Bulls bully Blues

Bulls bully Blues

10 Mar 2013

The Bulls physically battered the Blues into submission to win for the first time in Super Rugby history at Auckland’s Eden Park.

The Bulls won 28-21 against a home team that physically took a beating.

Blues coach Sir John Kirwan made six changes to his starting XV and the powerful Bulls approach never allowed the newcomers to settle.

Kirwan at halftime bemoaned his side’s lack of passion, pride and commitment, but the Bulls were physically too strong for the Blues youngsters, who got their first taste of Pretoria’s finest.

The Bulls, as the Cheetahs did against the Highlanders, showed greater control, composure and appreciation for field position in giving the hosts a Super Rugby lesson. The South Africans were also physically imposing and did brilliantly to last the 80 minutes, given they only arrived in Auckland from Pretoria on Wednesday.

The Blues, under pressure throughout, fought back from 15-6 to momentarily lead 16-15 on 53 minutes. But the Bulls scored through flanker Arno Botha from the resulting kick-off to restore order and Morne Steyn ensured the victory with a penalty from the last kick of the game.

The Bulls scored three tries and could have had a few more. They played with enterprise and always looked dangerous on attack. The midfield of Wynand Olivier and JJ Englebrecht was strong but it was the strength in the contact that was decisive.

Rene Ranger played well for the Blues, as did captain Ali Williams and fullback Charles Piutau, but the rest were a shambles.

Williams described the effort as ‘piss poor’ and said the team would have lost respect with the performance after working so hard in the season’s first two games to win back respect.

The win is the first for every Bulls player, be it at Super Rugby or for the Boks, at Eden Park.

It completed a South African 3-0 clean sweep weekend against New Zealand teams, which like a Bulls win in Auckland doesn’t happen often. Enjoy it because it was fully deserved.

By Mark Keohane


852 Comments

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 18 » Show All

  • 1.mamma_lou: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 04:30 am

    go kings

  • 2.Angostura: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:08 am

    Mornin punters

    Go Blues!

  • 3.Angostura: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:09 am

    @Angostura-2: Blues for the Bru
    but
    BULLS for the heart!

  • 4.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:11 am

    Blues…..

  • 5.nama1: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:13 am

    Blues by 20+ against the Pink Bulls.

  • 6.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:14 am

    Morning for those on the correct side of the planet.
    Afternoon TR
    Good luck to you and your side
    @Angostura-3:
    Precisely what he said
    :-)

  • 7.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:14 am

    love the way the refs giving them license to do whatever they want at the breakdown.

  • 8.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:16 am

    Kiwi refs are disgusting

  • 9.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:16 am

    sorry

    meant to say Kiwi refs disgust me

  • 10.nama1: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:18 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-7:
    Are you watching the game?

  • 11.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:19 am

    @Angostura-2:
    @nortierd-6:
    more more

  • 12.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:19 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-7:
    Now Bakkies
    Remember what I mentioned to you yesterday
    I don’t think either Peypers or Japhta will be getting fan mail from the Chiefs and Force respectively.
    I still believe an Aussie should be officiating in this match.

  • 13.jet jungle: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:19 am

    Vandag moer ons hulle pinkenblou! Go Bulls.

  • 14.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:20 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-11:
    More
    Dis te vroeg om opgewerk te word
    :-)
    Nog baie tyd om te gaan

  • 15.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:21 am

    through the middle

    ja right

  • 16.nama1: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:21 am

    Blues allowing the Bulls to play some rugby at the moment. There’ll come a time when they’ll “explode” into action and the Bulls will not know whatthefuckhappened now.

  • 17.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:21 am

    @nortierd-6:
    Hi Nortie….Thanks….Blues with 6 Debutantes in Super Rugby…huge task ahead

  • 18.hendrikp: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:23 am

    Bulls not looking good for this game.

    Forwards useless outside of Flip & Arno.

    Backs not much better.

  • 19.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:23 am

    ref doing his job

    again

    what a way to waste a game

  • 20.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:23 am

    wynand crying…

  • 21.nama1: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:23 am

    Wynand met ‘n lekker “shiner.”

