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
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25 May 2012, 15:09 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-440:
our recycle was awful at times.
25 May 2012, 15:09 pm
Pretty much HG
Then we will hear about the injuries they had to deal with etc
jy moet watkykjy gaan google en dan op die website is daar n link wat se zefslang,jinne dis snaaks.
hoekom is die kiwis nog so laat hier,moet hule nie by die tyd n v bone steak eet nie?
25 May 2012, 15:10 pm
@cane(cane)-436:
Yeah he is too…
25 May 2012, 15:10 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-421: in that case, hurri is still in front…
let’s see if fernly can ante up…
25 May 2012, 15:11 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-452: Love that website….Dis naweek…kom ons farking duik!!
Kaptein Kortbroek se artikels is ook nogals snaaks met tye
25 May 2012, 15:11 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-452:
indeed.
they are eyeing a bit of tube steak as we speak.
25 May 2012, 15:12 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-447:
We will have to wait and see about that……………………………..me thinks.
Why do you give The Brokebacks this “free ammo”.
25 May 2012, 15:12 pm
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-449:
Yeah I have ten years experience buddy!
Does the Conference Trophy count for anything? 
25 May 2012, 15:12 pm
@bos_otter(bos_otter)-448: Today was the day he lost the benefit of the doubt… He needs to show heart… and ballas, which he plainly does not do… Bulls would actually do well to put Slangkos at 8…
Their best loosie trio IMO would be Stander, Caveman Potgieter and Slangkos Potgieter at 8.
25 May 2012, 15:12 pm
bos otter,hg gaan na youtube toe en search vir
show me your g enitals
bosotter ek gaan na hulle paartie toe wat hulle daar adverteer
lekker saam met die marabse in zwoeries jol.
25 May 2012, 15:13 pm
@cane(cane)-450:
you’re too kind, cane.
but thanks.
25 May 2012, 15:13 pm
There are calls by bloggers on RUGBY 365 for P.Divvy to be employed as a
TV commentator. I assign colours to people and the current crop
(Especially Geerdts & Andrews but not Naas or Ashwhell range)between beige and grey.
Which other coach would have been so undiplomatic as to brand
BL a cheat.?He is humourous(and I,m not being patronising) and has a wonderful;
turn of phrase.He also knows the ga me.
Trouens,BL was the linesman today.How could he have missed the punch on FH?
25 May 2012, 15:13 pm
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-451: Frustrating in the extreme to watch.
25 May 2012, 15:14 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-459:
Hey! You seldom greet anymore… You ready for some sorrow tomorrow bro?
25 May 2012, 15:14 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-452: Lol… Kiwis hey
25 May 2012, 15:15 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-454:
I suspect hurri’s houses have wheels for foundations.
that’s a points deduction right there.
25 May 2012, 15:16 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-460: Sal so maak, maar eers vannaand. Youtube is geblok hier by my werk
25 May 2012, 15:16 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-460: “marabse in zwoeries jol” ….
25 May 2012, 15:18 pm
I see the prediction is for a Stormers first four try bonus point tomorrow. Going to target 10 – 12 channel. Swing doors…
25 May 2012, 15:19 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-452: you’re a ho.rny basteraud Fernly, yesses!
25 May 2012, 15:19 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-464: Ready…? Its done and dusted cuzzie… Already played and 5 log points to the Dynamite. With 4 in the bag and a game against the Lions next week I am happy like a gerbil in Newlands…
25 May 2012, 15:19 pm
Al die meisies in nz wat soos trokdrywers lk is n klomp boksbyters.
25 May 2012, 15:20 pm
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-451:
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-440:
our recycle was awful at times.
basically some homework’s gonna need to be done in that department, big time.
either hougaard needs to get his shitt together or the ruck protectors need to skrik wakker to opposition tricks or it was deliberate by the bulls because they were tired or what..i dont know…?..
