The Bulls beat the Crusaders at Orlando Stadium in Soweto by 39 points to 24 for the right to host the 2010 Super 14 final next week again in Orlando.
Here are some highlights…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaSWTxucwCU[/youtube]
The Bulls will now face the Stormers in a much awaited South African Super 14 Final.
The writing looked to be on the wall in the second minute when Bulls No 8, Pierre Spies, bashed his way through the Crusaders defence and scored behind to the posts following sublime running and bashing it up by the whole Bulls team and a pass from Fourie du Preez to Spies running hard at the line from an excellent angle.
A couple of minutes later it was almost a similar situation, this time with burly Danie Rossouw crashing it up from a pass on the opposite side of the field, the TMO deciding that danie knocked the ball in the act of scoring.
The Crusaders kept fighting throughout the match and were never too far behind the Bulls until man of the match Fourie du Preez scored a try in the 62nd minute which when converted put the Bulls into a very safe lead.
The match this weekend will be the Bulls second consecutive Super 14 final albeit that they will be playing at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
This was the third consecutive time in 4 years that the Crusaders were halted by the Bulls in the semi-finals – and there can be little doubt that the hosts were the better team. It didn’t help the Bulls much but they also got the bounce of the ball.
With vuvuzelas adding to an amazing atmosphere in a stadium that, if anything, brought the crowd support even closer to the players than at Loftus.
The Bulls were in control from virtually the kick-off, and although a slight easing off early in the second half gave the visitors a sniff, the Bulls did not want to let this one go.
Victor Matfield, in his 100th Super match for the Bulls, was immense on defence and at moments on attack as well, setting up a number of good rucks.
But the most influential Bulls player was scrumhalf Fourie du Preez who controlled and varied from behind a pack that was mostly in charge but perhaps turned over too many balls at the breakdown.
It was obvious throughout the first half that the Crusaders didn’t like the high kicks that were launched at them with near indecent frequency by the Bulls.
A number of knocks from such up-and-unders and resultant penalties helped to keep the visitors on the defence and the Bulls advancing on the scoreboard. The first half, virtually in its entirety, belonged to the Bulls.
The Crusaders had a few good phases after the kick-off, but at the first turnover the Bulls took over with some excellent control at the phase play.
The first try came after just 128 seconds when Fourie du Preez, who was sharp and at his best from the outset, put Spies over from a ruck.
A solid Bulls defence kept the visitors out on the few occasions that the Crusaders threatened, with a single slip-up allowing captain Richie McCaw to go over in a pile to score their only try of the first half.
At 10-7 the scoreboard didn’t tell the true story of a disallowed TMO try, good control from phase ball and some excellent defence.
But those were early moments, and another botch-up from the Crusaders, after a kick that was followed up well by Zane Kirchner, had the fullback on the scoreboard after 15 minutes..
It looked very good for the Bulls and the lead was increased when the Crusaders transgressed again, with a high kick and ruck infringement giving Steyn another successful penalty.
Dan Carter won three points back after 23 minutes, but 10 minutes later Morné Steyn slotted a monster penalty from nearly 60 metres on the angle. The Bulls kept their structure and went into the break 23-10 ahead.
Steyn missed shortly after the resumption, and then the visitors shocked the home side when they took a quick ruck wide and used the overlap to good effect with Sean Maitland going over on the right hand side of the posts.
Carter converted and the Crusaders were back in the game at 23-17.
The Bulls seemed slightly unfocused, with their tackling unsure as the Crusaders stepped up their running game.
But the territory still belonged to the hosts – and they secured the win after the Crusaders scrummed well but left the blind side open for Du Preez to break through, beat the cover from Kieran Read and score in the corner.
Steyn converted, and it was 33-17 and all but over for the visitors from Christchurch.
Two more Steyn penalties took it to 39-17 with six minutes remaining to use up time and put the result beyond doubt.
Sam Whitelock scored a consolation try for the Crusaders with about 6 minutes left on the clock and Dan Carter converted, bringing the score to 39 / 24.
The Bulls closed out the last few minutes effectively till the full time hooter sounded.
Final Score Bulls 39 Crusaders 24
Scorers:
Bulls:
Tries – Pierre Spies, Zane Kirchner, Fourie du Preez
Penalties – Morné Steyn 6
Conversions – Morné Steyn 3
Crusaders:
Tries – Richie McCaw, Sean Maitland, Sam Whitelock
Penalty – Dan Carter
Conversions – Dan Carter 3
Man of the match: – Fourie du Preez
The question is will they be in control this coming weekend.
Bulls will hand the Stormers a snot klap of note this coming weekend 👿
blouste @ 2
ok
djulle gie vi’ o’s ñ snotklap
en
o’s skop vi djulle in djulle p***!!
…
hoe klink daai vi jou? 😀
I’m feeling positive about this weekend’s clash. There are a few reasons from a Stormer’s perspective, the first being Peter Grant slotting a penalty from 49.5 meters at sea level. Given the surface and the altitude, Grant could be more of a factor than the Bulls originally thought.
Secondly, it’s Aplon and Pietersen’s attitude under the high ball, their size doesn’t even come into it.
