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 … 3 4 5 6 7 [8] 9 10 11 12 13 … 16 » Show All
25 May 2012, 13:47 pm
Never been better, thanks for asking.
25 May 2012, 13:49 pm
@cane(cane)-347:
Once he works on improving his pass…will challenge for spot in Abs, agree big future, must remain fearless when expressing his natural flair.
25 May 2012, 13:52 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)(londonshark)-341: @greentea(greentea)-349:
Hougaard was one of the most impressive players at WC2012.
Not bad for a bench player.
He should have been starting…………………………………every game.
25 May 2012, 13:53 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-350:
Really….the slow recycle of Bulls forwards is stifling his game.Will suit a more uptempo game plan.
25 May 2012, 13:54 pm
Bulls are finished – so boys bmt
25 May 2012, 13:55 pm
@cane(cane)-353:
Agree. He was coming on then as a winger too, which is a position that many feel is his best.
But he must be in the starting 15, be at 9 or 11.
25 May 2012, 13:55 pm
@stew(stew)-355:
It’s karma for the false eye gouging accusations.
25 May 2012, 13:55 pm
Just watched a replay of that game again.
The Bulls are just not the same outfit without a big blindside flank to do the hard yards and dominate the collisions. ala Rossouw, Potgeiter etc.
Spies operates better with one and an oke like CJ can be left to be the looser, link man.
25 May 2012, 13:57 pm
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-352:
There was a moment when the Chiefies were still behind.
And the camera showed Kerr-Barlow walking among the forwards during some down time. Talking, talking, talking……………………………a pat on the back here, a touched shoulder there.
25 May 2012, 13:58 pm
Forcing relative lightweights like the other Pottie and CJ to do the hard work just doesnt suit their style of play.
25 May 2012, 13:59 pm
He problem with Hougie is that he wants to play 9, because let’s face it, he’s quick enough now for wing, but when he hits 25/26, that pace might go (just ask Habana).
At 9 he’s garenteed a long international career.
25 May 2012, 14:00 pm
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-354:
Slow recycle is something Hougaard can’t control but having two receivers behind the scrum can open opportunities for Hougaard, as we ALL saw in 2011 RWC!
He was explossived in 2010 playing at 11 with vd Heever on the right, he can be a huge factor but these pegged places for the quota tokens kill his future
25 May 2012, 14:00 pm
Hougie moet pasop dat hy nie uitdraai soos Brent Ruseel of Ruan Pienaar nie,hy moet n posisie kies en daarin spesialiseer.
25 May 2012, 14:02 pm
@greentea(greentea)-357: Cheating Bulls get justice
25 May 2012, 14:03 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)(londonshark)-356:
And London,
When he came on,
things happened.
WC2012 could have been very different for SA, if form players had been selected.
25 May 2012, 14:05 pm
@cane(cane)-365:
Oooops that should read WC2011.
8)
25 May 2012, 14:07 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-358:
You probably meant to F. Wanneburg?
Roussow was great at 4/5/8, but at 7 he spilled the ball too often
25 May 2012, 14:10 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-23:
Sir George Grey was also Governor of South Australia.
A true Tri-Nations man.
25 May 2012, 14:10 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-319: no probably not but to be honest JP hasnt been in great form for a while now
25 May 2012, 14:12 pm
gmt + 8
gmt +10
25 May 2012, 14:12 pm
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE(KWAGGA ROBERTSE)-215:
ek wil nie soos n kaapse emo klink nie… maar dit was fok-ken hartbreekend.
baie goeie spel by die chiefs se senters vir daai laste drie.
@Transformation(Transformation)-247:
there’s an emptiness somewhere deep inside and it just does not feel like it should be there, transie. this was our highwater mark i believe and from here on in i do not expect this team to win the comp anymore.
i did not start out believing they would, or even could, win it considering they are such a young and new team, missing so many of the old hands, but as the comp progressed i started to believe it was possible and lost myself in the hype (fark i was even on record as saying they would get a mid table finish if they lucky).
i was and still am sure that the game which would decide it for us was this one. they may yet prove me wrong but i dont think its our year after all.
i do believe this team will seriously challenge for honours next season though.
25 May 2012, 14:12 pm
Bulls still ahead of the gougers on the log.
Now THAT’S justice.
25 May 2012, 14:15 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-362:
I feel hes wasted on wing, he can bust holes around the ruck if given the right ball, a running first five would open up more opportunities for him, defences not really worried about Morne carving them up.
25 May 2012, 14:15 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-358: Danie never dominated the collision point against top quality defence – he easily got the ball ripped away on many occasions
25 May 2012, 14:17 pm
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-371:
Head up Bakkies.
Keep the faith.
Bulls only faded (very slightly) in the last 1/4.
They will be very tough to beat when they get back home.
25 May 2012, 14:19 pm
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-373:
Morne couldn’t carve a roast.
But he can kick one over from almost any angle.
