Cook saves Bulls blushes
2 Mar 2013
Jean Cook scored a late try as the Bulls came from behind to beat the Force 36-26 in Pretoria.
Morne Steyn scored a try within the first minute but that was the Bulls highlight package for the next 70 minutes until replacement flank Jean Cook scored from a maul to give the Bulls a match-winning lead and Werner Kruger got the bonus point try into injury time.
The Bulls led 14-9 at halftime and extended the lead to 19-12 before a Steyn pass was intercepted for a Force seven pointer.
The Bulls still didn’t seem to be taking the Force seriously and on 52 minutes turned down a penalty from in front. It was a poor decision that could have cost them victory. However, the Force faded in the final few minutes to finish with nothing for a courageous effort.
The Force seemed to have done enough to get a losing bonus point when they defended 20 phases of Bulls attack to force a Bulls knock on with just 20 seconds to play. They then conceded a free kick from the scrum and the Bulls played their get out of jail card to claim a fourth try and a bonus point win.
The victory is on the board, as are the five league points. That reads far more impressive than the Bulls performance.
Arno Botha was very good, replacement loosie Cook enjoyed a decent debut, Steyn had his moments and wingers Bjorn Basson and Sampie Mastriet had good games but there was little to cheer from the rest of the Bulls, whose forwards were not dominant and whose backs continue to run too laterally to pose any attacking threat.
It could be that the Bulls didn’t give the Force the necessary respect after the Australian franchise lost to Super Rugby newcomers the Kings a week ago. I hope that is the case because if the Bulls were switched on then it doesn’t bode well for their season, especially when they travel.
The winners certainly played like a team that may challenge for a top six place, but not a top four.
Former Cheetahs flyhalf Sias Ebersohn impressed for the Force and his 16 points included a 58 metre penalty and two drop goals.
By Mark Keohane
354 Comments
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3 Mar 2013, 17:14 pm
The rolling maul is an atrocity that doesn’t belong in rugby. At no stage is it a fair contest.
3 Mar 2013, 21:44 pm
Wahaha. Look at all the Bulls hating ******* raving about the ref when we’re behind, yet criticising him once we hit our straps.
This was a fair result, despite Ebersohn being mega. He couldn’t do it alone though, the rest of that team sucks balls.
We were complacent yes, maybe even arrogant, which was bloody stupid, but once we realised we’re REALLY in kak, the BMT stepped in and the force could do nothing about it.
You can say what you want. The Sharks and Stormers both would have lost from 19-26 behind. And yes, both the Sharks and Stormers could easily be in that position against the same team.
Trolls gonna be bitchin, I don’t care.
3 Mar 2013, 21:56 pm
Two things the Bulls did wrong:
1) They did not first earn the right to swing it wide, and instead swung it wide from the set piece (and not to any planned move from the setpieces that could have cut teh defence). They were losing possession in midfield because their loosies were not following up fast enough, and had bad body positioning.
2) When they were tackled, they dd not extend their arms fully backwards, and lay the ball off. This meant that the opposing defender could reach the ball easily. Basics really.
Pretty shocking game from teh Bulls – their heads were definitely not there. Having said that, good play from the Force. Their breakdown play was a little suspicious, ying all over the ball, sealing off and not getting penalised often enough.
4 Mar 2013, 05:55 am
@S_K-31: The bulls are the only team to have taken the game to the townships, and have the best record in using players of colour. Now who is the dumb f#$k?
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