It’s very strange that most Bulls don’t even consider the STormers as worthy opponents, I read SuperBul saying guys like Rossouw and Spies are going to break our lines and score many tries. Strange that those lines haven’t been broken thusfar this year?
The Bulls conceded almost the same number of points and tries in their first 5 games, than the Stormers did in their whole season up to now. The Bulls never managing to keep even one team tryless, we did it 3 times. No bonuspoint conceded by the Stormers either.
Why then does everyone assume, this is going to be a walkover?
@ The Saint:
You only had to watch the 2 games this weekend to come to that conclusion… 😉
Blouste wrote:
On a serious note, the Stormers deserve to be where they are…
They have done well and I must admit, suprized me this year.
Well done !!!
Still the the Bulls will be to good for them though…
Go BULLS !!!!!!
surprised 😳
@ The Saint:
Only an idiot would believe it will be a walk over… sure, the Stormers can have one of ‘those’ games and receive a hiding… but that is very unlikely.
Prepare for a test match… with a very close score.
@ Blouste:
Sure, on paper the Bulls must be favourites to win, with a small chance that the Stormers will get smacked, but there is also a significant opportunity for the Stormers to take this one.
I will not be gutted should the Stormers win. They have really improved!
@ Hokaai:
Final 2009 I was sitting in Cape Town with several of my Stormers buddies watching the Bulls klap the Chiefs. One of my stoutest Stormer friends sighed: “When will the Stormers play like that?”
I replied: “Much sooner than you think”. Now a year later, they are approaching that form. If they keep doing the right things, they will be there by next years S15 final.
Actually, it will be very cool of the Bulls wins the final S14 and the Stormers win the first S15. 🙂
He he he….
Whats the odds of another final like last year ? 👿
@ Hokaai:
But then again it will be even cooler should the Bulls win both the final S14 and the first S15!
@ Hokaai:
Having a nice conversation with myself here… hehe.
Hokaai they have improved without a doubt…
Still think the Bulls will win rather comfortably…but thats just my opinion…
@ Blouste:
Ah, there you are, not schizo then… what a relieve!
Look there will be a lot of hype about this game, but at the end it will be another 80 minute rugby match and I believe the Bulls are the better outfit.
@ Hokaai:
😆
@ Blouste:
Hope you are right!
Close games always makes me nervous though. One lucky bounce and the ‘wrong’ team wins.
I don’t see this final being close fought. I feel whoever wins here, will win with some change.
That being said, it’s all good and well to call Morne Steyn a match-winner as I see he is everywhere referred to, but will the most disciplined team of 2010 suddenly lose head?
It’s all these little permutations, that keeps one wondering. Yes, Fourie du Preez is a class act, but one swallow is hardly a summer. The Stormers came to be where they are with 10% individual brilliance and 90% hard teamwork.
Blouste:
Looking at the Weekend’s matches, it tells me the opposite…
The Crusaders came with a give it all up game plan, running the Bulls from their own goal line. The Stormers won’t do this. The Stormers / Waratahs game was the more classical semi-final encounter. Neither team giving anything.
When the Crusaders tried that same approach at Newlands, they were also hammered, very thoroughly actually. So yes, it’s two different games, with a lot of people having a lot to prove.
If the Bulls were to loose to ANY other team I would be depressed for a week. But if we should loose to the Stormers, I will only be mildy annoyed for a day or two… hehehe.
At least all my Visvoet buddies will be not so grumpy for a couple of months until they loose again in the CC against us…. haha.
Hokaai wrote:
Please replace loose with lose above… hehe monday mornings…
Make no mistake, Saturday is going to be huge… and it’s going to be a battle royal.
I’m very hesitant to make a prediction for this match… Stormers are a classy side with balance in all facets…. maybe a bit too defensively oriented, whereas the Bulls have proven to be worthy champs, with class written all over them as well… maybe too attack minded and defensively have a frailty or 2.
It is senseless to compare the Stormers to the Bulls… Bulls scored the most points in the Super 14 and most tries… Stormers defended the best…
Comparing tries leaked alone is daft.
Whatever the case, the Super 14 trophee stays in SA!
Go Bullllllllllllllsssssssss!!
@ grootblousmile:
Komaan, laat dit uithang: Wie gaan wen? As jy dit mis het, dan het jy dit mis en vat die ridicule soos ‘n man.
Ek skree BUUUULLLSSSS!
24@@ Hokaai:
OK… ek dink die Bulls gaan ‘n riller wen…
Hoekom?
1. Die Bulls ken Orlando, die Stormers nie (indien jy Saterdag daar was sou jy weet wat ek bedoel), Orlando is duidelik Home vir die Bulls.
2. Die Bulls het 14 spelers in die beginspan wat REEDS ‘n Super 14 wen geproe het…. net Francois Hougaard het nognie in ‘n S14 Final gespeel nie.
3. Die Bulls was mooi vars Saterdag, daar was geen sprake van momentum wat sodanig verlore sou wees nie… beide Robbie Deans en Graham Henry was in hulle moer verkeerd, so ook Bobby Vetlip. Frans Ludeke was Saterdagaand van oordeel daar’s geen beserings wat Bulle gaan weerhou om Saterdag te speel nie.
…… maar dit behoort close te wees…
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