25 May 2012, 14:19 pm
thing with the bulls is;
if they get a home semi and final then you can just about bank on a win. this is something they need to grow out of of course but at present its the more likely of anything.
it took a stroke of luck, a bit of referees misdirection and a sublime bryan habana jinking run to get us over the sharks away from home in a final as for the rest it was all done from fortress loftus.
for the bulls to win a playoff away from home its going to take an almighty effort and then some for a home final.
25 May 2012, 14:23 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-330: the grin on percival’s face says it all.
25 May 2012, 14:23 pm
@cane(cane)-375:
thanks cane.
its gonna be a helluva fight though. they’ve def put themselves on the ‘low road’ to a possible final… the high road would’ve been nicer.
25 May 2012, 14:24 pm
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-379:
Man I really thought your team would win this one. I was actually rooting for your boys. No-one wants to play the Chiefs in NZ… whether us or the Bulls or even the Sharks for that matter…
It was close but no champaign…
25 May 2012, 14:25 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-372: Not for long ! By next week we will be in 2nd spot – go sharkies ( the shame) LOL
25 May 2012, 14:26 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-378:
indeed.
very enthusiastic.
25 May 2012, 14:26 pm
The Bulls might just be rooting for the Stormers tomorrow… getting busy at the top of the SA conference…
Sharks have a bye and four points waiting as well…
25 May 2012, 14:26 pm
It’s not the end of the world. The Bulls won two from four and secured two bonuspoints from their losses. That’s not a bad tour. But it’s going to be tight from now on. Hope the Sharks smash the boring Stormers.
25 May 2012, 14:29 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-378: @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-330: @Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-331:
You sick bastaards.
8)
25 May 2012, 14:29 pm
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-377: Agreed – i hate playin the Bulls at Loftus – either they cheat us ( LOL) or are unstoppable – it does look like the Saders and Bulls will play playoffs ( as farkin usual ) – hopefully it will be in Christchurch for our sakes
25 May 2012, 14:30 pm
@Riaan26(Riaan26)-384:
Boring – well well well… Now I’ve heard it all…
Three tries to one – Chiefs not boring at all then…
25 May 2012, 14:30 pm
@cane(cane)-368: f(ucken marauder!
25 May 2012, 14:31 pm
I love these sorts of posts.
88.houston, we have a problem… said:
25 May 2012, 10:20 am
this is a bulls win
no doubt
great try basson
95.houston, we have a problem… said:
25 May 2012, 10:24 am
the composure is what stands out most.
this is a legendary team in the making, again.
all the hallmarks of the 1st juggernaut showing.
be afraid world…be afraid….
hahaha, well chickens were counted for Housten in the 30th minute of the match, page 2 on Keo land.
Brilliant.
Anyway well done Chiefs, managed to win even being taken out, pulled of the ball illegally, the bulls tried everything but lost.
Back to the drawing board Bulls
25 May 2012, 14:32 pm
@cane(cane)-385:
What you on about…I’m only thinking about roast mutton.
25 May 2012, 14:33 pm
Sold out Kings Park tomorrow.
When last was a Super 15 match sold out in NZ or Oz and what was the attendance figures.
25 May 2012, 14:34 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-389:
I know you are a poor loser but you seem to be a poor winner as well.
Why don’t you tell us more about your 3 houses all with satellite tv.
that s.hit is awesome man.
25 May 2012, 14:35 pm
@cane(cane)-376: Goosen can do both.
And can do the latter even better, and further.
25 May 2012, 14:37 pm
Heyneke Meyer better pasop and catch a wide awake wake up call,
He’s selected 15 Bullies in his 42 man Bok squad
Out of that lot I reckon I might count 3 or 4 who are worthy Bok contenders right now
CJ Stander and Juandre Kruger and Greyling in forwards and a toss up between M.Steyn, JJ Engelbrecht, and Basson at back.
The rest including Hougaard on todays performance are hopelessly behind international standard and will sink the Boks
25 May 2012, 14:38 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-391: What does KP hold? Think it is 52 000. Now that is something, the derby games seem to be getting the most attendance.
Going to be massive battle at the Tank.
25 May 2012, 14:39 pm
“Bully for You
Chilli for Me
Got to get a raincheck
On Pain” – D. Bowie
25 May 2012, 14:41 pm
I hope Lambie has his dandruff under control for tomorrows game! Could create some false white lines on the field.
25 May 2012, 14:41 pm
@cane(cane)-385: you’re just mad percy sampling the goods before you get here 8)
25 May 2012, 14:41 pm
yip puma 52 000 and it also has 350 suites/boxes so i am mot sure of the end total.
25 May 2012, 14:42 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-380:
yip.
i too got ahead of myself aroung minutes 39:15 and even more in the second half (first quater), only for it to come crashing down.
agreed on the playing the chiefs away for a semi or final… or even the saders or brumbies for that matter.
boys are gonna have to dig deep across the board at all the unions.
Pages: « 1 … 3 4 5 6 7 [8] 9 10 11 12 13 … 16 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.