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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11 May 2012, 12:17 pm
32 Barnes goes deep and Kirchner finds touch near halfway.
11 May 2012, 12:18 pm
33 Big blow for the Bulls as Stegmann leaves with what appears to be a serious wrist injury.
11 May 2012, 12:19 pm
Steggies off again and then a penalty from a scrum to Warathas which the commentators can’t explain. Referee misses a lot of Warathas mistakes at the moment
11 May 2012, 12:20 pm
@Stofstorm(Stofstorm)-49: Whats going on? Both teams suddenly got the knock on fever and its having a knock on effect!
11 May 2012, 12:20 pm
35 Dawie Steyn penalised at the scrum and Barnes slots the penalty as the Tahs regain the lead – 13-10
11 May 2012, 12:21 pm
@Stofstorm(Stofstorm)-52: Glass man. Rushed Dragon.
11 May 2012, 12:21 pm
@Stofstorm(Stofstorm)-51: Stof, who has the ascendancy so far? It seems pretty evens stevens?
11 May 2012, 12:21 pm
Spies is rubbish, got tackled back by an backline player and made horrible passes
11 May 2012, 12:22 pm
37 The Bulls taking it through the phases after a great turnover near halfway, but a forward pass just outside the Tahs 22 brings to an end a promising move
11 May 2012, 12:22 pm
33 min another scrum penalty to the tahs, barnes slots it 13 10
37 minutes bulls on attack in 22, lock gets held up, scrum tahs,
Another scrum to the tahs on the 22, bulls look like they turn it, penalty Tahs
11 May 2012, 12:23 pm
Lineout on the bull 10 m line, Throw goes over the top hougard collects, up an under, niknaks knocks on, tahs kick out half time
11 May 2012, 12:23 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-57: Agree it is even steven so far. too many handling mistakes
11 May 2012, 12:25 pm
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-57: tahs were ferocious on attack fiirst 10, but last twenty bulls were taking control. two scrum penalties against them swinging momentum slightly
11 May 2012, 12:26 pm
Had dinner at Bondi on Wednesday night with the wife, and there is a table that is reserved for four next to our table. Shortly after a few beers and dinner arriving, in walks Jacques Potgieter and Wynand Olivier with whom I believe was there girlfriends, or wives. Potgieter looked like he was fit and well and that speed demon Wynand was wearing a pink top, and it wasn’t the team jersey. Just nice to finally talk to friendly pros and also at eye level.
11 May 2012, 12:26 pm
38 Barnes goes deep from the restart and Kirchner goes to the air, where Basson knocks on just outside the Tahs’ 22.
11 May 2012, 12:26 pm
After this game im gonna go buy that dstv walka thing. I hate not being able to watch a game.
11 May 2012, 12:28 pm
Stegman off, looks like an injury
hougard playing with one eye, still better option that FDup imo
11 May 2012, 12:28 pm
*****,the Bulls’ performances are going downhill game after game.This referee will give nothing to the Bulls today,forget about it. At the moment the Bulls players take turns to make mistakes.Knock ons,penalties and the rest Steyn kicks away so that the other Bulls players can start to defend again. Only to eventually give away the next penalty.WTF
11 May 2012, 12:29 pm
Tahs scrum all over the bulls!
11 May 2012, 12:29 pm
I’m not panicking yet
We look disorganised on attack
11 May 2012, 12:31 pm
Bulls always strong in the second half. A bit like the Crusaders really….they almost always have a happy ending
11 May 2012, 12:32 pm
Is Brendan Mckibbin playing or Sarel Pretorius?
@CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-64: Lol ai Meisiekind.
