Belligerent Bulls steal it late

Belligerent Bulls steal it late

11 May 2012

RYAN VREDE watched the Bulls score in the closing stages to register an impressive and vital 27-24 victory over the Waratahs in Sydney.

Werner Kruger surged over the tryline with four minutes to play and Morne Steyn, flawless with the boot once more, landed the conversion that gave the Bulls the narrow lead and ultimately the victory.

After trailing for the majority of the match the Bulls summoned the composure and resolve that was the hallmark of their championship sides of 2007, 2009 and 2011. Many thought those qualities would disappear after the mass exodus of senior players last year. But this youthful Bulls side continue to defy expectations.

The Tahs will lament their impotency in light of their possession and territorial dominance. They ticked all the main boxes you need to in order to beat the Bulls: physicality and accuracy at the gainline on attack and defence, an excellent kicking game that counters the Bulls’, and a committed chase that exerts pressure on the receiver. They also once again exposed the Bulls’ Achilles heel, discipline at scrum time (they lead the tournament in scrum penalties conceded). Some fundamental handling errors and missed touch kicks further undermined the Bulls’ cause. But the Tahs lacked a killer instinct and paid for that.

The Bulls trailed 13-10 at the break despite being second best for the better part of the first half. It was a good position considering they spent much of the 40 repelling the Tahs in their 22m.

There was an improvement on the poor defence that had marked their last two matches, but a questionable decision to shift inside from midfielder Johann Sadie saw Rob Horne slice through the line to score the game’s first try.

The Tahs lost Dean Mumm to the sin bin in the 22nd minute and Francois Hougaard hauled the Bulls into the contest shortly thereafter, powering through three tackles en route to the tryline. Steyn converted but Berrick Barnes kicked a penalty just before half-time to give his side a three-point lead going down the tunnel.

Barnes banked three more points after the restart but the Bulls refused to relent and going into the final quarter they scored through Akona Ndungane after a quick-tap move. Steyn added the extras, but, as they had done last week against the Rebels, the Bulls conceded almost immediately, wing Atieli Pakalani finishing in the corner.

You sensed then that the Tahs would close the game out but their visitors made a statement with their ability to call on their reserves in striking the late death blow after being pounded for most of the contest.


297 Comments

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  • 1.Todd W: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 11:24 am

    I’ve got the Waratahs to win this one. They aren’t amazing but I do think they have the ability to take down what has lately been a pretty average Bulls side.

  • 2.willievz: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 11:26 am

    Komaan manne, moer hulle stukkend.

    Met ‘n bonuspunt.

  • 3.Atlas: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 11:36 am

    Defence boys
    Nou vir die blou (pienk)

  • 4.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 11:39 am

    Deon Stegmann to break a record today!

  • 5.logie_Jumpbuck: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 11:44 am

    EK DINK DIE PIENKES GAAN HULLE KAF DRAF!

  • 6.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 11:47 am

    Great defensive stand by the Bulls. Great statement.

  • 7.Atlas: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 11:47 am

    Mooi
    Defence

  • 8.Atlas: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 11:51 am

    Morne!!
    3 – 0

  • 9.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 11:54 am

    Cmon on Waratahs!

  • 10.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 11:54 am

    Atlas

    Please keep those updates coming. A bit of a play by play description would be much appreciated.

    Unless the Bulls start losing. Then you can stop, thanks.

  • 11.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 11:55 am

    @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-4: What record is that? Least amount of camera time?

  • 12.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 11:57 am

    Stegmann gets his first penalty of 10 for the night.

  • 13.Atlas: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 11:57 am

    Damn

  • 14.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 11:57 am

    Try waratahs

  • 15.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 11:58 am

    Did Hougaard make a try saving tackle? Thats lots of fantasy points right there.

  • 16.Atlas: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 11:59 am

    @Tacitus(Deucalion)-10: Bad midfield defence and a try to the tahs. 10 – 3

  • 17.SpiesIsWorthless: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:00 pm

    Frustrating

  • 18.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:00 pm

    @CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-14: Yes who scored?

  • 19.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:00 pm

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-12:

    That’s the one.

  • 20.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:01 pm

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-18:

    Berrick Barnes.

  • 21.Atlas: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:01 pm

    We’ve got something like 30% of the ball
    They keep attacking our midfield and its not holding

  • 22.lightie: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:02 pm

    Another 1st phase move from the set-piece emabarrasses the Bulls. I can’t wait to see what this defence coach can do with the Boks.

