The Vodacom Blue Bulls scored four tries in their 25-24 victory over the Griquas in a packed GWK Stadium in Kimberley on Saturday.
In the opening minutes it was clear that both teams are going to have a full go at one another and although neither managed to score a try in the first ten minutes the Griquas were the first to get on the score sheet when Naas Olivier landed a penalty in the 7th minute.
It was good to see that the Blue Bulls were scrumming a tad better than against the Cheetahs and with Wilhelm Steenkamp and Flip van der Merwe spoiling a couple of the Griquas’ lineouts the team from Pretoria had most of the initiative in the first quarter.
The Bulls continued to put a lot of pressure on the Griquas and in the 16th minute captain Derick Kuün went over for the Bulls’ first try thanks to some good mauling by the forwards.
Francois Brummer missed the conversion and with Olivier slotting his second penalty in the 19th minute Dawie Theron’s team were leading 6-5, but it has to be said that the majority of the first quarter was played in Griquas’ half.
With Brummer and Olivier adding a penalty each the Griquas were back in the lead and in the 33rd minute Egon Seconds extended this lead when he scored the home team’s first try of the match after following up Jonathan Mokuena’ cross kick.
Olivier missed the conversion but the Bulls were right back in the game thanks to a terrific try from Francois Hougaard but unfortunately Brummer missed the conversion and that meant the Griquas were leading 14-13 at the break.
The Bulls had ample possession in the first 40 minutes and the vast majority of the match was played in Griquas’ half but in spite of this Theron’s men were outstanding on the ground and it had the result that the Bulls, who were quite heavily penalised, could not generate the momentum that they wanted to.
Shortly after half time the Griquas’ reserve hooker Rayno Barnes went over for their second try when Hougaard’s kick was charged down and with Brummer missing his third attempt in the 48th minute coach Frans Ludeke decided to send on Burton Francis.
With more than 30 minutes to play Ludeke also used Pedrie Wannenburg and Zane Kirchner as impact players but in spite of the reinforcements the Bulls’ lineout and scrum work weren’t as effective as in the first 40 minutes.
With 20 minutes to play and the Griquas leading 19-13, Springbok Chiliboy Ralepelle and the young talented Frik Kirsten were unleashed but the team from Kimberley continued their rampant form when left wing Trompie Nontshinga extended their lead to 24-13.
Luckily the Bulls got themselves right back into the game via a Gerhard van den Heever try and after this they were playing with a renewed kind of vigour as well as a lot of energy.
The Blue Bulls knew a converted try would take them into the lead and when Rohan Kitshoff as well as Mokuena got yellow cards in the last five minutes Wannenburg bulldozed over to score the Bulls’ bonus point try.
Francis converted and that meant the Bulls pulled off a very dramatic, but highly entertaining away victory.
Scorers:
Vodacom Blue Bulls: Tries: Derick Kuün, Francois Hougaard, Gerhard van den Heever, Pedrie Wannenburg. Conversions: Burton Francis (1). Penalties: Brummer (1).
GWK Griquas: Tries: Egon Seconds, Rayno Barnes, Trompie Nontshinga. Penalties: Olivier (3).
@superBul – Ek is nou dors, ek gaan nou drink!!
@carol – There is really a parallel between Wilkerson & Dan Carter right now. Good to see both of them looking fit & likely to return to test rugby.
@carol – Spring in CT starts much later 🙁 But when we have days like today it is stunningly beautiful
GBS has such a nice setup for an office, I am sure he doesn’t mind spending loads of time there 🙂
@carol – Laat hy val waar hy wil! 🙂
@carol – Geniet dit , cheers
seeya later, I need a shower, feel like King Kongs arm pits after the day on the golf course. I played so many shots, I really got value for my money today
121@carol – Bwahahahahaha
@JimT – 122, Jim my wish is that Morne is given a decent chance to settle in the 10 jersey, we cant afford it what Dick Muir like to do, chopping and changing. If the ever try Morne at 15 i will go ballistic, it is not the way to go. You just dont break all the promising 15s hearts and confidence and unsettle a good player out of position.
Hello….