25 May 2012, 15:20 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-471:
25 May 2012, 15:22 pm
@ryecatcher(ryecatcher)-462: Fark me he would be a ten times better commentator than the farken dunces employed currently… Dippy and Ashwin… SAAAAAAARRKS FO-EWIG!!!
25 May 2012, 15:22 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-471:
I agree – easy game for the Sharks tomorrow. If we go by the ifs and buts then the five points are in the bag. I don’t even have to stress as the tribe has spoken. Will relax tomorrow then…
25 May 2012, 15:22 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-441:
Believe me i am.
Have a great family, kids, nothing wrong with it.
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-444:
You wouldnt even know what Honesty is?
lol HGM
25 May 2012, 15:23 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-470:
Fernly is lower than a worms balls.
Bung beetles rank higher on the evolutionary scale.
25 May 2012, 15:23 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-458:
no bill, it does’nt.
thats like looking in the mirror and telling yourself you’re ‘the main ****** ou’ or ‘whats cooking good looking’… that shitts gotta come out of somebody else’s mouth..
25 May 2012, 15:24 pm
Am I the only Stormer around?
25 May 2012, 15:24 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-472:
On about the Kiwi girls again i see.
Same thing from you every thread.
I think you are living under a dam, single and your right hand is called Emily.
25 May 2012, 15:25 pm
hahaha, i see the stormers supporters are already talking about a b-team beingf sent to Loftus
making excuses now already!
come on chaps, dont get tjatajarig now
25 May 2012, 15:25 pm
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-473: Ruck protection was not great, but Hougaard showed a profound lack of awareness of prowlers gunning to strip the ball from him…and they were successful at times of pressuring his kicks.
He needs to work on this and fix it pronto… Other teams will have taken note… Including England
25 May 2012, 15:25 pm
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-479:
Really? I’m shattered… The Vodacom Cup?
25 May 2012, 15:26 pm
@roobarb2(roobarb2)-482:
Lag lekker – Die Sharks wag vir julle…
25 May 2012, 15:26 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-476: No ifs and buts… KILL THEM ALL… at Kings PARK!
25 May 2012, 15:28 pm
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-373:
He scored plenty there, about 11 tries in the 2010
He should get a license to roam, like Campese, pnching holes at will, the wing is just a nominal position for Hougaard
25 May 2012, 15:28 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-486:
25 May 2012, 15:31 pm
HG ek wag vir die stormers supporters Sondag.
Die claps gaan klap.
25 May 2012, 15:33 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-489: mate, its going to be comedy central I reckon….
Many Breezers doing their crocodile death rolls
25 May 2012, 15:34 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-483:
yip.
did i hear somebody say ‘fourie du preez’…?..
25 May 2012, 15:34 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-489:
Obsessed with the Man United of Rugby you are! If and buts – eish. We have been written off so many times in the past… I like…
25 May 2012, 15:34 pm
@ryecatcher(ryecatcher)-462: pdv must stay away from commentary, the last time he was on tv after the world cup he said S.HIT on live telly!
25 May 2012, 15:35 pm
HG if you want a good laugh also google “hayibo”.
Sadly the keewees will not understand the dynamic.
25 May 2012, 15:37 pm
How did Meisiekind play today?
25 May 2012, 15:37 pm
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-491: Lol… I have no probs with that and Hougie on the wing, but Hougie is undoubtedly the future for Bok 9. Just that he needs to go back to basics and work on his technique….
25 May 2012, 15:38 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-496:
…and his tattoos
25 May 2012, 15:39 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-487:
I suppose you want FDP at half?….Are there other SA halfbacks who can play test level in S15?
As for roaming commission on the wing, could work,only thing Hougard is no Campo goose stepping, ball playing magician
25 May 2012, 15:39 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-494: Will do… i am not sure sheepshaggers understand most dynamics outside shakey island and their narrow, insular world view
25 May 2012, 15:40 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-484:
its a start.
now you guys can wash the bulls first team bus’s wheels and rims at training for a month or two and well take it from there
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