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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21 Jul 2012, 11:15 am
surely that was aknock on?
21 Jul 2012, 11:16 am
@trupisero-227:
Particularly if they are on the same flight as the Crusaders!
21 Jul 2012, 11:16 am
spies’ captaincy is poor.
21 Jul 2012, 11:17 am
Bulls hit.
21 Jul 2012, 11:17 am
The crusaders should be embarrassed that they haven’t whipped the bulls by many more points and outscored in the try column by 2-1. They don’t look as invincible as many believe they are.
21 Jul 2012, 11:18 am
Tacs prediction
Bulls beat Saders
Sharks beat Reds
Sharks beat Stormers
Bulls beat Chiefs
BOOM
Final Loftus… You gotta admire the chap!!!
21 Jul 2012, 11:18 am
@Gumboots-234:
The Stormers have enough supporters.
21 Jul 2012, 11:19 am
@modawg-242:
Yep, Hougard is not a good scrummie. His basics are lacking, and this is not the level to sharpen up on basic scrumhalf play. That’s what school is for.
He’s a brilliant player, just not at 9.
21 Jul 2012, 11:19 am
Lets hope we dont see any of this lot until the CC
21 Jul 2012, 11:20 am
Go Sharks…
Poor excuse Spies… Many teams are lacking experience…
21 Jul 2012, 11:21 am
To be honest, an easy win for today rather average playing Crusaders. Never any doubts about the outcome.
Can’t see Bulls winning in Christchurch any time soon.
And KEO please sort that **** out. It’s becoming embarrassing really.
21 Jul 2012, 11:21 am
Geez HM has to think hard about a new flyhalf. Morne is horribly out of form!!! Pity about Goosen’s injury as he could be the answer.
21 Jul 2012, 11:21 am
If Meyer continues to select Steyn at bok 10, he’s smoking some serious ****.
21 Jul 2012, 11:22 am
Don’t write the Bulls off just yet!
With Pottie the captain, Hougaard at 11 and a new exciting FH in Pollard they will come back
The Bulls were a much tougher proposition the 2nd half, if only they stopped the aimless kicking and executed more pick and drive,,,
21 Jul 2012, 11:22 am
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)-258:
How is he a brilliant player? Never seen him shine. Vermaak a much better scrum half.
I do hope Meyer does not pick Steyn and that he realises that giving the ball to the opposition is suicide unless it’s raining.
21 Jul 2012, 11:23 am
@Gumboots-260: What did he cotch out?
21 Jul 2012, 11:23 am
@modawg-255:
If you understood rugby you would know what spoiling tactics is. the bulls played rubbish dire tactics where they just killed the ball to reduce the scoreline.
hence the high penalty count!!
21 Jul 2012, 11:24 am
My head tells me the Reds will beat the Sharks next but I’d love nothing more than a Sharks vs Stormers semi @ Newlands. That said we owe the Crusaders a m0ering too. Let todays game be a warning to the Stormers that if you’re playing catch up – its pointless kicking the ball away!
21 Jul 2012, 11:25 am
@NZINCHINA-238: Nope
The Saders are an incredible team, and they become a different beast in playoffs. BUT: When any team plays in the way the Bulls did tonight: errors, discipline fecked, woeful kick and chase, absent captain, woeful scrumming, woeful lineouts…..etc, the opposition is made to look 20% better than what it actually is on the night…..
I still don’t believe this specific version of a Saders team is as ‘unbeatable’ as what some previous versions have been – that’s all
21 Jul 2012, 11:25 am
Just received this sms from my Bulls mate…
I now don’t care who wins as long as it is not the Stormers or Bulls…
Very loyal South African I say and I hope you are reading this…
21 Jul 2012, 11:26 am
Keo, hire someone that knows a bit about IT and fix your site.
21 Jul 2012, 11:26 am
The bulls will have to make changes to this team for next season as this team is not good enough to win the the super15 that is now obvious,but i am still pleased they made the play-offs.GO BULLS.
21 Jul 2012, 11:29 am
That was a very ordinary game by any standard. Pretty poor occasion for a Super Rugby knockout.
21 Jul 2012, 11:31 am
@blueboy-272:
Change your coach.
PDV is still an option.
21 Jul 2012, 11:32 am
@papashanga-265:
He’s a brilliant winger.
21 Jul 2012, 11:33 am
@Spiesisworthless1-273:
Well depends on who you support.
21 Jul 2012, 11:33 am
@blueboy-272:
Yep, good effort to end 4th (Reds’s really ended 6th).
21 Jul 2012, 11:34 am
Well done Saders… You are a champion side and deserve the accolades…
Good Luck Sharks…
21 Jul 2012, 11:35 am
Did anyone really think that the Bulls would make it this year? Seriously it is a brand new team. I hope that we keep the combinations consistent so that the team can mature and come back stronger. It would be good to give the no. 2 flyhalf more game time to have a future option.
Go Bulls!
Go Sharks!
Go Stormers!
Up the Islanders…..
21 Jul 2012, 11:38 am
Predictable pathetic Bulls…..scored more tries however, jeez I hope Spies never sees the green and gold again the useless plonker!
