The Bulls have never won in Auckland in Super Rugby… Will all of that change this weekend?
This year the Bulls said from the start that their main goal is to defend their Super Rugby title and from the outset they looked serious about it…their campaign was not by any means flawless ,yet they remained unbeaten after round 7.
This is JJ Harmse’s take on the weekends clash.
JJ Harmse
Pretoria – The Bulls are facing their toughest test to date this year when they take on the Blues in a Super 14 match at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
The Blues have their backs to the wall in this year’s Super 14 and will be desperate.
The second week of a tour is always the toughest and the Bulls have had to travel over five time zones following their visit to Perth.
However, it appears as if the challenges are spurring on the champions.
The more difficult it gets, the more determined the team is to hold onto the Super 14 crown.
That the Bulls are sometimes their own worst enemy is also true. They have had to come from behind at half-time on five occasions this year. It will be particularly important to get off to a better start against the Blues in Auckland.
The Bulls will have to pressurise them from the start as confidence and good rugby are as synonymous with the Blues as tattoos.
“We are focused on starting well. It will be important to force our way of playing. We have to get them in a stranglehold from the start and keep the pressure on. This one will only be won by an 80-minute effort,” said Bulls captain Victor Matfield.
The Blues have an All Black front row, but their outside backs are particularly dangerous.
Rene Ranger, Isaia Toeava, Joe Rokocoko and Rudi Wulf are all equally dangerous.
An unchanged starting fifteen points to the Bulls’ intention of maintaining their momentum and rhythm, and build on their winning culture.
The experience of the forwards, the form of players such as Pierre Spies and Zane Kirchner, and a maturity about the task ahead is contributing to the team’s success.
However, a victory will only be achieved if they can suppress the Blues’ x-factor.
The teams:
Bulls:
15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Gerhard van der Heever, 13. Jaco Pretorius, 12. Wynand Olivier, 11. Francois Hougaard, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Fourie du Preez, 8. Pierre Spies, 7. Dewald Potgieter, 6. Deon Stegmann, 5. Victor Matfield (captain), 4. Danie Rossouw, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Gary Botha, 1. Gurthrö Steenkamp
Substitutes: 16. Bandise Maku, 17. Bees Roux, 18. Flip van der Merwe, 19. Derick Kuün/Jaco Engels, 20. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 21. Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 22. Pedrie Wannenburg
Blues:
15. Isaia Toeava, 14. Joe Rokocoko, 13. Rene Ranger, 12. Benson Stanley, 11. Rudi Wulf, 10. Stephen Brett, 9. Alby Mathewson, 8. Viliami Ma’afu, 7. Serge Lilo, 6. Jerome Kaino, 5. Anthony Boric, 4. Kurtis Haiu, 3. John Afoa, 2. Keven Mealamu (captain), 1. Tony Woodcock.
Substitutes: 16. Tom McCartney, 17. Charlie Faumuina, 18. Filo Paulo, 19. Peter Saili, 20. Chris Smylie, 21. Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22. Paul Williams.
Referee: Craig Joubert
This will be a very stern test indeed…
The Blues are an all-out attack team and can be very dangerous with ball in hand…
But, they also leak a lot of tries.
As mentioned above they will be desperate for a win.
Going to be a very hard match, can’t wait !!!
Message to Matfield: kick the 3 pointers when offered.
Bulls need 4 log points. Forget about tries… take the win! Should Bulls win this weekend, it will be very difficult to catch them
-> Bulls home semi-final an almost given.
Nope, I got them down for their first loss for the season.
@ 4 Morne – On superbru ? Thank goodness Morne, then they are home and dry… 😉
Hehe,
Remember, at some stage I do get them right (my predictions)
I actually have them for a loss at the RT comp too, and there I am not too bad…
Well… let’s settle on a 50/50 game then… 😆
For those who have’nt seen this…
by Brenden Nel | 29 March 2010 (13:54)
Anyone listening to Fox Sport’s commentary team for the Bulls-Force game on Saturday night may have been surprised to know the Bulls actually won the game.
It was comical, farcical and sometimes just ridiculous, but the experienced commentary trio of Greg Martin, Brendan Cannon and John Welborn did their best to portray a picture of the Bulls being ripped to shreds by a resurgent Force.
