow input from our side with regards to her outfit?

  • 250.Bill Reyts: Reply to this comment
    4 May 2012, 14:48 pm

    @cane(cane)-244:

    :lol: I must say the strategy worked nicely. Like you said …… more Nikita please.

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