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, 17:13 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-547:
If he lived in the US he’d be invited onto the Jerry Springer show as”white trash”
25 May 2012, 17:14 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-549: Which semi final are you talking about now Transie?
25 May 2012, 17:14 pm
@greentea(greentea)-540: Their stadium numbers suck as well, so zero cups, zero crowds and the class of fan that you see on here – How lucky are those Sharks?
25 May 2012, 17:15 pm
Ok Puma. Gotcha.
25 May 2012, 17:17 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-549: Tomorrow it is sold out and there will mostly be only Sharks Supporters. Hardly any Stormer supporters come to the Tank. Mostly cause it would be very expensive to fly here, which is understandable. Bulls supporters always make the trip here though, cause it is only a 6 hour drive.
25 May 2012, 17:17 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-548: you also noticed that dude hahahaha i think he is rangerman!
25 May 2012, 17:17 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-553:
They get decent crowds but no trophies, some (not all) of the Sharks fans go on like they’ve dominated super rugby since inception big talkers for a team thats won nothing over the last 16 seasons.
25 May 2012, 17:18 pm
@greentea(greentea)-551: His sort is classified as white trash here in SA too. There is a fine novel that gives wonderful insight into the psyche of our local white trash – Marlene v Niekerks: Triomf.
25 May 2012, 17:19 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-554:
25 May 2012, 17:19 pm
Yes puma.
25 May 2012, 17:19 pm
@Puma(Puma)-552: the one with the bees before kick-off that ended with rain & lambie taking a highball from morne with the bulls camped in the shark’s half!
the stadium was NOT full!
25 May 2012, 17:20 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-556: That guy is an aneurysm in progress. Absolute badger boy of note.
25 May 2012, 17:21 pm
Fern is not white trash he is gutter trash
25 May 2012, 17:23 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-561: I was in Australia at the time.
25 May 2012, 17:24 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-558:
I’ll have to ask Fern about it next time he’s around.
25 May 2012, 17:27 pm
Fern lived in Tempe.
That says a lot.
25 May 2012, 17:27 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-541: Nasty!!!
25 May 2012, 17:28 pm
What’s the weather like in Durbs?
25 May 2012, 17:29 pm
Where is he now.
My translation made him all embraboer?
25 May 2012, 17:31 pm
Ja Brumbiesboy
That is what we have to deal with here.
25 May 2012, 17:32 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-566: The Tempe Tigers were in all probability scared of him…..almost impossible to imagine, but he seems like that type of specimen.
25 May 2012, 17:34 pm
He drove a rooikat.
Or he was the shooter at the back. So he says.
25 May 2012, 17:36 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-570: Yebo! Take as well as you give…but keep it above the belt.
25 May 2012, 17:36 pm
@Jinx2(Jinx2)-568: Quite warm. Temp was 27 today. Some rain is forecast for tomorrow.
25 May 2012, 17:39 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-569:
emboerit.
25 May 2012, 17:39 pm
If he keeps it above the belt, I will.
Otherwise, fugeddaboutit!
25 May 2012, 17:42 pm
@Puma(Puma)-574:
Excellent. Thanks. Can’t wait for Thunderdome.
25 May 2012, 17:42 pm
dawn i was draftes to tempe
i am such trash yet i am the main topic here…
so dawn enlighten all about tempe please
i am flattered guys realy
never has somuch attention been given to so little
of to the braai
25 May 2012, 17:46 pm
jeeezzzzzlaaaikk.
fernley braais more than Khulubuse Zuma.
#thepeopleshallshare
25 May 2012, 17:50 pm
Tomorrow’s braai:
Grilled swordfish bunnychow
Roasted pineapple and walnut salad
Banana split sundaes
Vodka and Red Bull Slammers.
25 May 2012, 17:52 pm
actually grunter isaw on kyknet that there is a okewhohasbraaied every day for thel last three years.
25 May 2012, 17:53 pm
25 May 2012, 17:54 pm
Fern why you sukkel so with Englikaans
25 May 2012, 17:56 pm
nah doing it for the irritation factor
bananas anyone?
25 May 2012, 17:59 pm
Outta here.
