Bulls surge into semis
13 Oct 2012
RYAN VREDE watched the Blue Bulls qualify for the Currie Cup semi-finals with a 50-29 victory over the Golden Lions at Ellis Park.
The Bulls will travel to Kings Park to face the Sharks in one of next Saturday’s semi-finals, but for the first quarter of the match they where in real danger of finishing bottom and having to play a relegation-promotion match to retain their status in the Premier Division.
They trailed by 10 points and were on the ropes as the Lions ran everything. However they regrouped, improved their defensive accuracy and attacking potency to emerge comfortable victors after a testing first 60 minutes.
Mention must be made of Morne Steyn’s goal-kicking, which has been poor this season. The flyhalf amassed 22 points with his boot, many of those kicks from difficult angles.
The Lions, who had already qualified for a home play-off, played with a freedom that reflected their unassailable log position, spreading the ball at most opportunities. They also benefited from Butch James’s pin-point goalkicking – the flyhalf landing two penalties before they scored a try that was birthed deep in their half and featured slick interplay.
But that was as good as it got for the Lions, the Bulls pegging them back through Steyn’s boot before they matched the Lions’ try for wow-factor – Jacques Potgieter cutting the defensive line at speed before offloading to Bjorn Basson to score. Steyn banked the conversion and a couple of penalties to give the Bulls a 22-16 half-time lead.
The Lions had opted to rest a string of their first-choice players, but some of those were introduced and their influence was immediate. Twice they came away from the Bulls’ 22m with points, James sinking a brace of penalties to level the score. However, the Bulls cut loose once more to regain the lead, Arno Botha feeding Jano Vermaak with a pass that appeared to drift forward. Steyn converted from the touchline to take his side seven points ahead.
But the Lions responded brilliantly and instantly, driving into the Bulls’ red zone through intelligent, speedy and powerful phase play before Anthony Volmink wriggled out of a tackle en route to scoring. James kicked his seventh successful goal of the evening to level the scores at 29-29.
With 20 minutes to play, Botha emerged from an impressive rolling maul and powered over the line and four minutes later the Bulls pounced on a senseless quick lineout feed in the Lions’ 22m, Dewald Potgiter crossing the chalk for the try that broke the defending champions’ resistance.
Akona Ndungane gathered another wayward pass shortly thereafter to pave the way for them to put 50 on their Gauteng rivals and set up what has the potential to be a spectacle of note against the Sharks.
358 Comments
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14 Oct 2012, 09:58 am
@Tacitus-147:
I put the sound off after 30min, Was trying to enjoy the game, but what an irritation every time he opens his mouth!
14 Oct 2012, 10:02 am
Surely the superior Bulls tactics will absolutely clinch this one… How dare the Sharks even think of spreading the ball to the wings… How dare they play with more than 10 men…
This is knockout rugby… Of course the Bulls are winners in knockout rugby… The last thing they won was in 2010
Sharks only make finals… They cant win them… Like this year and last…
Bulls gonna walk all over the Last Outpost
14 Oct 2012, 10:02 am
Well, Bulls clear favourites.
Lets hope the Sharks can pick themselves up for this one
14 Oct 2012, 10:04 am
@sharks_lover-130: Hi SL, is Pieter Steph fit again ? – will like to see him play against the Bulls
14 Oct 2012, 10:06 am
@Heavens Game-152: We miss 2 forwards that played in our win over the BUlls in the Super 15 match in Durban,
Bissy and Kanko, remember?? they were huge in that match. BUrden is good but i worry about his scrumming at times and lineout throw ins
14 Oct 2012, 10:07 am
@CharlesM-154: Yes Charles, he has completed 2 matches for the Sharks u21′s,
He had a good fIrst half on Saturday, so i think the match fitness is not 100% THERE YET
14 Oct 2012, 10:08 am
@sharks_lover-153: Rudi Straeuli could do a lot worse than getting Butch to come back to the Sharks next year as back up…
Perfect for Sharks – Lambie the “fullback” as first choice 10 with Butch and Bosman as decent back up… Butch will also be a great mentor for the “fullback”…
Perfect for Butch – he plays out a final couple of seasons at home as a Shark…
14 Oct 2012, 10:12 am
@sharks_lover-155: Ja, and the Sharks have a “fullback” playing at 10 vs awesome Morne…
A 10 that cant kick… and a midget at 8… Sharks are f.ucked.
14 Oct 2012, 10:12 am
@Heavens Game-157: I said exactly that to RobDylan of Sharksworld. BUtch is in damn fine form and knows the Sharks setup and style of play.
Now if i was Plum? thats who i would want as backup
14 Oct 2012, 10:13 am
@Heavens Game-158:
14 Oct 2012, 10:15 am
@sharks_lover-156: Do you think he’ll be on the bench ?
14 Oct 2012, 10:16 am
@Heavens Game-158: If the Sharks can retain ball like they did on Friday night?? and not kick it away like the Bulls do?? no doubt we can win.
