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.
GBS
Ek hoop julle MOER die Blues, met klassieke Bul-Rugby, dit voel net flokken weird as ek sien julle speel soos ons, that being said, ek hoop ons MOER die Force…ek vlieg spesiaal af Kaap toe vir die Bulls / Stormers game, ek hoop daar is dan nog steeds iets om voor te speel.
30@ Saint – To be honest, Louis de Villiers in Slaapstad, does exactly the same…. I think he sleeps in a Schalla pajama-suit…..
lol saint agreed mate
lambie is a big star in the making , and yes lets hope they leave him at full back
31@ Saint – Kyk, ons Bulls en Stormers moet eintlik nou saamstaan en saamspan…. flok, die res van die SA spanne gaan dit nie vir ons maklik maak deur klomp oorseese fokkers grond toe te trap nie ons moet dit maar self en vir mekaar doen.
fender @ 18
lol
In AUSTRALIA, NZ ENGLAND all the same, the home teams are always the best. But I am not praising the Stormers, I am very quiet about their chances, I can’t see myself in that category.
Are you guys ready for it…. I suppose I have to say something profound for my 10 000th comment…
Here goes…
Dis lekker om ‘n Bul te wees!
Die lewe is ‘n Lied, sing hom uit volle bors!
Gooooooooooi Mieliessssssssssssss!
GBS
Lyk vir my die “heilige ringkoppie” het ‘n doodswens of iets. Gelukkig hoef ons niks daarmee te doen te he nie. Sien, ou “Little Joe Pietersen” was hul grootste bate tot nou toe en hy sterk nog aan, en met Juan de Jongh wat aan elke bal gaan vasklou om te wys hy is beter as Tim Whitehead, sal Jaque Fourie en Habana maar moet toekyk hoe die ander ouens speel, want ek kan nie sien dat daar veel goeie bal hulkant toe gaan kom nie. Dit sal genoeg wees om die ou ‘n hartstilstand te laat oorkom.
gbs @ 34
you’re seldom right
but you’re wrong again …. sharkies het alreeds hierdie naweek begin om moontlike top4 spanne uit te haal, en eks seker hulle sal die naweek dieselfde teen die reds doen
23 – GBS 😆
bluebeard @ 38
soos gewoonlik ñ baie objektiewe comment van ñ bloubul ondersteuner …. nou wonner ek net, wa de fok was jy toe stormers die hurricanes verniel het?
dit my objektiewe vriend, was ook die game waarin juan de jongh en jacque fourie hul beste game as kombinasie gehad het!!
38@ Pirate – Ja jong, daai “Duiwel vannie Kinderbybel” is op sy eie missie… Mission Improbable…
Jy moet bietjie laat hy jou vertel van sy belewenisse daar in Ermelo… hoe die hoenders vir hom ‘n ewige vrees het, hoe die hofkakhuise ontplof het… hoe hy die ou fossiel-tannie oorkant hom gechaff het!
gbs @ 42
hmmmm, ek sien jy slaan weer onnerie belt nê?
33 – Sharky, Agree just leave Lambie at FB. No messing about with him going to FH now. Said it on SW too. Just leave him there and let him grow. He sure is a gem of a talented player. Fearless under that high ball. Good with is kick and chase too. Rate him highly and he is only 19 years old!!!!! Pure Class. Let us now lose him like we lost Frans Steyn who I still rate as one of our best.
44 – not lose him. 🙄
#34 GBS
Like they say, if you want something done right…don’t appoint Dick Muir…hehehe
Grappie
Ek hoop my Storms speel hulle longe uit oorsee, tackle die K#K uit al die spanne uit, ek voel niks vir Bonus Punte nie, ek soek net die WEN!!!
28 – Saint, 100% correct, the jet lag is worse going East always. Everytime I have gone to Oz I feel really tried for a few days there. Coming back home the jet lag is not as bad. You do feel it but get over it faster.
So hoping the Sharks are back now and should start to train by tomorrow.
Ek kort ‘n nice motto…
The Saint
Getting the country talking…even if they only talk sh#t!
Baie, baie flokken dankie dat julle my ALMAL so mooi gelukwens met my 10 000 comments…. moepels!
#49
10000 comments op jou eie blog? Flok my maat, dis soos om vir jouself ‘n surprise party te reel…dit tel net nie…
SAINT @ 50
lmao
good one!!
gbs @ 49
geluk oek dat jy soeveel tyd het om heeltyd kak te sit en gesels!!
nou waa de flok is ammal nou weer?
halloooooooooooooooo
mense
en
bloubulle!!
EK verteenwoordig die mense…
Ek sien in die polls iemand se die Lions se eerste wen gaan teen die Bulls wees…ek wonder nou waai moepel sou dit nou wees wat so se? 🙂
OK, ek sal maar my eie koek kry, vir gelukwense…
Maar die koek is innie broek, die broek is innie was, en die huishulp stryk eers Vrydag…. hehehehe
the saint @ 54
hmmmm
hoekom het ek so ñ gevoel dissie selle ou assie ene wat by #54 gecomment het?
#55
Vir ‘n oomblik daar gelees dat die koek in die huishulp se broek was…phew…stres ek nou…. 😉
#56 – Ashley.
Prove it!
the saint @ 57
ekt die selle gevoel gekry!! 😆
the saint @ 58
hehehehe
ek kannie bru
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