Strange, as the Bulls eventually won 28-15, a thirteen point victory which came from scoring three tries to nil and while they were their own worst enemies, they certainly did more than enough on the night to grab the victory.
But listening to the Fox commentators, the Force had slugged it out with the Bulls, and had them staggering the entire match, just waiting for the knockout blow. The fact that it never came, shows the unlimited patriotism these commentators have for their teams and the fact they won’t let a little anomaly – like the scoreline – get in the way.
The response afterwards, across the net, in newspapers and on television was also interesting, with the Bulls just sneaking home against the last-placed side in the competition.
Yet, as with any story, there are always two sides, and before those who are waiting for the Bulls demise bring out the champagne, there are a few facts they should consider when looking at the Force game.
Firstly, it wasn’t a classic Bulls performance and the Force did play well. But saying that, any side that can leave 11 points on the park with missed kicks, and still win by 13, couldn’t have played too badly?
Then if we look at the bare statistics of the game, another telling story comes to the fore. The game, which had 38 minutes of ball in play, five minutes more than the norm, shows some revealing facts about the quality of the fixture.
The Force had to make an unbelievable 175 tackles in the game, with the Bulls themselves stretched at times to 145 tackles. Compare that to the Hurricanes game where the New Zealanders had to make 116 and the Highlanders (117). It shows that while the Bulls need to look at their own patience on attack, they certainly had enough possession to ensure the victory could have been more comprehensive.
The Bulls threw away a half dozen opportunities, and could well have won further on the night. The point in this is that a few years back a win away from home would be greeted with delight.
A win by 13 points away from home would genuinely be unbelievable and to lead the log by five points at the halfway stage unthinkable.
Things often don’t go as well on tour as they would at home, but to take a 13-point victory against any team away from home takes some doing. On their way to the title last year the Bulls lost to the Reds and Highlanders in games they were supposed to win.
The competition is cluttered with results that defy belief with the underdog, or no-hoper, beating the more fancied side.
The victory against the Force was way more comprehensive than you may initially believe, and things will be tough in Auckland on Saturday.
Either way, it doesn’t matter how the Bulls win their games, and considering by their own high standards they had an off-night, the victory will be a massive boost to their confidence ahead of the Blues this weekend.
But not if you were listening to the Fox commentary team…
“The competition is cluttered with results that defy belief with the underdog, or no-hoper, beating the more fancied side.”
Does this mean the Lions have a chance this weekend?
Oh Vlok, just realised the only chance they have is that of not getting a hiding. Enjoy the week off you Kings of all Beasts. I think you’ll need it!
Bulls to make history methinks.
Their outlook thus far has been consumately professional IMO.
Scrumdown…
Share your sentiments and surely hope you are right !!!
Scrumdown & Blouste – Look, I will pick the Bulls on SuperBru and on SportsPool Club for Saturday, for sure… but I am decidedly worried about the eventual result.
Blouste & GBS
As you’re both aware, I am a Lions fan to the core, and as such, find it VERY DIFFICULT to admit to anything Rugby wise from North of the Jukskei being of any use to either man or beast.
However, I have to admit that the Rugby the Bulls have played in 2007, 2009 and so far this year has IMO been of THE HIGHEST QUALITY. (I think that 2007 was some of best I’ve ever seen in terms of subduing opposition and then letting the backs loose!)
2008 was difficult in that they had taken on the Lions cast off coach.
Sure it will be hard against the Blues this weekend, but there seems to be a resolve amongst the group that has never before been seen in SA Rugby. I think we may all be pleasantly surprised when the final whistle goes in Aukland.
I’m sure that many Rugby teams (the world over) look on in awe and wish they could play like the Bulls are at the moment. (Except of course the Doornfonteiners, they know they’re superior.)
Now, where’s that can of Coke?????? Gotta make sure the funds keep coming in to the Blik.
Look I’m under no illusion that the Bulls can lose this game.
But I’m rather confident that they have got what it takes to win it…
If you HAD to put money on it, who would you go with…?
Blouste @ 14
Bulls by 10.
