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, 15:41 pm
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-500:
25 May 2012, 15:42 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-495: Very well… Actually wouldnt be surprised if he partners F Steyn… Steyn 12, Meisie 13 wont be too shabby actually
25 May 2012, 15:42 pm
Cheers muppets. I see there is a Storm brewing over Durban… ominous I say..
enjoy the rugger chaps. I sure am…
25 May 2012, 15:43 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-492:
the man united of rugby..?..
jeezuz bill, are you drunk already?
25 May 2012, 15:43 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-503:
cheers bill.
25 May 2012, 15:43 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-502:
Aha! Never been too good in Green though. He like the pink though…
Outta here… Play nicely ladies…
25 May 2012, 15:44 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-503: Piss against the Wind willl you… See ya on Sunday for snot en trane
25 May 2012, 15:44 pm
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-504:
True Story!
25 May 2012, 15:45 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-507:
Saturday evening buddy! Not one to shy away…
25 May 2012, 15:47 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-496:
yip, if ther’s one word to get to the heart of it..its..
basics…
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-497:
true.
if he keeps going you wont even know if theres maori’s to right or maori’s to the left of him anymore
25 May 2012, 15:47 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-508:
25 May 2012, 15:48 pm
HG proclaiming that Stormers supporters are scarce……….hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahaha………..he probably forgot how he went into hibernation when the Sharks were useless.
HG my friend, come tomorrow night you’ll be choking on your pearls of wisdom. You make it so easy dude, like really, too easy
25 May 2012, 15:50 pm
Meyer Bosman………………laugh out farking loud. Is Plum serious? He just played JDV into the Bok 12 jersey with that move lol
25 May 2012, 15:51 pm
well i’m all choked out for today.
enjoy the rugby boys and may the best teams win.
.
.
oh, and a special salute to you, caner…(you kiwi dog you)
25 May 2012, 15:51 pm
@Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-512: “he probably forgot how he went into hibernation when the Sharks were useless.”
sorry d00d, not even bears can hibernate for years on end
25 May 2012, 15:52 pm
@Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-513: Kicking option? But this dude is the slowest distributer around
25 May 2012, 15:54 pm
bulls catching 2 back to back losses and some still won’t go home to their melktert as they’re off to Dbn…they’ll be pretty miffed when they meet up with the stormers!
25 May 2012, 15:56 pm
The Stormers need 9 points from 3 matches… that will be enough
25 May 2012, 16:01 pm
Nah the Stormers have to win all games, they can afford to lose maybe one, no more!
25 May 2012, 16:02 pm
BR @ 495.Kak.See,the match has me swearing now.Spies merde.
Sadie a good game defensively but then subbed.
25 May 2012, 16:19 pm
I see the Stormers are pulling the crowds into KP where their own team doesn’t even quarter fill the stadium.
25 May 2012, 16:22 pm
Where’s cane
Am gonna translate fern’s monstrosities for him
25 May 2012, 16:37 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-522: cane is fast asleep.
25 May 2012, 16:39 pm
cane is uit gepass.
25 May 2012, 16:45 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-522: Not a good idea!!!
25 May 2012, 16:48 pm
Why not.
25 May 2012, 16:48 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-521: Dawn our stadium is always full when there is a derby game. Don’t matter if it is Stormers or Cheetahs and you won’t find a seat when the Bulls come town, not even one. It is full house too. Just the way it is when there is a derby game on.
25 May 2012, 16:50 pm
Why only for derby games
25 May 2012, 16:52 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-528: Could be the rivalry that goes on between the local teams.
25 May 2012, 16:53 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-528: Because fans of the local ‘opposition’ can make the trip to the sardine shack from all over SA, thereby filling it.
25 May 2012, 16:53 pm
puma is newlands full every game?
she is being stupid to get attention
25 May 2012, 16:55 pm
how empty would newlands be if there were no cape crusaders
25 May 2012, 16:58 pm
Waaa waa waa.
Say thank you nicely for stormers filling up your tank
25 May 2012, 17:00 pm
lets see the colours worn by the crowd tomorrow,shpuld be a good gauge.
25 May 2012, 17:02 pm
@Puma(Puma)-527: don’t lie, the Tank wasn’t full for currie cup semi-finals vs both cheetahs & bulls!
remember the “bee” game?
25 May 2012, 17:02 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-532:
How empty would your cranium be,
if not for your,
loathing of my small and insignificant land.
You have shiit for brains fernly.
25 May 2012, 17:04 pm
Colours don’t matter your supporters only pitch after a win
25 May 2012, 17:04 pm
small and insignificant land
confession time
keep well all
cane my brother i am sending you lots of love and light
25 May 2012, 17:04 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-522:
No need Dawn,
but I thank you for your very kind thoughts.
8)
25 May 2012, 17:05 pm
Fern unfortunately for you crowd numbers don’t eqaute to trophies won, you’re 16 and zip in professional super rugby.
25 May 2012, 17:06 pm
Cane
He said Kiwi women like the taste of SA men’s s e m e n
25 May 2012, 17:06 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-528: The last time Loftus was full house was when Bulls played the Sharks. Derby games attract the supporters.
25 May 2012, 17:06 pm
Cane you still up mate, must be getting late down there.
25 May 2012, 17:07 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-541:
He’s all class isn’t he.
25 May 2012, 17:08 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-535: It was for the Bulls. NO seats available. Remember there are many, many Bulls supporters that drive up from Pretoria when Bulls are in town.
25 May 2012, 17:10 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-534: Will be almost all Black and White in the Stadium. Very few Stormer supporters travel to Durbs for the game, where as if it was Bulls playing at the Tank, you would see many Bulls supporters about with their flags out the cars here.
25 May 2012, 17:11 pm
Scum of the earth Greentea
Scum of the earth
25 May 2012, 17:12 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-534: You Sharks praise singers don’t wear your colours until the team wins. You Spice girlies attend the game wearing neutral colours (except for that middle aged ADHD poster child who bursts a vessel on camera every game). If the Sharks take the lead – stadium strip off and suddenly Sharks jerseys in abundance….
25 May 2012, 17:13 pm
@Puma(Puma)-545: no it wasn’t!!! some of you here even used the excuse that there was rain forecast for that afternoon!
25 May 2012, 17:13 pm
@cane(cane)-539: Cane you up late? Must have had a good jol tonight..hehe.
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