21 Jul 2012, 11:41 am
WTF is going on on this website word press is telling me to slow down as i am posting my comments to quickly,is this a joke.I hope the sharks win their play-off and make the semis.Go sharks do what the bulls could not and win a play-off away from SA.How come their is SA referees reffing sa teams in the play-offs.
21 Jul 2012, 11:44 am
@Hurricane-276: I dont imagine a neutral would have found that a quality rugby game. Atmosphere seemed really flat and the rugby was pretty lacklustre, imo. Not much imagination or creativity on show from either side.
21 Jul 2012, 11:45 am
#274 Jeraldjay that brought a little smile on my face after a a rather glummy morning watching the bulls.
21 Jul 2012, 11:48 am
@Spiesisworthless1-282:
Too many fouls to get a flow on really.
21 Jul 2012, 11:57 am
For the first time in my life i did not want the bulls to score a bonus point try last week v lions,as the bulls would have finished 6th and they would have played the reds and i think we would have had a better chance against them and the crusaders would have played the sharks.
21 Jul 2012, 13:51 pm
Crusaders took their broadswords and slew the fatted calfs.
21 Jul 2012, 14:47 pm
very poor effort by the bulls today
frans is living in the house that heyneke built
but the house needs renovations
and frans is starting to look more and more like a 2nd rate bakkie bouer wif no qualifications
crusaders are still dirty though
21 Jul 2012, 15:08 pm
The bulls were absolutely shite today, what poor rugby played by them. Meyer seriously needs to consider picking bulls players for the boks. These guys shouldn’t even come near a bok jumper.
Well done Sharks!!!! fantastic rugby.
21 Jul 2012, 18:35 pm
Once we kill the Sensational Sharks next week who will care about any Kiwi team in the Final?
21 Jul 2012, 18:42 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree stole my password-289: The only positive that would come out of a Stormers win next week would be a final in a decent venue.
SuperFinals in NZ are dull, cold and boring affairs because their weather and stadiums, if you can really call them stadiums, are so shyiiiite.
And ChCh is the arrrse end of the world, teams lose there so that they can leave as quick as possible
21 Jul 2012, 19:51 pm
Sharks defeating Reds in a playoff game brings back memories of the 1996 sides efforts against the Reds at Ballymore with the same outcome. Andre Joubert, was, is, always be a star, he rocked in that game. Well done sharks.
21 Jul 2012, 21:33 pm
Caught the game on delay. Morne Steyn looked particularly awful, maybe just because he was up against Carter. But the ABs obviously won’t be scared of seeing Hougaard/Steyn again during Rugby Championship.
21 Jul 2012, 22:34 pm
Juandre, Spies, Morne, were absolutely K@k today. Clueless. Felt bad for the two Potties. They worked hard. The rest: burnt out and leaderless, and that includes pofkop Ludeke.
22 Jul 2012, 00:20 am
@Spiesisworthless1-282: what?? Must be something wrong with your tv. Hope it is not a case of sour grapes? I was at the game and nothing wrong with the atmosphere or the Crusaders rugby. Carter was sublime, backline was one fire with at least 50% more running meters than the Bulls and the victory by the Saders was built on brutal domination by their forwards and some great counter rucking that would inspire any forward. As is well known from the Bulls 2 losses here earlier this year, Hougaard cannot play behind a pack that is going in reverse and the other Bulls “weapon”, Steyn was down to a 33% success rate away from the Highveld. Time to change the old tired kick and rush tactic – Blackadder had his team well coached on how to counter that and all that the Bulls achieved is giving away possession andinjuring their 2 wingers in the aerial combat.
22 Jul 2012, 00:22 am
@goyougoodthing2-290: yeah right – idiot.
22 Jul 2012, 01:17 am
@goyougoodthing2-290:
Heres the deal.
You guys look after the magnificent stadiums, with spares; you look after the big crowds, with spares; you look after the viewer numbers, with spares; you look after the playing numbers, with spares; you look after the hot chicks, with plenty spare and you look after the great weather, with spare.
And we’ll look after the rugby.
With spare.
22 Jul 2012, 03:40 am
@The Donkeys Egg-296: Lol DE – you must be a happy man, your brother DC was on fire at first 5 last night.
22 Jul 2012, 04:33 am
Matfield needs to coach the Bulls. Finish en Klaar. Ludeke is Ludicris!
22 Jul 2012, 10:34 am
@The Donkeys Egg-296: OK, as long as the World Cup is always held in NZ, you will be worldchumps, yes.
22 Jul 2012, 10:38 am
212.UptheGuts said:
21 Jul 2012, 08:53 am
LOL THE bulls cheated all night, you don’t have a leg to stand on, im ready to talk where are you?
@NZINCHINA-211: “Blackadder has already pleaded his side’s case by stating his props have been instructed at training not to put their hands on the deck during scrums and anyone entering a ruck needs to be cautious about remaining on his feet. ”
Looks like we complain with reason, no? Someone up there must’ve just joined the Keo realm, as it took them long enough. You watch Hougaard having to negate alot of red and black bodies to get to the ball on his side of the ruck. We’ll talk after…
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