13@ Scrumdown – Hehehehe, don’t worry, we’ll get you right still… one of these days you will be a converted Bull….
I mean really, when has it ever been possible for a “Rooibonte” to compliment the Bulls, like you have just done… you are halfway there already, fella!
Bwahahahahaha
14@ Blouste – Oppie Bulle, natuurlik!
Pienkste,
I won’t waste my money on a Nulle game 😆
@ 17
Why ? Have’nt you got any left after the first 5 losses of the Sharks… 😯
pienkste,
No I don’t, I’ve given all my spare money to scrumdown’s coke blik…
😆
Just hope the Bulls dont stuff around and when they get a penalty go for posts!!!!! Oh yes and when they go for Posts, hopefully Morne will be more successful than last week hehehehehe
21 @ Tripples
Die Bulle het so lanklaas pale toe gegaan Morne het al vergeet hoe om te skop… 😆
Die week sal hulle alle kanse moet aangryp en nie rond neuk nie…
Go BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULLLLLLSSS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nou waar is almal of het die lang naweek eintlik klaar begin? 😯
Verseker……kyk hulle het weer my stres levels so opgejaag laasweek!!!!!! en more is dit so vroeg…..mens kannie die dag so beginnie!!!!
lyk my is maar stillerig, ek weet hier by die werk het baie mense 12 uur geloop, dis net ons arm blankes wat nog hier sit 🙂
😆 !!!
Hi Tripples and all,
I back Victor’s decisions to go for the possibility of 7 points instead of the possibility of three. It tells the opposition “we’re gonna keep coming at you and we’re confident that we’re going to roll you over”.
Victor is making the most of the psycological advantage that the Bulls have being double S14 champs. Good on him and on the team for pulling it off every week.
Now if only those faint hearted Bulls supporters would come to the party! 😉
GBS
I was born 6 miles from Rugby School, and went to an English Government school that did not allow soccer. (Quite unique I can assure you)
I grew up watching David Duckham haring down the wing at Coundon Road when Coventry were a powerhouse in English Rugby, (purely amateur of course) and the great Welsh club sides of the 70’s used to visit for some decent competition.
I moved to SA when I was 14 in 1977 and started supporting TVL because I lived in JHB.
I soon grew to love watching Rugby every Saturday on our little Black & White TV on SABC, and after starting work as an Appy in Wadville started going to “the new” Ellis Park.
In the early 1980’s when the TVL got thumped by Northern Free State’s “Purple People Eaters” at Ellis Park, I sat in the stands and wondered WTF was it all coming to, then came the glorious days of the late 80’s and 90’s when big name players like Uli Schmidt and Jannie Breedt moved from north of the Jukskei to play in Johannesburg, and trips to the Park were veiwed in trepedation by other teams.
People have said that Doc Luyt was a hard man to deal with, and that he accepted no opposition to his thoughts or actions, but the fact remains that when he was in charge in Doornfontein the TVL/GLRU were succesful, and since he was ousted only VERY limited success has been achieved.
Like most Lions supporters I’ll never actively support another team, and we all get that “Brasso gevoel in die hol” when it all clicks for a few minutes, but we should not stick our heads in the sand and expect things to right themselves.
At the moment nobody fears coming to the Coke Can, most teams see an easy five points when they play us, and many opposition teams know exactly where our teams weak points are, and attack them week in and week out.
It’ll all change one of these days. (I’m sick of explaining to my 7 year old daughter why I support the Lions when she says “maar Papa hulle wen nooit nie”.)
By the way, I’ve been to Loftus 3 times. Once to watch the Boks play France (early 80’s) once about 4 years ago for a CC game. (Gatecrashed the BB Ref’s society box after the game), and once to play a pre season club friendly many years ago.
Once a Lions, always a Lion.
Good on you, Scrumdown. And thanks for a great post..
Oh yes, I even went to Newlands once. CC final of 1986.
Was in Slaap Stad for the SA Army driver of the year competition and some Corporal got me and a mate tickets.
When Uli scored in the corner we went ape shit. I’m sure we were only TVL supporters there. (It came off his knee by the way, and wasn’t a knock as the locals would have you believe)
WP won in the end anyway, but it was a good day out.
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