Also our forward pack need to out muscle the Bulls pack, this is where we need to win it
14 Oct 2012, 10:18 am
@sharks_lover-162: Flip v d Merwe looked to be in some pain when he left the field. The Bulls will miss him a lot if he can’t play. His replacement, Steenkamp, is no no. 4 lock – I still don’t which one of the 2 brothers is worse !!
14 Oct 2012, 10:19 am
@CharlesM-163: I still don’t know which one of the 2 brothers is worse
14 Oct 2012, 10:20 am
@CharlesM-161: Dont think so mate,
14 Oct 2012, 10:22 am
@sharks_lover-162: Ja, the Sharks might just dare to keep the ball and also outrageously offload amongst the loosie… They also might just stupidly gun for the 10/12 channel of the Bulls with the “fullback” taking it to the advantage line against awesome Morne with his rock solid D with who other than the midget 8 or the co-ordless JPP running off his shoulder… Hopeless “gameplan” for a knockout game against the kings of “finals rugby”
14 Oct 2012, 10:23 am
@CharlesM-163: Not sure i didnt take notice of him being injured.
would be a bonus for the Sharks if he is out, not that i wish him injured, what i do wish is that we had a fit Bissy and Kanko
14 Oct 2012, 10:24 am
@Heavens Game-166:
14 Oct 2012, 10:26 am
The “fullback” at 10 and the midget 8 might have a couple of points to prove… What better than doing it against Heyneke’s team playing Heyneke’s gameplan steeped in Heyneke’s philosophy… Spicy
14 Oct 2012, 10:26 am
@Heavens Game-166: HOw is this for A BUMMER situation,
Andries Strauss is playing for the Cheetahs in the promotion relegation match, and Strauss is contracted to the Kings for next year,
will he give his all??? or help out his new employers?? to be??
14 Oct 2012, 10:28 am
@CharlesM-163: Journeymen at best. For me “Kokkie” is worse because he has more of a direct influence on my team, which he waters down significantly each time he takes to the field. Plus when he is on the field he calls the lineouts and almost never call the ball to the front, in spite of having Eben there and also having hookers (across the board) who are not exactly known for their accuracy in throwing in at the lineout.
It’s almost as if he wants to maul the ball every chance he gets, without realizing that he first needs to get the ball to maul it.
And with Andries likely to spend some time on the injury list next year, i would have been much happier with Anton Van Zyl, or Franco Van Der Merwe there as no 5 back up. We did sign the tall young Bulls player, if I were AC I’d be putting in a lot of work with him sooner rather than later.
14 Oct 2012, 10:30 am
@sharks_lover-170: He is really not playing good rugby at the moment ! He was replaced yesterday – he might not even start. If he does not give his all, it will be very unprofessional !! I guess Naka will have a talk with him to discuss the matter.
14 Oct 2012, 10:31 am
@stormersboy-171: HIYas M
VD Merwe is with the Sharks for the Super 15, I would have preferred Mostert tpo come back to us from France
14 Oct 2012, 10:31 am
@CharlesM-172: prolly will lol
14 Oct 2012, 10:33 am
@sharks_lover-173: Hey T howzit. Yes I know, the Sharks got a good one there. Amoungst all the Elton and Taute hype Franco (who is a Springbok squad member) seems to have slipped under the radar.
14 Oct 2012, 10:33 am
@sharks_lover-170: Farkemall… Cheetahs playing absolute shitrugby the last couple of games… As for the Kings – farken SA Rugby’s version of a Bantustan if ever there was one with their very own Paramount Chief Kaizer MatanzaCheeky leading them to the promised land…
14 Oct 2012, 10:33 am
@stormersboy-171: I have to agree with you. De Kock hardly ever uses any other options in the lineouts. Even if the hookers struggle he doesn’t seem to think where to throw. Fairly useless IMO
14 Oct 2012, 10:35 am
Stauss hasn’t had a good run of games since he left the Sharks. I honestly believe that he was a flash in the pan, so to speak.
The fact that he was called up to the end of year tour speaks more to the huge amount of injuries we had at the time than his own performance.
14 Oct 2012, 10:35 am
@Heavens Game-176:
14 Oct 2012, 10:38 am
@stormersboy-171: I hope Quinn Roux will return from Ireland as promised but then again he is a 4 lock as well. AC should consider using Eben at 5 ( as a stop gap when Bekker is not available). The youngster coming down to the Cape should be thrown into the deep as well. He has talent and will (hopefully) develop under the guidance of Proudfoot and Bekker.