  • 22.hendrikp: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:24 am

    @hendrikp-18:

    TBF, Spies looking good as well.

  • 23.Angostura: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:24 am

    BULLS!

  • 24.nama1: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:24 am

    Mooi drie Bulletjies.

  • 25.hendrikp: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:24 am

    And as I say that they do something good.

    Come on BULLS!!!! 3/3 against NZ sides this weekend would be great.

  • 26.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:24 am

    nice

    take that mr ref

    whada ya gonna do about that

    doos

  • 27.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:25 am

    Nice move, nice try
    @Te Rangatira-17:
    Yeah TR, Pops mentioned that yesterday
    Strange decision to make that move this game?

  • 28.the curse: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:25 am

    man I hate the rolling maul

    legalized obstruction.

    try bulls

    if you’re reading UFO, not happy with the number of changes made by JK. too many imo

  • 29.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:25 am

    mapoe scores…

  • 30.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:27 am

    @nama1-10:
    yip

    i gave advance notice

    @nortierd-12:
    yip
    kiwis will be counting the return for the weekends efforts
    so that aint gonna happen

  • 31.the curse: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:28 am

    Bakkies doesn’t watch super rugby

    makes his “assessments” from the scoreline

  • 32.nama1: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:28 am

    @Te Rangatira-17:
    They’re resting some of their their best players for the game they nominated to win. Apparently it is the game against the Brumbies when they (the Brumbies) return from their tour in SA.

    If they can leave NZ with 2 bonus points, they’ll regard their sojourn in NZ as successful.

    :lol:

  • 33.hendrikp: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:29 am

    BULLE!!!!!

    Skop hulle gatte.

    Turning out to be a very good rugby weekend.

  • 34.Angostura: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:30 am

    PAMPLONA!!!!

    The Running of the BULLS …

  • 35.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:30 am

    Nog een
    You see Bakkies, after 80 minutes you will be hanging posters of this ref on your locker door
    :-)

  • 36.nama1: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:30 am

    Nice try Bulletjies.

  • 37.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:30 am

    @nortierd-14:
    wie’s opgewerk ..?.. :grin:

  • 38.hendrikp: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:31 am

    @the curse-31:

    Checked the rules on the end of the Stormers game.

    Doesn’t matter whether it was a ruck or not, you can’t approach the tackle situation from the side. Should’ve been a penalty to the Chiefs.

    My mistake.

  • 39.Fern: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:31 am

    @nama1-32:
    Jy is ouer as ek,nie geweet du Plessis het Reinach gewen in die 400m nie,interresant.

  • 40.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:31 am

    @the curse-31:
    Morning/ afternoon Pops
    I won’t say good afternoon :-)
    Looking ominous at the moment
    Not a good team to play catch up rugby to

  • 41.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:32 am

    @nortierd-35:
    its shocking he did something about Ranger

  • 42.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:32 am

    blues back three are weak on the high ball. bulle will pepper them!

  • 43.nama1: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:32 am

    Ref having a good game so far.

    He awarded two tries to the Bulls and even allow Kirchner to join the back line on both occasions. :lol:

  • 44.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:34 am

    Here comes a red card

  • 45.the curse: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:34 am

    cheers Hendrik

    all good, calls go against all teams, still think the stormers were the better side on the day

    the way this games going, a very poor weekend for NZ teams. credit to the saffa sides who have played much better.

  • 46.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:34 am

    The Blues backs have a serious problem with Morne Sryen’s flying coconuts descending on them from everywhere :)
    Brilliant :D

  • 47.nama1: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:35 am

    @Fern-39:
    Du Plesis het op daai stadium gekonsentreer op sy atletiek. Eers die jaar daarna begin rugby speel

  • 48.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:35 am

    Ok, self inflicted
    Nice body slam WWF move

  • 49.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:35 am

    liaki moli doing a ‘stage dive’ :D

  • 50.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    10 Mar 2013, 05:35 am

    oh i’m watching, Poppa

    you’ll have a full report on the pathetic extent of your non-officiating of Kiwi ‘free flowing’ rugby (read: anything goes).

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