G’nite all.
Roll on Super Saturday!!!!!!!!
25 May 2012, 18:12 pm
the ‘guests’ on the jerry springer show are also proud to be the centre of attention…
25 May 2012, 18:26 pm
Hope its not another “Stormers 16 – 0 up at half time and then grinding it out for the win in the second stanza”.
#i’llbeanervouswreck.
25 May 2012, 18:34 pm
@Jeraldjay(Jeraldjay)-587:
Attended a breakfast this morning with a very interesting guest speaker.
25 May 2012, 18:37 pm
Go on. Tell us.
25 May 2012, 18:38 pm
S just us here.
25 May 2012, 18:39 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-589:
Heyneke. Gave quite a few things away. Have a greater appreciation of who he rates and who he doesn’t.
25 May 2012, 18:46 pm
@IAAS(I am a stormer)-588:
Sean Fitzpatrick was the after dinner speaker at one of those Chris Burger/Petro Jackson charity function.
Surprisingly he was very funny and told the story of a test match between the AB’s and the Wallabies when the ref kept on refering to the the Wallabies as gold and the AB’s as black. He stopped the ref in mid sentence and said “Referee they are not gold, they are yellow”
He ended off with the Haka….. without any actions. Flippin sent shivers down my spine.
25 May 2012, 18:50 pm
@Jeraldjay(Jeraldjay)-592:
I remember Fitzpatrick telling a story of how he was in a taxi in NZ on the way to the airport.
Taxi driver: ” Are you going to let me guess? ”
Sean: “Yeah, I’m Sean Fitzpatrick.”
Taxi driver: “No mate, local or international.”
25 May 2012, 18:59 pm
@IAAS(I am a stormer)-591:
So which Stormer does HM rate. And will JDV be his captain.
Also does he think that the sun shine’s out of Spies’ arse.
25 May 2012, 19:07 pm
@Jeraldjay(Jeraldjay)-594:
Spies he does not rate. He needs to up his game.
When Ian Macintosh, the MC asked about the loosies, the first name out of Heyneke’s mouth was Duane. He said his injury couldn’t have come at a worse time. Others he rated are Jacque Potgieter, Deysel, Marcel Coetzee. Alberts he likes as an 8 and I’ve said this here before. But the Sharks play him at 7. And don’t expect Brussow to be an automatic selection. He has analysed his play and looks at the penalties he concedes. Same with Minnie. Deon Steggman didn’t get a mention.
He’s still uncertain of his captain but he mentioned a few names.
25 May 2012, 19:11 pm
@Jeraldjay(Jeraldjay)-594:
Spies could be a short term solution at 8 because of the injury crisis.But his place is under threat and he can’t be considered an automatic choice going forward. And don’t be surprised to see Kanko’s name in the match 22 at some stage. He rates him as an impact player and was impressed with him at the camp.
25 May 2012, 19:17 pm
@IAAS(I am a stormer)-595:
Hopefully Duane will be ready for 4 nations.
Marcel Coetzee is an excellent prospect and is currently one of my favourite loosies.
Did Kolisi’s name pop up.
25 May 2012, 19:21 pm
@Jeraldjay(Jeraldjay)-597:
Yes, but not one of the front runners. But will be a contender at some stage.
Who are your selections at 12 and 15? Who would you go for?
25 May 2012, 19:29 pm
@Jeraldjay(Jeraldjay)-597:
According to AC, Schalk is due back the first game when Super Rugby recommences after the tests and Duane a week later.
HM needs to sit down with Schalk and get to know and understand him better. HM is big on culture, work ethic and mental toughness. And is looking for a long term choice as captain.
25 May 2012, 19:35 pm
12. Frans Steyn (I have no doubt he will be the best option). But his fitness and condition also has to up to scratch.
15. This position has always been an issue and needs to be filled with an attacking minded player with pace . Lambie has played at 10 all season (which I believe is his best position) but he will probably be slotted in at 15. He is attack minded but just doesn’t have the pace.
Taute was a revelation in CC 2011 and I hoped that he would have an excellent Super Rugby 2012 season but this idea derailed.
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