14 Oct 2012, 10:43 am
Okay guys I’m out – have a nice day all
14 Oct 2012, 10:43 am
@CharlesM-180: The problem with Eben at 5, is that although he is tall for a lock, he is actually not the most athletic jumper in the world. He started playing lock late, in fact has been playing the position for less than 5 years if you think about it.he is getting better and better and he could fill in as a stop-gap as you say, but i wouldn’t expect him to dominate in that position, whilst he could certainly dominate at the front. Hell even Kobus Wiese, possibly the worst jumping lock to ever play for the Boks could own his position at 4 lol.
What Eben has begun doing more of lately is stealing opposition ball which is great to see and bodes well for his future.
14 Oct 2012, 10:44 am
I clean forgot, Sharks have 3 top players out injured , not 2, me forgot abaout Fransie Steyn.
Luckily Tim is a very capable substitution.
14 Oct 2012, 10:47 am
@sharks_lover-183:
Bit early for excuses …..
14 Oct 2012, 10:54 am
@phil72-184: Who’s making excuses?? catch up dude, some of us are discussing player movements and so on.
2ndly we will leave the loud mouth bragging to you guys the BB supporters,
Sharks will rather do the talking on Saturday,
14 Oct 2012, 10:56 am
@Tacitus-147:
at least stransky has played at the highest level.
unlike that pathetic one-eyed excuse called matthew pearce.
most irritating toady to have to listen to
14 Oct 2012, 11:00 am
@sharks_lover-185:
So.. we are discussing injuries on this blog now? You are not making any sense!
14 Oct 2012, 11:04 am
@phil72-187:
???
Uhm as you can see a few of us were discussing injuries, for example to a player like Bekker, and who would be a likely or better option for the Stormers.
Is it difficult to understand??
Tell you what, if we whip you come saturday without the 3 injured players i spoke of?? it would make the victory taste all the more sweeter
14 Oct 2012, 11:11 am
@sharks_lover-188:
But what an embarrassing occasion it would be for your wonder team to loose against the woeful out of form Bulls team that can only play the one eyed one dimensional skop en jaag game?
14 Oct 2012, 11:18 am
LOL!
Check out the poll.
Who will contest the Currie Cup final?
WP & Bulls
19
Lions & Bulls
7
Sharks & WP
3
Sharks & Lions
2
Total Votes: 31
ONLY 5 votes for the table topping Sharks so far. What, have they had all 15 players injured or something that I don’y know about?
A WP Bulls final in CT – clearly evidence that this site is overrun by dreamer WP fans…
14 Oct 2012, 11:56 am
Sharks …Lions final at the Tank…
WP hardly win at Ellis Park
Bulls will get smacked 6 love at the Tank….
14 Oct 2012, 12:01 pm
@grant10-191: Gonna be tough thought Grant,
Bulls no easy match
14 Oct 2012, 12:09 pm
@Liewe Luiperd-190: Wishful thinking by the WP fans and the “Traditional Power” junkies… They probably hope and pray that they dont meet the Sharks in the final… This year Sharks own WP.
14 Oct 2012, 12:10 pm
@sharks_lover-192: I dont think they on top of their game…..Sharks are playing a far superior brand of rugby….Lambie to show the skop en jag artist what its all really about….Sharks by 15 to 20….
Lions / Wp will be closer…..wp will flatter to deciece for an hour but get taken last 20 min….Lions by 6
14 Oct 2012, 12:12 pm
@Heavens Game-193: Should the Sharks be “lucky” enough to prevail aginst the awesome 10 man might of the Blue Bulls and weather the mortarbomb kicking shitstorm then they would probably prefer to face WP in the final anyway… Lions are the bananaboys bananaskin…
14 Oct 2012, 12:18 pm
Morne Steyn truly fears Pat Lambie… This whole Lambie is a “better fullback” came straight from the kicking mule’s mouth – him and his chommies Matfield and co… Perpetuated by Meyer and Loubsher…
It will be beautiful to see Pat take apart this little kicking darling of Loftus and dismantle this Bulls originating “fullback” bullshit once and for all…
Pat and Keegan to prove more than a few points to the Blou Ballas Voortrekkers… Just what every soutie loves doing… Disproving the supremacy myth over and over again….
14 Oct 2012, 12:22 pm
@grant10-194: even though i agree Grant, when it comes to play off rugby? the Bulls lift their game big time, depends on the day mate
14 Oct 2012, 12:25 pm
Morne will kick 8 out of 8 and Bambie 5 out of 9 and be boo’ed of the filed like the previous beloved Tiger Pienaar on his home ground by his faithful supporters….
14 Oct 2012, 12:31 pm
@phil72-198: Morne will kick 8 out of 8… Really?
A pity he couldn’t do it for the Boks all season long… You know, actually get 50% plus success ratio…
Either its because he has no ballas at the highest level – a yellow bellied flat track bully – or its because he truly is overrated, like many Bull Boks picked by Meyer….
2010 is a long time ago in rugby…
14 Oct 2012, 12:47 pm
@sharks_lover-197: Bulls got nothing ….played their final last nite to avoud promo game….they will get absolutely moered at the tank.
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