What better way to give a match summary but through a video with highlites…

I suggest that you let the video feed buffer and run once before watching it in continious motion for a 2nd time.. specially those of you with slow internet connections and low download bandwidth!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6hYXtwc_L4[/youtube]

The Official Bulls web site sees the match like this:

It took 81 minutes before the Vodacom Bulls could finally manage to beat the Crusaders in their pulsating Super 14 encounter at Loftus Versfeld on Friday, but the victory confirmed a consecutive home semi-final for the defending champions.

A try after the buzzer by Francois Hougaard, his second in the match, secured a victory in a match where the lead changed hands nine times.

The Vodacom Bulls were made to work very, very hard to maintain their 18th winning effort at their fortress, but again showed a calmness and maturity when all looked over bar the shouting.

The Crusaders were 35-33 up when the buzzer sounded, but the home side managed a last effort and Hougaard could run in for the winning try.

A gutted Crusaders team, who lost both their matches on their South African tour, protested the try, indicating that it came of a forward pass, but after consultation with his assistant, referee Marius Jonker, awarded the clincher. Most of the early play was made by the Crusaders, who found many holes in the Bulls defence as the men in blue fell of tackles, missing 23 in the first half hour.

This lead to three tries by the Crusaders, with Morné Steyn’s boot the lone reply at first. Two marvellous tries, one after a great solo run by Hougaard and another to Victor Matfield gave the Bulls the lead against the run of play at the break.

Another Crusaders try early in the second half turned the match into a kicking contest between Morné Steyn and Dan Carter and it seemed that the All Black pivot would have the last say when he kicked a penalty with a minute to play. The Bulls somehow won the ball back and Hougaard could dive for glory.

Points scorers:

Vodacom Bulls 40 (24) Tries: Francois Hougaard (2), Victor Matfield. Conversions: Morné Steyn (2). Penalties: Steyn (5). Drop goals: Steyn (2).

Crusaders 35 (19) Tries: Brad Thorn, Andy Ellis, Sean Maitland, Ti’i Paulo. Conversions: Daniel Carter (3). Penalties: Carter (2). Drop goal: Carter.

We also had the pleasure to interview the match Referee (Marius Jonker) and the losing captain and coach (Richie McCaw and Todd Blackadder) as well as the winning captain, coach and man of the match (Victor Matfield, Frans Ludeke & Francois Hougaard).

Marius Jonker was of course firstly asked about that last match winning try and he was forthright about the matter, he received a call from his Assistant Referee that the ball had gone backwards off a Crusaders hand from Bandise Maku’s inside pass, so no knock from the Bulls and the Francois Hougaard try stood.

When asked about the Dan Carter drop kick and whether it was over or not he said he immediately received acknowledgement from Victor that it was over but thought it wise to just double check.

The 2 yellow cards for the Bulls was also easy calls for him, left little doubt but when asked about the penalty against Richie McCaw 5m out from their own line, he admitted that he considered a yellow for a professional foul and that Richie was lucky to stay on because it could just as well have gone the other way.

All in all a good performance from Marius, well done!

Frans Ludeke, Victor Matfield & Francois Hougaard was happy with the win but also very relieved. Glad that they have a home semi, they re-iterated that they will enjoy the evening and watch what happens in the rest of the weekend… but that it still only leaves the Bulls to run their own race and take it one game at a time. Francois Hougaard is a humble youngster and when asked about himself playing wing in stead of at his preferred position of scrumhalf, he was clear…. his time will come one day and until then he is just happy to make a contribution.

Richie McCaw and Todd Blackadder were happy that the Crusaders had stepped up a few gears from the previous 2 weeks and feel that they still have all to play for… and that they back themselves and their team to achieve it.

One often gets an impression of some of these players and when eventually meeting them in person one is pleasantly surprised, well this was once again the case with Richie and Todd… solid fellows, good rugby people and no dodging of questions!