In the first article in the series we looked at the Stormers and their trials and tribulations during the last 10 years of Super rugby. Today we look at the Bulls and the remarkable improvement they have shown over the decade.

Below the results and standing for the Bulls franchise. 

2001 – 12^th with 2 wins from 11 matches, away wins Cats

2002-  12th with 0 wins from 11 matches

2003 – 6^th with 6 wins from 11 matches, away wins Cats, Hurricanes and Sharks

2004 – 6^th with 5 wins and 1 draw from 11 matches, away wins Reds

2005 – 3^rd with 7 wins from 11 matches, away wins Hurricanes and Sharks

2006 – 4^th with 7 wins, 1 draw from 13 matches, away wins Cheetahs, Force, Stormers, away draw Chiefs

2007 – 2^nd with 9 wins from 13 matches, away wins Waratahs, Brunbies, Highlanders and Lions

2008  – 10^th with 6 wins from 13 matches, away wins Stormers and Cheetahs

2009  – 1^st with 10 wins from 13 matches, away wins Lions, hurricanes and Wharatahs

2010 – 1^st  with 10 wins from 13 matches, away wins Chiefs, force and Cheetahs

In 120 pool matches since 2001, the Bulls have won 62 matches, 2 draws and 56 losses. Twenty two of their wins have been away from home and 11 of those wins have been in the antipodes.

In addition to their round robin matches the Bulls have featured in 5 Semi finals, winning 3 and played in 3 finals winning all three.

The Bulls have had away wins over all the Australian teams.

The Bulls have not yet beaten the Crusaders and Blues away from home.

The Bulls are marginally less successful in the Antipodes than the Stormers, but even including their 2 very poor years in the start of the decade they have a success rate of 69% at home, in the past two seasons they have a 100% record at home and are currently standing at 20 consecutive wins at home. Their last loss at fortress Loftus being on 12 April 2008 against the Hurricanes.

Thus it stands to reason that every South African Franchise should take a leaf out of the Bulls book, and start focusing on winning their home fixtures, in that lies the biggest secret to gaining semi final spots.

The Bulls have steadily since 2005 featured in every kock out stage excluding 2008 when there was a change of coaching staff and Heyneke Meyer made space for Frans Ludeke, their home win/loss record is the envy of every South African Super Rugby Franchise and is most likely to continue even after their Stalwarts retire at the end of Rugby World Cup in 2011.

Youngsters such as Francois Hougaardt, Gerhard van den Heever, Van der Merwe, Potgieter, Stegmann and the like will ensure that the change of guard will not necessarily cause a slump in form or continuity.

For me the Bulls are my least favourite Franchise, even I have to admit that after their failures in the beginning of the decade, they have truly become the stand out Super team in South Africa.