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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4 May 2012, 16:06 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-350:
No Dawn, I don’t give out personal details on the interweb.
Call her Florence. It’s as good a name as any.
4 May 2012, 16:08 pm
Okay
4 May 2012, 16:11 pm
florence the domestic executive.
4 May 2012, 16:12 pm
Imagine Florence with Tac on the other end of the line frantically talking her through PVR recording!
Shame man!
4 May 2012, 16:16 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-354:
Ja, it’s strange how you can use a remote daily without thinking, but when you have to try and remember where the record button or the information button is located and explain it to someone, then you have to resort to using muscle memory in your thumb to try and mimic the action to jog your memory.
Was quite a story.
4 May 2012, 16:16 pm
too close for comfort! Missed the game, and no time to read through the entire thread: would be very much appreciated if someone can let me know performance of the following guys:
Spies
Chilli
Stander
Engelbrecht
PLEASE HELP!
4 May 2012, 16:20 pm
The Goose is the future.The way Morne played today(master class) he
remains the present.
4 May 2012, 16:25 pm
Outof the Boks. Chili his usual steady game.Except for one break out
nothing spectacular.
Engelbrecht played fairly well.
Spies invisible.
Stander awesome.Would not let Boks down
4 May 2012, 16:25 pm
@OUToftheBOKS(OUToftheBOKS)-356: Spies: Absolutely outstanding (Man of the Match)
Chilli: Magnificent. Scored 17 tries.
Stander: Fantastic. Scored only one try but had a hand in at least 24 others, including some of the Rebels’ tries.
Engelbrecht: He booked himself a place in the Bok team – totally smashing display.
4 May 2012, 16:28 pm
Now there’re two different views
4 May 2012, 16:29 pm
Dont help outtheboks at all.
4 May 2012, 16:31 pm
Wait until Monday
Tacitus will give you the objective version
4 May 2012, 16:31 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-361: He is new here. He should get used to widely differing views. The only rule here is to never be objective or factual.
4 May 2012, 16:32 pm
@Finfan(Finfan)-359:
You left out Spies 57 destructive tackles.
4 May 2012, 16:39 pm
funny. not so new…been here for quite a while actually…don’t comment often…last comment probably sometime before the 2011 WC. someone upset me so badly, i just lost it and shut the H e ll up…until now.
Thanks for the info. will check the re-runs.
Thus, Chilli solid. as always. will watch bis with some interest tomorrow then (along with Adriaan). JJ…up to date, been solid (but hype not warranted my humble opion…same as Sadie). Spies – lets just say last before the WC, I had a massive argument with someone: but still it appears that supporters of him (his play) should lift their heads from spies’ lap and remove the blinkers (great person though). Overrated. And Stander: one for the future it appears. But some distance to go.
4 May 2012, 16:40 pm
@David(David)-364: Tacitus will provide the finer detail. I forgot to mention that he cleaned out 722 rucks and made 68 line breaks. He said during the post match interview that he was “proud of the boys”. Based on his high standards, all of them must’ve been great.
4 May 2012, 16:41 pm
has grant10 been active today? Want to find out if he will be going to watch the Barney’s Army game in Dirtbin…he’s a huge fan I remember
4 May 2012, 16:42 pm
O, and he LOVE’s spies!
4 May 2012, 16:44 pm
@OUToftheBOKS(OUToftheBOKS)-365: Are you Grant10 in disguise? (I hope you are not too upset with my analysis.)
By the way, Adriaan Strauss is not in the same league as Bismarck and Chilli. He should learn to pass the ball. Frustrates me endlessly.
4 May 2012, 16:46 pm
has anyone else noticed how the Bulls are playing “WP rugby” lately and the Stormers are playing “Bulls Rugby”?
4 May 2012, 16:47 pm
Back in the day, when Spies started his Super Ruggas career, he was out at wing. Think they went on tour. They were absolutely smashed by a NZ team (think it was the Blues, but not sure). Apparently, after the game, coach asked who was intimidated by the big running backs. Spies did a “pick me, pick me”…didn’t play for the bulls for a while after that.
He is getting lost in a loose game then…invisible…a game his tremendous and powerful running game should thrive in. And yet….ai. COME ON! I’ll just leave it there. But when he is appointed as Bok captain, we will poooo our pants again. I seriously think he is going to be the captain….but ja….such is life.
4 May 2012, 16:47 pm
and how good was stander, he had a belter.
4 May 2012, 16:49 pm
@roobarb2(roobarb2)-370: I think the Bulls pink jerseys confused you.
4 May 2012, 16:52 pm
also Beale was the difference in the Rebels, he was awesome, and it gave the 9 more confidence,and it will help Mortlock wreak havoc.
this team is no longer a bunch of easybeats, mark my words.
4 May 2012, 16:52 pm
nope…but I loved the analysis. Pretty entertaining. Just enjoyed Grant10′s rants!
To be completely honest…Strauss is a completely different player than the Bis, but definitely in the league of Chilli. Bis a step ahead.
Adriaan is a clever player. And a good leader. The players at the Cheetahs have the utmost respect for him. Apparently they prefer playing with him as cappie rather than Juan…and that I was told by some of the players. In fat, I have played with Adriaan some moons ago. He is a bloody good oke to have around when times get tough!
4 May 2012, 16:54 pm
S h i t s…been on here so long ago: please explain to me how to comment on someone’s comment (you know, the @whoever the poep h o l thingy at the beginning of a comment)?
4 May 2012, 16:54 pm
@OUToftheBOKS(OUToftheBOKS)-371: Meyer hasn’t mentioned Spies as a possible captain – yet.