@SA Barbarians – Later he will fall where he wants? Is that right?
Jim i wonder if Wilkenson will ever be the same in the test arena, he was very good but he is struggling.
@JimT – Actually it will be good to see Dan Carter and Jonno have a good season….nice to see a few of the good old familiar faces.
OK, till later …..xxx
@superBul – And it’s good to have 2 competing for 1 jersey, makes the team stronger. When last did we have the luxury of 2 flyhalves?
@Loserer – there is a lot of love for RP as a flyhalve, in my eyes he is not even a no 10, a great footballer and a great backup for FdP at 9 thats where i see him. If he gets all these chances and comes off fine, just hope we dont pay for his aprenticeship.
read this on a Kiwi site:
Those Sringboks are awesome. Deans was right when he said they went through a World Cup hangover last year. When the dust settled they put 50 on the Wallabies and dismantled Twickenham. What worries me is this: They have broken all records: most capped captain, lock partnership of 50 tests… and it goes on. That is the most experienced team in world rugby and most of them are still in their mid-20s. That clown of a coach has done a masterstroke by keeping those players together. This Springbok team is going to become one of the greatest teams ever, I just don’t want to be around when that backline starts firing – it will be like the Bulls/ Chiefs final. And by the way… Is Pierre Spies human? Enjoy the game people – and let’s be under no illusions, the Wallabies CAN beat SA.
Cool stuff eh?
@superBul – I have to agree. Morne has earned his place. Now it’s tough on Pienaar but that’s rugby, use it or lose it. It would be a huge mistake to drop Morne at this point. As for replacing the other Steyn with him there is an argument for that perhaps. Same applies to Burger & Brussow, would be a mistake to drop Brussow. Burger will have to wait his turn. Should be interesting re PDV’s picks.
@superBul – Ek hou van Morne waar hy nou is just fine… Sukkel om gewoond te raak aan die gevoel dat jy weet jou loskakel gaan oorskop..
@Loserer – 134 I hope he is not what Jaco vd Westhuizen was for Jake. JvdW was a great no 15 but although they gave him a full season he never had all the stuff one wants from your pivot.
@superBul – It remains to be seen. Have not watched Wilkerson (he’s only had one game?) but Carter has had 3 & I watched the last two. he looks good, goal kicking outstanding.
@JimT – Jim, how old is Wilko?
@JimT – No i did not watch any of those games, only read the match reports, i just hope that Carters injuries are gone. From what i read it seems he has fully recovered.
OK people, I have created a specialised Mail Account for this site… webmaster@rugby-talk.com
This is also contained in the Links section, situated on the left hand side on the Home Page
The Mail will reach 4 webmonsters here… automatically
141@Loserer – Are you still around ?
@Loserer – I think he’s 28 or 29.
145@JimT – Mr Prop, do me a favour… go to the Home Page, Click on Mail Webmaster under LINKS (On the left hand Sidebar)… and send the Webmsters a quick Test Mail, please… it’ll reach me directly.
Thanks
Wat gaan hier aan dat ek niks sien aangaan nie?
OPINION: Old Dingo Deans, Wallaby Rob, call him what you will. For the first time since he took charge of Australia ‘s national rugby team you could also call Robbie Deans a man under just a little bit of pressure.
It’s one of the great sub-plots of this week’s Bledisloe Cup clash in Sydney – the fact that both coaches enter the match rather under the gun to get a result their teams dearly need.
Both are staring down the barrel of three straight Tri-Nations defeats. Not life or death, but certainly an uncomfortable position from which to operate. For one of them it will also be a reality when they awaken next Sunday morning.
Deans of course doesn’t face the same sky-high expectations as Graham Henry does with the All Blacks. Australians have a much more realistic view of their side’s place in the scheme of things. They’re not expected to win every rugby test – just most of them.
@grootblousmile – GBS I tried but it prompts me to use/load Outlook Express. With my new Notebook under Vista I now use Windows Mail. Sorry. I guess I need to figure how to set Windows Mail as my default mail under Vista. H’mmm …..
@JimT – Jim when you say notebook do you mean laptop or netbook?
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