11 May 2012, 12:34 pm
@Falken(Falken)-66:
just check the coverage area very carefully before you do… i’ve got one as have two of my buds… turns our all our offices are “just out of” broadcast range can’t use them at work… you must ensure the actually street address is covered…
broadcast footprint is extremely patchy.. so please do your homework before committing…
11 May 2012, 12:35 pm
Kirchner is kak, straight forward catch dropped just outside the bulls 22, no pressure on him
11 May 2012, 12:36 pm
Tahs on attack , almost over the line, scrum tahs on the 5m
11 May 2012, 12:36 pm
Good play Tahs!
11 May 2012, 12:37 pm
Tah’s on 5m of bulls, knocks on but reff waves playes on, tah’s get the scrum? WTF
11 May 2012, 12:38 pm
the pink
binnepoespink
is messing
with the
bulls
what a
stupid
idea
11 May 2012, 12:38 pm
how is turnstyle SPIES playing ?
11 May 2012, 12:38 pm
43 The Waratahs carry the ball up well, with slick handling quickly putting them into the Bulls. 22.
42 Zane Kirchner puts a high bomb down cold, another shocker!
41 The second half is underway.
11 May 2012, 12:38 pm
@ufo
Thanks!
11 May 2012, 12:38 pm
who’s that MnM wannabee they keep interviewing, no sound here, looks like a cross between Vanilla Ice and the fresh prince
good defenece bulls, knock on tahs scrum 5m short of the 10m line
11 May 2012, 12:39 pm
44 Great defence by the Bulls as they drive the Tahs backs – from 5m out to near the 22 and then Pretorius knocks on.
11 May 2012, 12:39 pm
Tah’s from the scrum take it up towards the try line, decides to spread it wide, bulls defence holds out and push the Tah’s 10m back, bulls forces a knock near the 22m line of the bulls
11 May 2012, 12:40 pm
bulls clear it but not a good kick, lineout on 22 of the bulls for the tahs
11 May 2012, 12:40 pm
45 Steyn clears his lines and the Tahs have a line-out just outside the Bulls’ 22.
11 May 2012, 12:41 pm
GO TAHS !!!!!!
Please do us a favor so the Green Jersey is not completely blue on the inside
11 May 2012, 12:41 pm
I’m not watching the game but judging by the comments and what has transpired in recent weeks, it seems as if the Bulls level of play is deteriorating as the season progresses instead of improving as the season goes on.
11 May 2012, 12:42 pm
47 The Waratahs take their phases into double figures, without making too much progress.
11 May 2012, 12:42 pm
Lets see how the bulls scrum holds up, barely and steyn clears to just past the 22. Tahs on attack in the 22, hougard makes great cover tackle, still tahs on the 22, Oh dear penalty tahs, chilli? Not rolling away.bad call the tah player had been turned and was holding on
11 May 2012, 12:42 pm
@scrumfan(scrumfan)-88: improving as the season progresses as in previous seasons.
11 May 2012, 12:42 pm
16 – 10 tahs
11 May 2012, 12:43 pm
@Falken(Falken)-66: Good on ya
11 May 2012, 12:44 pm
Spies misses a tackle and the Tahs score in the corner…
11 May 2012, 12:44 pm
That argentine linesman got that very wrong
11 May 2012, 12:45 pm
49 Berrick Barnes slots the penalty as the lead stretches to 16-10
48 The Bulls are eventually penalised at a tackle, with the referee pointing to Chiliboy Ralepelle as the culprit.
11 May 2012, 12:45 pm
Chilli not having the greatest game.
11 May 2012, 12:45 pm
Tahs try and run it from the kickoff from their 22, bullskeeping them pinned, eventually they kick it down field, Ball lands on the line directly, linesmen give line out in where it landed. Zane doth protest. Penalty bulls from line out, steyn kicks into tahs half. Lineout throw not straight, tahs scrum
11 May 2012, 12:45 pm
50 Daniel Halangahu goes downtow and the ball is directly into touch, but the AR disagrees. However, the Tahs are again penalised for playing the man in the air.
11 May 2012, 12:46 pm
I have stopped buying USN products since softie Spies started appearing on these USN banner ads on KEO…
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