The Bulls are on full Log points after their 4 games (after week 5), having earned their bonus point in every game.
But is everything fine… what about defensive structures? What about concentrating for 80 minutes? What will happen against the better teams with sloppy defence like this?
The Bulls romped to a quick-fire 3 tries to nil lead within about 14 minutes on Saturday against the Highlanders and we were rubbing our grubby hands together in anticipation of a romp of epic proportions which seemed imminant….
A very special moment in the game was Gerhard van den Heever’s 70 metre pearler of a try, where he smoked them for speed, bamboozled them with angles of running and easy stepping them…. they simply had no chance!
But then somehow they lost focus and the Bulls played a mish-mash of brilliant rugby followed by the most ordinary “Lions-type” of rugby for the rest of the game.
The Bulls allowed the Highlanders to score soft try after soft try, whilst scoring their own tries in the process too. In fact, the Bulls allowed Israel Dagg to score a hatrick of tries and also allowed the Highlanders to earn a bonus point for tries in the process.
Gurthro Steenkamp went off with an apparant hamstring twinge but the good news from Bulls coach Frans Ludeke Saturday night was that Gurthro was only taken off as a precautionary measure and re-assured us that Gurthro will be just fine.
Both Derick Kuun and Morne Steyn also went off for blood injuries but they are fine too.
According to the Bulls web site, here is a summary as they saw the game:
The Vodacom Bulls scored seven tries at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday to beat the Highlanders 50-35 in a pulsating Vodacom Super 14 match, securing a fourth consecutive win and staying top of the log of the competition.
A brace of tries by Pierre Spies and Francois Hougaard and a great solo run of all but 70 meters by Gerhard van den Heever laid the foundation for the win, the third in which the Bulls scored 50 points against their opponents.
Credit to the Highlanders, who refused to stop playing and scored five tries in the process. Hard-running fullback Israel Dagg got a hat-trick.
The Bulls was rampant in the opening 30 minutes, scoring four tries to secure the bonus point, but did made some errors later in the game. The Highlanders, to their credit, played better as the match went on.
There was never any doubt about the victory to the Bulls though.
My interpretation of the After Match Press Conferences:
Firstly, let me sketch the scene… for the Bulls, coach Frans Ludeke, dressed in jacket and tie, Victor Matfield, dressed in T-Shirt and those bloody aweful flower power jeans of his with slops on the feet and Pierre Spies, the man of the match, dressed in shorts and slops and a basketball-style T-Shirt, walzes casually into the room…
Damn, that Pierre Spies is a huge boy…. he’s got muscles in places where other people do not even have places. Surely the boy lives in a gym!
The questions started and of course I got my fair share of questions in, after all I have never been known to be shy.
When asked about the Bulls defence or lack thereof one could see the eyes of Victor Matfield, Pierre Spies and Frans Ludeke widen considerably and they immediately said that after the game the first thing which was voiced by all the players was that they were not happy with their sloppy defence on the day and that they need to sharpen up this department of their game.
When I asked about complacency possibly being their biggest enemy (bdb’s question) Victor Matfield was very definate in his answer, he said that with a Team like the Hurricanes looming on Friday and with the overseas tour thereafter, there is no way they can even entertain becomming complacent… and I believe him.
I also asked whether they are chasing certain goals or records, having already won 14 Super 14 games in a row at Home and having already won 10 Super 14 games in a row. Once again Victor was specific, their aim and focus is on the next game only, in fact personal and team milestones receive very little attention in the week, they focus on the business at hand.
Frans Ludeke was pleased with the result of course and said “We put 50 up again on the scoreboard and are still top of the log. One cannot complain about something like that.”
For the Highlanders coach Glenn Moore and his captain Jamie Mackintosh, the mood was obviously a bit more somber. Glenn admitted that the poor first half by his side laid the foundation for the Bulls win.
“We made too many errors early on. We dropped balls, could not cope with the high balls and allowed their ball carriers too much space. You can’t do that and expect not to be punished. Not if you are playing against a quality side like the Bulls. We fought back well, but we never really had a change after that start.”
The Highlanders are now on their way back home and play the Sharks this comming weekend, a prospect they are looking forward to.
Helloooooooooo
MOrning everyone,
It appears as if the Bulls are a bit run crazy, as if they want to proove the point to the tenth degree: WE ARE NOT ONE-DIMENSIONAL ANYMORE!
I think they have proven their point. Now it is time to get back to slightly more structure, get the four tries and keep the opponents from bonus points!