One thing that worries me about Meyer is the way he discusses individual players in the media. Unprofessional and dangerous.
4 May 2012, 16:54 pm
@roobarb2(roobarb2)-370:
You know, for a while, the Bulls resembled the Crusaders on attack and Morne, Carter.
4 May 2012, 16:56 pm
but then again…what the h e ll happened against the Highlanders…that completely contradicts my comment @375!
I just know tomorrow is going to be goooood! got a bloody good feeling about the Sharks. Think its going to be a cracker!
4 May 2012, 16:59 pm
@OUToftheBOKS(OUToftheBOKS)-376: Click on the top right arrow next to a comment.
Not to many bloggers around at the moment so it is actually not necessary to use the arrows. (I don’t know why, but when I decide to join in, I seem to kill off threads.)
4 May 2012, 17:03 pm
@ 377 Finfan (please let me know how to blerrie do the reply to a comment thing – for the life of me, I cant remember!). Correct, he hasn’t mentioned spies as a possible captain….but I really think Spies is going to be his man. Unfortunately. Again, captain chosen before team…ala John Smit. Make team, then be captain! But I have been holding my breath since 2007 for Spies to deliver on potential…non existent. Remember a game against the Irish…think he was handed of 3 times…one game…or something like that…and then, the next game in tri nations agains the AB’s (think it was in Rustenburg…) he had a blinder…and all previous forgotton (not by me though). Since then, nothing to write home about.
Agree. Should not be discussing individuals with the media. That will surely come back to bite him. But at least his one on one’s with the players are very well received by the players themselves.
4 May 2012, 17:04 pm
@Finfan(Finfan)-380: !!! YES! Thanks.
4 May 2012, 17:09 pm
Thanks lads! I need to bolt! But, we can discuss this next week: players I think to watch this weekend – and will be good:
SHARKS:
Bis
Coetzee
Jordaan
Cheetahs (my team):
NO GOOSEN – will be interesting to see how Sias goes – but I do rate him though)
Coenie
Brussouw (going to be huge against Poc o c k)
Lions:
Bleh, not bothering watching this one!
Have a good weekend!
4 May 2012, 17:22 pm
@Finfan(Finfan)-380:
I doubt whether there are many bloggers still glued to their computers at 5.00pm on a Friday.
4 May 2012, 17:47 pm
GO SHARKS.
4 May 2012, 18:04 pm
We got our 5 points. Now its going to get tough. Still very pleased. Morne had a hell of a game, so did Hougie, Potties ( hope his OK ) and CJ.
4 May 2012, 18:21 pm
Stupid phone. Won’t refresh. And no its not a Nokia like Skops’
4 May 2012, 18:26 pm
Atleast my backlight still work on this ****
4 May 2012, 18:28 pm
Why the concern about Morne Steyns kicking form? He also kicked brilliantly last game.
4 May 2012, 18:36 pm
Not great but 5 points in the bag…
4 May 2012, 19:27 pm
5 tries each and 2 penalties extra for the bullieboys
was this a safrican ref by any chance?
sieves and leaks comes to my mind.. oh where have all the harde baarde gone?
4 May 2012, 21:21 pm
pink bulls was lucky ,rebels speel sonder 4 van hulle top spelers en staan 5 driee af ag asb ,spies het nou en dan aan die bal gevat maar doen nog nie sy werk as n 8ste man ,hulle laaste 3 games op toer hulle gaan nie 1 game verder wen nie ,en die kings lol moet eers currie cup speel dan ja kan sarfu besluit ja of nee ,go stormers ,
4 May 2012, 21:32 pm
eish now the bulls were lucky??
hell people they won over there after just having travelled and with a bonus point? surely thats the aim?
Congrats to the Bulls and their supporters, Morne Steyn was brilliant on the day
4 May 2012, 22:24 pm
Watching the Kings/Puma’s match and i struggle to find a reason why the Kings should plaay Super rugby???? Surely they should have to prove themselves first???
Last week they lost to the Sharks B team? this week the Puma’s etc,
4 May 2012, 22:26 pm
The Bulls scraped home against the weakest Ozzie team – who are missing a couple of first choice players. That was the easiest game of their tour. For their sake I hope they just had an off day.
4 May 2012, 22:39 pm
Not many teams concede over 100 points in three games win them all… Congrats to the Bulls but their defence needs to improve if they are to have a good tour.
Also wtf why was that rebel player not given a red card for his tip tackle!
4 May 2012, 22:52 pm
@OUToftheBOKS(OUToftheBOKS)-365: Actually Engelbrecht was pretty k@k and his combination with Wynand Olivier in midfield was responsible for some serious defensive lapses – he knocked ona few times and didnt do anything special at all. Not a centre by a mile.
4 May 2012, 22:55 pm
@Atlas(Atlas)-193: Nice one – appreciate the apology.
4 May 2012, 23:18 pm
I was there….great atmosphere and a good game to introduce ausie mates to rugby amazing how many Bulls supporters there were…The Carlton drafts went down lekker an i got an even lekkerder headache this morning!!! Hou die blou al lyk hy pienk!!!!
4 May 2012, 23:23 pm
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-397:
I agree,Engelbrecht at 13 is weak link. Not a 13,hands also let him down badly.Got handled vs Brumbies as well. Whats happened to wunderkind Sadie? Not seeming like he is the epic talent he was made out to be especially with the hefty purse hes being paid at Bulls….Return on investment…..
CJ stander is a stud at 6…superb,so is J.Potgieter. Flip vd Merwe is below par,lacks any polish in any of the things h does..plus his discipline is poor.Where is Cornell Hess?
Dean Greyling has been a man mountain all season, developing into a fine loosehead.
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