Bulls fire, then fade

Bulls fire, then fade

25 May 2012

RYAN VREDE reports on a 28-22 victory for the Chiefs over the Bulls that leaves the three-time champions with little breathing room if they are to secure a home play-off.

The Bulls were acutely aware of the importance of victory in the context of their conference challenge, but they failed to negotiate a determined second half effort from the Chiefs, after being dominant for the opening half. They will hope the Sharks beat the Stormers in Durban tomorrow and also bank on teams close to them on the overall log dropping points. There is no panic just yet – they’ve finished strongly in recent years after coming off tour – but they cannot afford to drop many more points.

When their execution of their game plan is on point (which it was in the first half) few sides in the tournament could live with the Bulls. However, their inability to sustain their effort through 80 minutes cost them, as did numerous spurned opportunities early in the match.

There are still questions about Francois Hougaard’s kicking game, but tonight it was adequate. His shortcomings in this regard were made up for by Morné Steyn and Zane Kirchner’s competency in this facet of play. Their high kicks and a committed chase had the Chiefs’ back three looking like they were fielding grenades. This is an area the Hamilton franchise must address urgently if they are to be serious title contenders.

Once in the Chiefs’ 22m the Bulls were a mix of efficient and disappointing. Steyn banked two penalties and a drop goal and a try from Bjorn Basson, who profited from poor defence from Lelia Masaga, gave the Bulls a deserved 16-8 lead at the break.

On defence, such was the power and accuracy of their gainline challenge that the Chiefs were made to look toothless. Their primary strike runners – Sonny Bill Williams included – seldom posed a threat. Indeed the Bulls would have been disappointed at the margin of their lead at that point, the Chiefs’ only try coming courtesy of an Akona Ndungane error and their aforementioned wastefulness in good positions lending further weight to this assertion.

Steyn and Aaron Cruden traded penalties after the break, but the Chiefs, galvanised by the injection of quality impact players, gradually found the momentum and synergy they lacked in the first 40. The Bulls remained resolute but their resistance waned going into the final quarter when Cruden found wing Asaeli Tikoirotuma with an inside ball that left him with a clear route to goal. Cruden added the extras for a lead that was short-lived, Steyn edging his side ahead with his fourth penalty of the match.

Then the turning point, and this time another Bulls error inside the Chiefs’ 22m cost them dearly. The hosts turned over possession and ran the ball 70m before earning a lineout. A quick feed caught the Bulls’ defensive line unset, and Williams exploited this, surging through a gap then offloading to put Same Cane clean through. Cruden sunk the conversion and the Bulls just never looked like they had the capacity for a telling rebuttal thereafter.


752 Comments

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 16 » Show All

  • 1.dermie: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:02 am

    chief dragon.

  • 2.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:04 am

    nommers 1 to 8….

    dit is disco tyd kerels….

    time to go all enter the dragon on these chiefs.

  • 3.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:05 am

    @dermie(dermie)-1:
    snap.
    check again.

  • 4.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:07 am

    nommers een tot agt.

  • 5.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:08 am

    read the numbers

    .

    and the universe reveals itself….

  • 6.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:14 am

    This game will make or break the Bulls campaign.

  • 7.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:16 am

    We shoot some more….Bulls kept a comin, there wasn’t neigh as many as there was awhile ago
    We fired some more…..Bulls kept a runnin, down to Te Kauwhata..to the Mighty Waikato
    Waikato…Waikato,,,,,kia mau te wehi….Chiefs

  • 8.BuckT: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:16 am

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-6: hardly, what if the stormers lose to the sharks and bulls beat them next week, always a possibility, although highly unlikely…. :)

  • 9.dermie: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:17 am

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-6: break it is then.

  • 10.BuckT: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:18 am

    in the KEOTV dream team pic on the right, did someone leave their curler in?

  • 11.umkhonto: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:25 am

    @BuckT(BuckTrendy)-8: Sorry to say, but this is a strong possibility, Stormers once a bridesmaid , always a flower girl.

  • 12.willievz: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:25 am

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-6: It is also going to decide the overall leader at the end of the season.

  • 13.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:27 am

    @BuckT(BuckTrendy)-10: I hadn’t even noticed her there before. Nikita Johansson kind of dominates that pic.

  • 14.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:29 am

    Wwatsup with houston this morning

  • 15.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:30 am

    nikita’s mammary glands look ‘photoshopped’ to be perkier.