Stormers were awesome on Saturday!
They must now rue the day they lost to the Brumbies at home. They could have led the log and looking at a home semi!
Stormers were superb, Bulls were good but there were warning bells, Sharks were better than the weeks before and the dicipline was a tad better, Lions had their worst week yet.
29 – Greenpoint-Gunner, morning buddy. Of course the Sharks will never make a semi, I know that. We should have won those games against Chiefs, Cheetahs, Tahs and yes, we could have won against the Brumbies too. We never we lost all of them. That is how it goes. We may even land up on the bottom of the log. We may never get a win. That has happened to a few saffa teams before. I hope we can pick up a win before the end of the tourney 😀
I just think from here on we have now nothing to lose. Try out the youngsters. Why have exciting players like Lambie and Mvovo on tour. I say play them now. Though after never been selected they will not be game fit. I would still give them a go.
Remember those kiwi sides never ever give up. Canes will probably lose again this week. That would be 3 in a row. Believe me they will come back. The never die atitude of the kiwi sides are what makes them so tough and what brings them so many semi places though the years. Saders last never started well but they were in the semi. Chiefs never started well and were in the final. So never ever count the kiwi sides out. They will be thre for sure.
What Sharks could to is maybe try and beat the Canes, that way will help our teams on top. Bulls and Stormers. Not sure if my team can even do that, but you never know. At least we never gave away the bonus to the Tahs or Brumbies so that may help a bit for our other teams.
For Sharks now we have to think of next year. Play Mvovo, Lambie and also Zuks who I feel is a very good player too.
Anyhow proud of your Stormers, they are playing superb rugby, actually beautiful rugby to watch. Enjoyed that game on Saturday a lot.
So go the Stormers and Bulls. Just keep winning. Good to see to saffa teams on the log and number 1 and 2.
gbs @ 34
think the stormers are still improving, which is a nice sign
thought the centre combination of de jongh and jfourie had their best game as a unit thus far
knock-a-la-vuki had a very good game
joe petersen …. well, the one good performance after the other so far ….. he must by now almost be a certainty for a look-in at the bok squad if form is considered!!
36@ Asbak – Knock-a-la-vuki was a revelation in the 2 weeks….. iets moes waaragtig oor sy lewer geloop het…
Joe Peterson is currently by far the best SA fullback in the Super 14, no doubt about it.
Juan de Jongh played well but there is still a bit too much of the “Bash over the advantage line” mentality in stead of out-stepping your opposition (same can be said about Wynand Meisiekind and Riaan Swanepoel and Doppies Le Grange at inside centre). Jaque had a good day after a quiet weekend the previous week.
Shouldve wouldve couldve……..Im just confused why there were 15 000 empty seats at loftus. Its not the nz aura of invincibility anymore but the bok aura of invincibility.
38@ Wezwp – Hello… are you totally happy about the Stormers performance or are there still areas where you see room for improvement?
Im totally happy gbs. It was very much a clinical performance. Just upset we let them cross our try line. There was a time in the 2nd half where i couldnt even recall the canes beinf in our 22, now thats the sort of stormers display i love watching.
is ekke jy was sal ek baie bekommerd wees oor jou span se “defence”. Is n Kak defensive display soos daai wat ons se bokkies laat verloor het in Europa.
38 – Morning Wezup. I have asked that question to GBS about the empty seats at Loftus. Not sure why so many empty, there team are playing great rugby. Thought the stadium would be full house to watch a great winning team like that.
I also noticed some empty seats at Newlands. Not as many as Loftus but there were quite a few empty seats. Now these two teams winning so well should attract full house each week. They deserve their fans to turn out. Playing such good rugby.
41 – Wezwp. Sorry mate, meant to say congrats on a great performance by your Stormers.
Thanks Puma, just hope the sharks lift their game this weekend and the bulls dont let in any tries.
Clearly the defensive coaching structures are world class at wp. Its been like that for a while now. Only difference now is we have better and improved players there to implement our game plan. i also would like to say our biggest mistake in the past was playing W.de Waal.
44 – Well my Sharks are done for this season. Just hope we can beat some on our way.
Bulls are playing great rugby. I know defence is a problem there but if they out scoring the other team by so much, suppose they are not very worried at this point. They will need to tighten their defence up against a side like the Saders, Chiefs and Reds. I think they know this and will do that.
I guess if you lose your first 5 games of the season you dont deserve anything.
45 – Wezwp have to change you nick now. Say WPISBACK. That would sound right.
