19 May 2007 saw the first Super 14 final contested by two South African teams, the Bulls from the North of Gauteng, and the Sharks from the East Coast of KZN, held at Absa Park, Durban, home of the log leading Sharks, who was indomitable for the whole competition. Shortly before the final whistle, the Sharks were leading, they had victory secured. Amongst themselves, it seems, they started discussing who would say what at the awards ceremony, how wasted they were going to get afterwards and probably the merits of the Sharks’ Flashing Girls. While this discussion was going on, one Bryan Habana slipped over the tryline, almost unnoticed, and beat the final buzzer, to clinch it for the Bulls.
Well, history has a not-so-humorous way of repeating itself, why only a couple of weeks ago I overheard two well fed gentleman (if you could call them that), wondering out loud where the ‘other’ semi-final in this year’s competition would be, seeing as one was already booked for the Orlando Stadium. They also wondered if they could apply for their semi-final tickets so long, because season ticket holders have to apply beforehand in the event of a semi-final, and they didn’t feel much like cueing.
Now, for some inexplicable reason images of eggs hatching prematurely, and carts in front of horses keep plaguing my mind, and for the death of me I don’t know why.
I mean, why should it? Here we have the best players in the world, from 1 to 15, playing in front of the best supporters on earth, in the best team in the history of rugby, against plodders who didn’t really deserve to be there in the first place.
Correct me if I am wrong, but this seems to be a foregone conclusion, why do the other teams bother? Why doesn’t everyone else just throw in the towel, like the Lions, and start preparing for the Super 15? Because these guys are unbeata-bull, attempting to dethrone them is a futile effort, and according to some NZ reporters, they will be that way for quite a time to come. Is that not so?
I say yes, but my yes, is almost immediately followed by a resounding NO! The Force, the Hurricanes, and in a lesser sense, the Highlanders has shown, that there are some definite chinks in this team’s armour, chinks, that when exploited by a stronger team, say, the Crusaders, can lead to an unexpected turn-around of fortunes.
First obstacle is the Bulls’ seeming inability to adapt to a changing scenario while the game is being played. They seem hell bent to follow their original game plan, up until half-time, after which they adopt a more suitable style of play to finish off the game. Decisions like that need to be taken on-field, you shouldn’t have to wait for half-time and get permission from the coach, that is what the captain is there for, and after more than 100 Super 14 games, I am sure, he has had some experience in these situations.
Ironically, the second problem I have identified, is seen by most as one of the team’s major assets. Morne Steyn, and his ability to defend and handle pressure. Someone who says that Steyn’s defense is up to scratch must either be smoking pot, or he is the guy with the nose-ring we see at Loftus during all home games.
Steyn goes in high, every tackle, and either gets brushed of immediately, or just get in the way of other would-be defenders. His inability to cope with physical pressure also raised a few eyebrows. In 2009, against France and Ireland, he couldn’t kick a goal if you paid him. His distribution was sloppy, and he seemed on the verge of losing it the whole time. Experts then claimed that it was because of fatigue. However, in 2010, the Hurricanes and the Force did what the French and the Irish did. They attacked his channel, and had a flanker chase down all Fourie du Preez’s passes, again Steyn was transformed into the stuttering version of himself. This could harm the Bulls en route the final, but how do you fix it, a backbone isn’t something that can be coached, you either have it, or you don’t.
Wynand Olivier is in danger of burning out as he has to defend two channels during every game, and then he is also tasked with running the crash ball the whole game, because Fairy Dust Pretorius gets tackled back time after time. Everyone is on about him being the best 12 in the country, but he seemed pedestrian this weekend, and if it is, as many say, because he is playing according to plan, then surely it is a very stupid plan.
Thirdly, one has to ask where the focus of the supposed senior players in the squad is presently? Bakkies Botha (albeit that he isn’t actually playing) is thinking about his upcoming time in Toulon. Bulls captain Matfield, is planning his coaching career in Australia, while vice-captain Du Preez’s head is full of Japanese geisha’s and his upcoming retirement. I am not in the least surprised that things are falling apart, because the people that need to hold the team together, are each pulling in their own direction, thinking about their futures instead of concentrating on the here and now.
