Saders surge into semis

Saders surge into semis

21 Jul 2012

RYAN VREDE reports on the Crusaders’ 28-13 victory over the Bulls in which they were never stretched by the bumbling and lethargic South Africans.

Hail the play-off kings. The 15-point margin of defeat flatters the Bulls. Not for a minute did the Crusaders look like their imposing record in the knock-out stages would be tarnished. They were dominant in every facet of play, supremely so.

Their method was pragmatic and if there was anything spectacular about this performance it was found in the unfailing accuracy with which they execute a simple game plan. Add a measure of individual flair and you had a cocktail that incapacitated the Bulls. This was a statement performance that should concern their semi-final opponents.

For the Bulls, there is no shame in losing to the Crusaders in Christchurch. Indeed those who believed they would break their drought in the city had no real base for that belief. This Bulls side is vastly inferior, lacking the calibre of players and experience to have harboured serious ambitions of an upset.

However, while the result was not surprising, the quality of their error-strewn performance certainly was. They fed Dan Carter with kickable opportunities and paid the ultimate price, the flyhalf racking up 18 points with his boot.

It would be remiss not to credit the Crusaders for the manner in which they blunted the Bulls’ attacking intent. Physical, often brutal, and consistently accurate in defence, they simply bullied their visitors into submission. They owned the gainline, and the Bulls were rarely able find the space or time they needed to roll out their game plan. Consequently they were made to look rudderless for large periods of the contest, with their struggles compounded by the injury-enforced replacement of Chiliboy Ralepelle (10th minute), Bjorn Basson (37th) and Akona Ndungane (43rd).

Conversely the Crusaders were able to control the game’s flow, tempo and territory, with their halfback pair of Dan Carter and Andy Ellis orchestrating matters. The Bulls were unable to quell the Crusaders’ heavies in close quarters and conceded a string of penalties, two of which Carter banked before he added a conversion after expertly putting Zac Guilford through a hole in the defensive line with a perfectly timed pass.

Carter sunk a right-footed drop goal shortly thereafter to give his side a comfortable lead, but the hosts would have been acutely aware of their failings in the red zone which meant the Bulls were still alive at 16-3 going down the tunnel.

Carter capitalised on ill-discipline which has been a depressing feature of the Bulls’ campaign, kicking six more points just after the restart. But the Bulls found some groove, scoring through Dewald Potgieter after a powerful rolling maul.

The Crusaders were content to revert to a holding pattern, punching up through their forwards or inviting the Bulls to attack from deep by kicking in behind their back three. There would be no telling rebuttal from the three-time champions outside of a late Wynand Olivier try that served only to add a dash of respectability to the scoreline.

Crusaders – Try: Zac Guilford. Conversion: Carter. Penalty: Dan Carter (6), Drop goal: Carter
Bulls – Try: Dewald Potgieter, Wynand Olivier. Penalty: Morne Steyn

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318 Comments

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  • 51.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:44 am

    bulls losing stupid turnovers

  • 52.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:44 am

    Howzit Guns

  • 53.Atreides: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:44 am

    What k ak from chili

  • 54.Papoose: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:46 am

    CHILLIBOY you Beast. what a tackle!

  • 55.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:47 am

    what a c ocktonsil,that bulls prop is light years offside
    you are not going to win a game playing like that.

  • 56.Atreides: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:47 am

    2 fuckups from Olivier already! Bulls giving away soft turnovers too argh!

  • 57.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:49 am

    How is Potgieter a Bok lol

  • 58.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:49 am

    Easy pickings the caveman was way too upright.

  • 59.Pencil: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:50 am

    That bulls prop looked like he thought he was wearing a crusaders number 9.

  • 60.Atreides: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:51 am

    @58 yep he’s clearly learning his posture from Spies..

  • 61.The Sharks rugby pedigree stole my password: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:51 am

    Bulls are nowhere……..

  • 62.grant10: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:55 am

    Kak that buls must play with quotas… Chilli and zane made kak in first 5 mins… Or else saders should also play with only 13 men

  • 63.Atreides: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:56 am

    Spies pulling his usual disappearing act

  • 64.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:57 am

    damn Bulls being penalised big time

  • 65.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:57 am

    Is Spies playing tonight?