  • 23.SpiesIsWorthless: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:03 pm

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-18: Horne I think.

  • 24.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:03 pm

    Sadie what are you doing mate?

  • 25.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:03 pm

    Yellow card for Dean Mumm!

  • 26.Stofstorm: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:03 pm

    17 TRY – Rob Horne gets the first try, as he opens up the Bulls midfield from a line-out near the 10m line. Barnes adds the conversion and the Waratahs lead 10-3

  • 27.Loftus: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:04 pm

    Bulls are just making mistake after mistake after mistake. They haven’t done nothing constructive at all. Steyn not kicking out penalty,Kirchner running like a headless chicken and centers not tackling. Something is seriously wrong here.

  • 28.logie_Jumpbuck: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:04 pm

    Seems like Sadie is turning out to be a bit of a damp squib.

  • 29.Atlas: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:04 pm

    Yellow card to the ‘Tahs
    Morne is kicking for touch
    Rolmaal

  • 30.Atlas: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:05 pm

    Tryyyy!!!
    Hougie your beut

  • 31.TheTackler: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:05 pm

    Bulls battle to play catch-up rugby and Bulls lose 60% of their mojo as soon as they step on a plane headed Down Under. And while they look pretty in pink, it’s the pretty silly sort of pretty rather than the pretty fearsome kind.

  • 32.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:06 pm

    @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-19: lol

    @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-20: @SpiesIsWorthless(SpiesIsWorthless)-23: Which is it?

  • 33.Stofstorm: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:06 pm

    23 YELLOW CARD – Dean Mumm will spend 10 minutes in the bin as he again played Juandre Kruger in the air.

    22 Hougaard goes to the air and Kingston is hurdled into touch near his 22.

    21 Sekope Kepu penalised near the Bulls’ 22 for going off his feet … after 10-plus phases.

    20 Morne Steyn intercepts and kicks the ball away, allow the Tahs to counter from deep inside their half.

    18 The Bulls again penalised from the restat, as they go offside at a ruck.

  • 34.Atlas: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:06 pm

    10 all

  • 35.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:07 pm

    Advantage Bulls!

    @Atlas(Atlas)-30: Great stuff. Fantasy points for me!

  • 36.SpiesIsWorthless: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:07 pm

    Hougaard is a magic player.

  • 37.Stofstorm: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:07 pm

    24 TRY – The Bulls set up a maul and the Waratahs disrupt that. Then the men from Pretoria go for the pick-’n-drive. Francois Hougaard goes over as he slips three poor tackles – including Sarel Pretorius and Rocky Elsom.

  • 38.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:07 pm

    The question is, can the Bulls capitalise enough on the 10 minutes the Waratahs will be playing with only 14 men?

  • 39.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:07 pm

    Hougaard scores a great try, shrugs off Robinson and Elsom and take Sarel over the line with him. Great strength. Really impressed with this guy, pound for pound he would be top two player in world rugby.

  • 40.Stofstorm: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:08 pm

    25 Morn? Steyn slots the conversion and ties it up at 10-all

  • 41.Stofstorm: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:10 pm

    27 Now the Bulls hold up the Waratahs’ ball-carriers and win a turnover.

  • 42.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:10 pm

    Hougaard is darem thai!

  • 43.SpiesIsWorthless: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:10 pm

    Spies got a great pass on him too. :D

  • 44.scrumfan: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:11 pm

    Where are all the Bulls brag gatte now? come Bulls, pull finger man! and this is our new bok defensive coach? FML

  • 45.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:11 pm

    @CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-39: Agreed.

  • 46.Stofstorm: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:12 pm

    29 Steyn kicks deep and the Waratahs are forced to restart from their 22.

  • 47.scrumfan: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:12 pm

    I might have overreacted a little bit, my apologies but opposition teams scoring from first phase drives me mad.

  • 48.logie_Jumpbuck: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:14 pm

    Come on Bulle!!! Rook die Tahs! :-)

  • 49.Stofstorm: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:16 pm

    31 Steyn goes deep and Atieli Pakalani goes to the air – but it is a poor kick. Fortunately for the Tahs Kirchner kniocks on just outside the Tahs’ 22.

    30 Now Wycliff Palu puts the ball down cold near his 10m line.

  • 50.logie_Jumpbuck: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 12:17 pm

    if there is one team in the S15 that I hate then it’s the Tahs. Windgatte verby! Arrogante bliksems.

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