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

  • 101.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:28 am

    I suppose basson is half white

    Hondo only targets black blacks

  • 102.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:29 am

    @Hondo(Hondo)-94:
    there’s just no winning with you, is there..?…

  • 103.Hoops: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:29 am

    I cannot understand that wings in the S15 cant handle a high ball…..what is it with them….most times they just jump to look like they are attempting a catch…..if I was coach I would lash those wings that make schoolboy errors like that!

    Man up op go home!

  • 104.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:30 am

    The Bulls will not let my wagers down again, second week in a row?
    Hope not, Bulls by 12 plus

  • 105.Michael: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:30 am

    @Hondo(Hondo)-100: Called Masaga “filth” because he is non-white? You are way out of line and are the scum of the earth. The sooner people like you die off the better for humanity.

  • 106.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:32 am

    @houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-102:

    chop.

  • 107.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:32 am

    Mikey! Jets to half thrust please!

  • 108.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:32 am

    People can we not count our hoenders just yet!! They are playing the whilly Chiefs who can score a try from anywhere at anytime.
    Go the Bulle

  • 109.RWC'11 was fixed: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:33 am

    Anyone got a live feed for the game?

  • 110.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:33 am

    @houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-95: no more palpitations? :roll:

  • 111.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:34 am

    HAs anybody able to get http://www.k0staz.webs.com/ working?

  • 112.Airwell: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:34 am

    Kak Bulls scrum again

  • 113.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:34 am

    @Transformation(Transformation)-110:
    hahahahahaha

    good one.

  • 114.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:34 am

    allez les bleus

  • 115.Michael: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:34 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-107: Full stream ahead captain!

  • 116.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:35 am

    Min 45
    Chili dropped the scrum, Kruger takes the blame?

  • 117.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:35 am

    correction. allez les rose (pink in french)

  • 118.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:38 am

    thats my boy.

  • 119.Airwell: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:38 am

    when Morne plays well the Bulls win
    Good signs

  • 120.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:39 am

    no questions about meyers choice for flyhalf in 2012.

    that questions been answered .

  • 121.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:40 am

    @Airwell(Airwell)-119:
    my thougts exactly.

  • 122.Slartibartfast: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:40 am

    109 try vipbox

  • 123.greentea: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:40 am

    @houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-120:

    great news

  • 124.Stawm: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:40 am

    @houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-120:
    Agreed

  • 125.Airwell: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:41 am

    @houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-120: But long term I think Goosen is the man.

  • 126.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:41 am

    cruden shooting good too.

    good for him.

    hope he gets a look in for the ab’s.

  • 127.Airwell: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:42 am

    Chiefs making a comeback

  • 128.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:43 am

    10 mins up after halftime, bulls to rumble home.

  • 129.PrickBoks going South: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:43 am

    Are the P’ulls the most boring team on the planet or is there a team in Romania we haven’t heard of yet ?

  • 130.greentea: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:44 am

    Carter V Steyn
    Ferrari V Ford Fiesta

  • 131.slavedriver: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:45 am

    @PrickBoks going South(PrickBoks going South)-129:
    no a team in canada,oh yeah canada.

  • 132.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:46 am

    @greentea(greentea)-123:

    jy gaan bitterlik in jou groentee in huil, later vanjaar china. = you are going to cry bitterly into your greentea later in the year, china.

    just you wait.

    @Stawm(Stawm)-124:
    yip
    @Airwell(Airwell)-125:
    quite possibly yes.

  • 133.DontThinkJustWonder: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:46 am

    Dreary lack of ambition from les rose (thanks ROT) will cost them. Should do better as my grade 4 teacher once wrote…

  • 134.greentea: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:47 am

    @houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-132:

    like you did last year?

  • 135.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:47 am

    my suspiscion is arizona is not 100%

  • 136.Airwell: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:47 am

    great try Chiefs

  • 137.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:48 am

    fark

    good try chiefs

  • 138.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:48 am

    @greentea(greentea)-130: :-)

  • 139.PrickBoks going South: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:49 am

    at least one team knows how to play rugby

    the P’ulls hoping for more penalties from the cheating Yappie on the pea

  • 140.greentea: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:49 am

    Who said earlier this game was in the bag.

  • 141.slavedriver: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:49 am

    @greentea(greentea)-134:
    and like you did for a few years before

  • 142.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:49 am

    The bulls need to regroup or I lose may pants

  • 143.PrickBoks going South: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:50 am

    right on cue

  • 144.Airwell: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:51 am

    Morne playing great

  • 145.Michael: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:54 am

    @PrickBoks going South(PrickBoks going South)-143: Yup, Bulls back in the lead :-)

  • 146.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:54 am

    bulls still in it…plenty of time

  • 147.PrickBoks going South: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:54 am

    cheating Yappie ref simply won’t let the P’ulls lose, that much is blindingly obvious

  • 148.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:56 am

    palpitations are back.

    oh jeezuz

  • 149.greentea: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:56 am

    Chiefs playing 16 tonight.

  • 150.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    25 May 2012, 10:57 am

    oh filp!

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