Please, everyone reading this, don’t tell me that they said their focus is still with the Bulls and the Springboks, because that is absolute horse-crap. If their focus was with the Bulls, news of their upcoming ventures, in which they themselves comment, wouldn’t be front-page news.
My best advice for the Bulls would be, stop trying to be something that you are not. No one in their right minds expects the Bulls to run from their own 22, or counter-attack at every opportunity. That is what surprised most teams at the start of the season, and the Bulls scored a lot of tries, but the rumour has spread, as have the rumours of the inability of the Bulls’ scramble defense. Suddenly they scored only 4 in the last 2 games, because everyone knew what they were trying to do, and to be honest, the Bulls don’t have the type of players that can keep a defense guessing for 80 minutes, because it’s just not their game. They do not possess the skills, because for the past 4 years, they weren’t coached that way, they were coached the Bulls way. Possession, territory, pressure, pressure, pressure!
Now is not the time for panic, but for focus, and it needs to be a 22-man effort, coaches don’t win trophies, players does. Yes, some might say it is silly to go off at a tangent on a tirade against a team that won 6 out of 6 matches, and scored 28 from 30. But the fact is, they stand in real danger of losing one, and maybe more in the not too distant future, let’s hope one of those is not a semi.
Die Bulls beter hul gatte in ‘n rat kry of ek sien swaarigheid vir hulle die naweek!
Die Blues is moerig na hul verloor teen die Waratahs en sal wil terugbaklei vir ‘n semi-finale spot die naweek. Bulls moet ophou Stormer rugby speel en konsentreer op dit waarmee hulle goed is!
Middag KP, jou lanklaas gesien…
KP
Die Blues het teen die Waratahs verloor, maar no worries, ek het dit klaar vir jou gefix.
hehehe, ok, ek ontou nou. Die Blues het laaaasnaweek die Brumbies getrap!
Maar die Blues gaan nog steeds vol nukke wees!
When you have an absolute facination as a supporter of a non-Bulls side to criticise the Bulls constantly, it says one thing and one thing only…. you hold the Bulls in absolute jealous high esteem.
None of us Bulls supporters are unaware of the fact that the Bulls are still a work in progress and have certain shortcommings… we blatently say that, after every game.
To say now that the Bulls are on a downward spiral after already 12 Consecutive Super 14 wins and a still unbeaten 2010 season, sounds bitter and twisted…
Look boys and gals, we’re not saying the Bulls will win every Super 14 match and this coming weekend against the Blues is probably as tough as you can expect… Bulls might well lose this weekend…. BUT… Look at the Log… 28 Log Points, with the nearest teams on 23….
Should the Bulls return from their Tour on only 34 Log points, I feel it would still be mission accomplished… we’re one game and a titbit away from that already… so eat your hearts out!
Morné this, Morné that… Meisiekind this, Meisiekind that….. Fourie du Preez this, Fourie du Preez that…. Matfiled this, Matfiled that…. YOU GUYS WOULD GLADLY TAKE ANY AND EACH ONE OF THESE, WITH GRATITUDE AND A HUNGRY GRIN, in your team… and then they will suddenly be the best thing since sliced bread… refer to Habana and Mossie, for example….
Come on, admit it, you are as jealous as all hell…. come on, don’t be coy!
Gaaaaap….
As meisiekind na die Stormers toe kom, hou ek op rugby kyk.
Lees mooi GBS, ek hoop die Bulls doen goed, ek lewer net kommentaar oor wat hulle verkeerd doen.
BTW Matfield WAS die beste…ek persoonlik sal Andries Bekker 9 uit 10 dae bo hom kies, in huidige vorm. Let wel, altyd nie, maar vir hierdie jaar beslis.