  • 16.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:30 am

    Where is Joanne nowadays

  • 17.Mtbmike: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:30 am

    No de Villiers auto(?)biography discussion thread yet…

  • 18.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:31 am

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-6:
    the bulls will make or break their own campaign, thank you very much….

  • 19.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:31 am

    taumalolo on the bench? rennie is under-estimating the bulls…

  • 20.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:33 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-14:
    i am experiencing nervous heart palpitations right now, dawn.

    its show time and the lights are on.

    ohhhhh boooyyy!!!

  • 21.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:34 am

    @Transformation(Transformation)-19:
    Ben Afeaki is a mean machine…worthy replacement.

  • 22.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:34 am

    @Transformation(Transformation)-15: She would tell you they are real! Or maybe not…..thats why she excluded them when she said….”these legs are real, these lips are real” in her first real speaking role!

  • 23.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:36 am

    Blues heading to the Free State capital
    Published: Thursday, 24. May, 2012t

    The Cardiff Blues Wales will be playing the Free State Cheetahs in a historic match in Bloemfontein on Saturday, August 4.

    The game will be played in memory of Sir George Grey, the founder of Grey College in Bloemfontein.

    He was also the Governor of the Cape Colony and later the Premier of New Zealand.

    Nine players from the Cardiff Blues squad, including captain Sam Warburton, have been included in the Wales team who will be touring to Australia next month.

    The Blues squad will also be accompanied by the IRB Player of the Millennium, Gareth Edwards.

    Harold Verster, Managing Director of the Free State Cheetahs (PTY) Ltd, is very excited about the game.

    “This is a wonderful opportunity to host a match for our suite holders, season ticket holders and fans and to simultaneously pay respect to Grey College for their huge contribution to rugby in the Free State and South Africa.

    “It is a great honour for us to host Gareth Edwards and the Cardiff Blues in Bloemfontein and it will bring a lot of excitement.”

    This is the second consecutive year that the Free State did not get an international match and Free State Rugby is grateful to the promoter, Willem Strauss who managed to bring this match to Bloemfontein.

    Strauss says the game is a celebration of Grey College’s rugby achievements over many years and their contribution to Free State and South African rugby.

    The Cardiff Blues coach Phil Davies said that the tour to the Free State is an important preparation for the team’s pre-season and that they are looking forward to the match against the Free State Cheetahs.

  • 24.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:36 am

    @Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-21: Taumalolo is a beast….hope he comes on and causes havoc, I have him in my fantasy team.

  • 25.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:37 am

    so happy for dewaldt though

  • 26.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:37 am

    Typical Trans

    Always changing the subject!

  • 27.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:38 am

    Hougaard! Risky fella.

  • 28.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:39 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-26: Isnt that your job!

  • 29.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:40 am

    good scrum bulls

  • 30.Airwell: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:40 am

    Bulls starting well

  • 31.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:43 am

    thats high by messam fark

  • 32.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:43 am

    Sasuke? Moi?

    I always stick to the topic.

  • 33.Airwell: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:43 am

    Bulls winning collision

  • 34.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:45 am

    nice kruger

  • 35.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:45 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-32: or is your forte thread hacking?

  • 36.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:46 am

    fark
    one bad scrum
    come on bulls

    good compsure though

  • 37.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:47 am

    Filthy oiks.

  • 38.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:48 am

    Sasuke.
    Don’t lol with me early in the morning.

  • 39.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:49 am

    “roll away blue”…by lawrence..?..huh..?

    larf

  • 40.Dummy Runner: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:50 am

    Bulls forwards looking strong.but for how long? Blatant foul there.

  • 41.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:50 am

    bulletjies got the measure of these fancy-pants chiefs…stick to you traditional strengths!

  • 42.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:50 am

    red zone penalties is a no no.

  • 43.Airwell: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:51 am

    Our scrum under pressure again

  • 44.Airwell: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:51 am

    Sadie looking good for a change

  • 45.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:52 am

    come on sadie!!!!

  • 46.Dummy Runner: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:52 am

    I think Sadies game was more suited at Stormers.pity no place for him.

  • 47.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:53 am

    fark that was good drive maul

    messam pulled it down no penalty

    truck and trailer trash

  • 48.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:53 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-38: I must not laugh out loud (lol) with you early in the morning?

    Jammer man .

  • 49.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:56 am

    obstruction tamini jou doos

    ref where are you?

  • 50.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 09:57 am

    No lolling

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 16 » Show All

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

Have your say

You must be logged in to post a comment.