  • 66.Papoose: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:57 am

    Such ill discipline by the Bulls
    tsk tsk

  • 67.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:58 am

    Saders controlling things – Bulls need to start getting their hands on the ball

  • 68.Papoose: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:58 am

    No game plan being shown by the bulls currently!!

  • 69.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:58 am

    bulls nedd to score a converted try now to still be in this?

  • 70.Atreides: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:59 am

    Headless chickens! No plan no ideas

  • 71.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 09:59 am

    A few iffy ruck calls against the Bulls.

  • 72.Papoose: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:00 am

    why are these Bulls players panicking like this
    even this kick from Hougaards continually unacceptable

  • 73.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:00 am

    Where is the Bokke number 8 AWOL?

  • 74.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:01 am

    Ellis is better than I thought he can play?

  • 75.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:01 am

    62 @ Grant10

    Compared to passengers like Spies, Steyn etc. Joker :)

  • 76.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:01 am

    lamb chops or rump steak tonight?

  • 77.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:02 am

    oh dear

  • 78.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:02 am

    Men vs boys out there.

  • 79.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:02 am

    at last, the system kept telling me my first contribution, was too fast

  • 80.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:03 am

    This is going to be a cricket score.

    It usually is with the Crusaders in a home play off game.

  • 81.Papoose: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:03 am

    Bulls to get a HIDING as i predicted

  • 82.The Sharks rugby pedigree stole my password: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:04 am

    Morne Steyn…..oh dear.

  • 83.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:04 am

    Saders had enough advantage after the knock. How come they were called back?

  • 84.Atreides: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:04 am

    That was inevitable. Eish was hoping the bulls would show more spine today

  • 85.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:05 am

    Bulls Lineout in Sader 22

    lets see if they can win a clean ,lineout

  • 86.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:05 am

    game over
    bulls wont come back from this the way they are playing today.

  • 87.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:05 am

    Spies is there just saw him

    Cleverly disguised black scrumcap

  • 88.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:06 am

    Bulls heart isn’t in it.

    They are giving the ball away far too easily.

    It appears they had given up before kick off, or if not, then just after it.

  • 89.bangkok-bok: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:06 am

    @grant10-62: I’m glad that I’m not the only person who sees the quotas. Chilliboy is s h i t! The people on here who think he is any good are secretly wishing he is. Niknaks is also K A K!

    I hate wishing hurt on anyone but I hope M Steyn gets a severe injury to keep him out of the game for a year.

  • 90.RL: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:06 am

    50 point moering still on the cards.

    Morne Steyn is the kakkest Bull on the field.

  • 91.bangkok-bok: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:07 am

    @Dawn-87: Hope he gets a broken leg and never plays the good game again!

  • 92.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:07 am

    If Steyn plays 10 for the Bokke in the RC the Bokke will get slaughtered.

  • 93.CenturionShark : Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:07 am

    Bulls are playing some really silly rugby.

    Play for the corners, and apply the pressure. Don’t even think about doing anything else.

  • 94.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:08 am

    in 27
    13:00
    How can the Bulls expect to win games away with the like of Chilibooi, Kirchner and Ndungane?
    And do Jonker, no Joubert, no Pro Legota either?

  • 95.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:08 am

    How kuk is Stain?

    Hopefully HM realises that these blokes in blue are too kuk to wear green and gold

  • 96.CenturionShark : Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:09 am

    @NZINCHINA-92:

    Thanks Captain Obvious :)

  • 97.Atreides: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:09 am

    Comments posting buggy

  • 98.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:10 am

    Seyne is an anachonism and past his best. time to retire.

  • 99.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:10 am

    @Hondo-94: ffs why come turn this thread into a political dump?? get over it ffs

  • 100.Gumboots: Reply to this comment
    21 Jul 2012, 10:10 am

    Jeez Steyn is useless. The very reason why the Bulls are in shock…

    I hope HM is taking a good look…

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