GBS
Wees nou so objektief soos wat jou profile se jy is, en vertel my ek praat stront…
The Bulls need to play the way that they always have, because that is what makes the Springboks powerful, the Stormers need to find their way, and play the way we know they can, because that makes the Springboks creative. The Cheetahs, Lions and Sharks, need to do the best they can, because that gives the Springboks depth.
This is the way that SA Rugby is supposed to be, strong in the North, strong in the South, and solid in the middle.
7@ Saint – Dis fasineer my Saint…. 2 SA spanne uit 4 het gewen die naweek…. Bulls en Sharks… so waar is die Artikel wat die Sharks se lof besing en dan hard bliksem oor waar hulle steeds verkeerd doen?
… en waar’s die Artikels wat die 2 verloorspanne van SA bliksem?
…. waar was 1 Artikel (hierdie naweek uitgesluit) wat die Stormers loof maar bliksem op hulle slegte punte?
Kommaan, haal daai brille van jaloesie en afguns af…. heeltemal af… en trek die bril van objektiwiteit aan!
Gaan kyk mooi hoe liries ek al oor Joe Pietersen, Mossie, Bekker, Liebenberg, Deon Fourie, Schalla hierdie jaar was… want die manne speel goeie rugby… en mens moet krediet gee waar dit toekom.
persoonlik is ek bly Langbek doen so goed, ek dink hy maak ‘n blerrie goeie backup vir Matfield, na ek hom nie gerate het verlede jaar voor die einde van die jaar toer nie.
Wat julle nie besef nie is dat die Bulls en Matfield weet hoe om ‘n wedstryd wat verkeerd geloop het heeltemal reg te trek, dis juis een van die geweldige sterkpunte van die Bulls wat ons die jaar gesien het… daai BMT faktor… daai absolute staal wil om te oorleef en weer te wen…
PS! Dis lekker om ‘n Bul te wees jong…..
8@Saint – Jy praat stront! Properste, opperste fattup stront!
GBS
Die Sharks artikel is alreeds in wording, alhoewel ek al baie oor hulle te se gehad het, die Cheetahs s’n het ek alreeds geskryf, maar ek wou eers hulle eerste game oorsee kyk, met 7 sulke groot beserings het dit nie reg gevoel om dit nou al te plaas nie, so ek wil sien hoe geesdriftig pak hulle die toer aan.
Die leeus, well, almal se dis ek wat Willa en Ed weggejaag het, so om eerlik te wees, ek het al heelwat oor die leeus te se gehad.
Die Stormers het tot dusver, van wedstryd na wedstryd verbeter, wat kan ek se, jy weet self dit is waar, maar as hulle aanjaag belowe ek jou, ek is die eerste een wat sal inspring, en marakkas maak.
Ek like nie vir Meisiekind nie, persoonlik of te not, ek sien nie wat ander mense in hom sien nie, en ek verstaan nie die bohaai nie. Maar ek het niks teen die ander Bulls nie, maar kyk bietjie na die span van die week, dan kyk jy na die game van die Force, is dit objektief gekies? Ek twyfel baie baie sterk. Ek het hierdie artikel geskryf omdat Super gese het, ek moet iets plaas om die Bulle terug te bring aarde toe. En jy weet ek kan as ek wil.
Die dag wat jy die Stormers of Stormers spelers so beledig en doelbewus uitmekaartrek soos jy al gedoen het met die res, belowe ek jou, ek moer kordaat van my stoel af….. en ek kan nogal hard van stoele af moer… hehehe vra maar vir Cuzzy en Kwagga (medebloggers)…. veral wanneer die tequila my voete rond maak… hahahaha
baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasop vir ons sharks , ons is besig met a grrot recovery 😆
😆 rudi
14@ Tjarkie_the_recruiter – Ja, jou guppie-span het die naweek groot blink ghoenne gewys….. veels geluk!
hiyas brudda faanks 🙂 yup super and i have keo on the ropes 😆
yeah sharks are starting to regroup
Saint,
Morne Steyn has been described by Northern experts as the “best defensive fly-half” in the world.