I think Stormers are getting it right everywhere. Lineouts are looking good, defence is superb, your scrum looking good, your backline is dangerous. Stormers have the weapons for sure. If they don’t make a semi this year I will be very, very surprised.
Hoping to see a Bulls/Stormer final. Now that would be awesome.
47 – Wezwp. That is correct. We don’t. I remember Chiefs though lost their first 3 last year and made the final. Saders once last 3 games straight and won the tourney. So you never know but with this Sharks team that will never ever happen.
We could have won 4 our of 5 by now but have not. Take it on the chin, move on and now play some of the youngsters nothing to lose now. Start planning for next year.
Cheers out of here now.
You know, there’s a saying in Afrikaans, “Jy kla met die witbrood onder die arm” meaning we are complaining whilst we are actually really blessed… both the Bulls and the Stormers…
Bulls are top of the log, with a game in hand, and the only Super 14 side not to have lost yet in 2010… so let’s be happy!
Stormers had a glitch against the Brumbies but have just pulled off a marvelous game against the Canes… and are sitting at log position No 2, so they should be happy!
We must be happy but aware of the limitations and imperfections though….
I gathered from the Bulls press conference that this is exactly how they feel… they know they have to be superb defensively against the Canes… and they know that they then go on tour and that it presents serious challenges overseas.
I think we can rest assured that neither the Bulls or the Stormers will be complacent.
Puma, 35.
I really don’t think you will end at the bottom of the log this year. If you think about the teams that have ended at the bottom, none of them had the personnel that the Sharks have. I think you should beat the Highlanders. And not only because they are without Adam Tompson, Jimmy Cowen and Hobbs, come of the back of two big defeats and have to travel all the way… but because the players owe it to the damn loyal supporters.
The other thing is that if the Sharks do end up in the bottom 7 and not the top 7 (or possibly 6) it will give the Boks a little less to go on…
It helps that we have 2 teams that look likely to make the semi’s but when about 7 of your current Springboks come from a team that has just seriously bombed out, it takes away a bit of the shine.
We must be happy but aware of the limitations and imperfections though….
I have to agree 100%
GBS, i have to say, I was really worried about the Bulls this year. I thought it would be something like this.
Star players from last year would be too flat and the young guns would be out of depth. luckily, the young guns are on fire and even though Matfield and FdP are kinda quite and Ndugane is out, there is no difference.
Really disappointed in the Sharks though. But lets hope that this year is only a hick-up like the Bulls had in 2008.
Anyway, to come back to the Bulls. They will probably lose you game like the Crusaders did against the Reds. Just as a little “wake-up call”.
Not a bad thing really.
Morning folks,
Well I continue to be pleasantly surprised by the Stormers this season. Saturday’s match felt like a 80’s WP-update. The scrum was a little more under pressure than what I thought and hoped it would be, but otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed the game.
A buddy of mine who was at the game told me yesterday he heard a sound at Newlands that he had not heard for some time – a sound that eminated from the collective relaxing of close on 35 000 anal glands roundabout the 60 minute mark.
Fortunately, I was upwind in front of a La Romantica wide screen….
fender @ 55
lol
I’d like to see a Stormers Bulls match right now. Bulls fantastic attacking team but leaking a lot of tries and the Stormers has a good balance between attack and they are defending like trojans. Could be a difficult match for the Bulls to win unless the sharp up their defence. Very good to see 2 SA teams at the top of the log and congrats to them both. As for my Sharks……..
Pokkel, wait for that one. I think its perfectly placed, at the end of the season when both teams have done their tours ect.
It will be epic.
Fender 55, I have to say, good one on the 60 min comment.
Bloody Stormers are a bunch of useless overrated pretty boys. Ans their dancing gilrls are the ugliest in the S14. They are so ugly they couls play front row for the Lions.
51: GBS, baie goed gestel. Natuurlik hou ons nie daarvan dat al die driee teen Bulle gedruk word nie, maar dit kan reggestel word. As ‘n mens positief kyk, dan sien ons:
– ‘n gemiddeld van 50 punte per wedstryd
– 6 driee per wedstryd
– bo aan log, na 4 rondtes
– 25 minute, toe is bonuspunt al op die tafel
– geen beserings nie.
Dit is dalk ‘n goeie ding dat daar nou nog dinge lol, en nie later wanneer dit baie meer gaan saak maak nie. Hulle moet werk aan verdediging en konsentrasie, maar hul weet dit self.
Go Bulle !
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