Personally, I have no friggin’ clue what that term means, but all that that proves is that us Southerners haven’t been blessed with the necessary gifts and skills to accurately analyse the Blue Machine.
As a consequence, and in the interests of your good health, I suggest that you refrain from these hazardous activities – activities that should best be undertaken by living legends such as JJ Harmse.
Yours in good health.
M Steyn is a fine flyhalf no matter who says what
17@ Tjarkie_the_recruiter – Yesterday was a total off-day from blogging for me, did not put an eye on a blog…..
Donner, I ate myself silly yesterday…. had a huge roast in the oven with all the side dishes and all…. and then I must have had at least 4 helpings of a special pepermint-crisp pudding….
My “pens” stood out like it was going to pop…. like a puppy who eats until it looks like it’s going to burst…. needless to say.. it was a case of magie vol, ogies toe!
lol broer
As a Bulls supporter, I feel that to complain about the Bulls now is much like “Om te kla jy is honger, met ‘n witbrood onder die arm”….
Here’s what I have to complain about at the Bulls and about life in general…..
… that was a lot of complaining, hey?
Flok, hoekom kon die Bulls nie die Tjarks gespeel het 4 weke gelede toe die Tjarks op hulle kakste was nie??
actually GBS even Taccy told me yesterday right now he fears one team for the bulls. lol
wanna guess who that is ??
i reckon bulls are over the jetlag now and still undefeated, thats more then they could have asked for , will take a lot to stop them now
24@ Tjarkie – I fear no-one… only fear itself… hehehe
Actually, to be honest, I’m apprehensive about the Blues…. when they hit their straps some teams are going to kak…
I’m also a bit apprehensive about the Sahrks vs the Reds…
#18
Fender
A defensive flyhalve has to do with his ability to kick out of hand, and dominate play with the boot. Think about it, a turnover in your 22, ball back to Steyn, and suddenly you are on the attack, your line adequately defended. A defensive game was also usually the tactic employed by the Bulls to strangle opposition into error and turnovers. Morne shortly touched on this earlier, as being the ability to play without the ball…ie. defending and turning over possession.
In no way should defensive flyhalve be confused with defending flyhalve, meaning a guy that can actually tackle, such as Henry Honiball, Braam van Straaten and Peter Grant.
As for JJ Harmse, I hope you are saying this tongue in cheek. Albeit that I am familiar with his numerous awards and accolades, he remains to this day, the most one-eyed sports-journalist in creation on a provincial level. If a player is not wearing light-blue, he simply cannot cut the mustard.
During the 2009 Super 14, his bok barometer read 14 Blue Jerseys and John Smit, this while the Bulls tight 5 was demolished game after game.
Please, I don’t mind the criticism, my opinion is hardly authority, in fact it is written in such a way as to spark debate, which is always welcome, remember, i am not a professional journalist, if you don’t like what I write, say so, and let’s discuss it, don’t compare me with provincialist reporters such as JJ Harmse.
i am worried about this weekends game too as the sharks now have traveled back
also the reds are a little like the cheetahs against the sharks
as for the bulls sharks game that will be a cracker ,all games between these 2 teams are very close
#27 Sharky
Usually the jetlag is worse when flying East, I think the Sharks should have enough answers for the Reds. The Cheetahs would have had it, had they been committed to the game.
That young Lambie looks like the real deal, I hope they don’t bugger up his career by trying to turn him into a utility back…
26@ The Saint – You certainly remember the late Quintus van Blouwen… errr.. I mean van Rooyen, wonder if JJ is his illigitimate son… hehehehe
JJ, as jy die lees, ek grap net….. as ons weer saam in die perslosie sit, moenie vergeet om my vriendelik te groet nie…. hehehe
#29
I remember him well. He’d pick a Bulls reserve ahead of an accomplished Springbok if he had his way. Ag well, to each his own, I love reading JJ Harmse on the Springboks, then we are in the same corner, but eish…his Bulls commentary…
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