Spectacular, that is the only word to describe the Bulls’ fall from grace against the perennial whipping boys of New Zealand rugby. The 3-time champions were made to look like amateurs at a rugby-trial, each one trying to impress or stand out, and each one failing spectacularly…. there’s that word again. Are the Bulls out of it? Are they done? Naaaah… all things being equal, they’ll probably still head on to the play-offs later on, it’s a long season… but what went wrong?
Bakkies Botha just signed for Toulon, Fourie du Preez is heading for Japan after the World Cup, and there are still rumours that Matfield might be involved in a coaching capacity over at the Waratahs. Gary Botha will return to Europe, and more likely than not, Wynand Olivier will continue his career in France.
So, what were the Bulls thinking about, while falling off one on one tackles like ripe figs? I don’t know, but it had nothing to do with Super Rugby, that I can assure you (wink, wink, nudge, nudge… look at the paragraph above). Looking at the whole Bulls setup, what has changed from 2010?
Nothing! Nothing whatsoever, not even their jerseys. This is where the problem lies I think, not complacency, just a misguided sense of invincibility, no doubt egged on by one-eyed press reports from media junkies.
In the first two games against the Lions and the Cheetahs, the Bulls struggled. These were games they were supposed to canter home in, but they had to fight for it for 80 minutes, each time.
Now, I did say this before, the same happened to the Stormers, they plonked around in their first two games, and everyone let them have it. They were called prima-donnas, glory boys, useless, over-confident and in deep trouble.
The Bulls on the other hand, were credited with fine character, the sign of a true champion, winning games that they should have lost, classic. Needless to say, I wasn’t too surprised when they imploded, I will in all probability, not be surprised if the Stormers also lose, but what did surprise me, is the fact that everyone else was shocked. Surely everyone should have seen the signs? But no, they didn’t they believe the hype, they believed that Bulls showed character, when all it really was, was blind luck.
Could it be that players like Fourie du Preez, Victor Matfield, Wynand Olivier, Pierre Spies, Bakkies Botha and Gurthro Steenkamp are so arrogant, that they believe themselves to be a cut above the rest? I don’t know, but from what I see on the evidence of Saturday’s game, it seemed that they didn’y even prepare to face the Highlanders. How else can you explain drifting defence in a game against a team that played their first two games on the back of quick turnover and recycling? Did the Bulls think that the Highlanders would change their game-plan just because they were facing them?
In any case, a drifting defence means you place more responsibility on the shoulders of your outside backs, and neither Bjorn Basson, nor Gerhard van den Heever, have any defensive validity whatsoever. In fact, I don’t even think that Basson deserves to be playing Super Rugby at all.
I don’t even want to get into the disrespect shown to the Stuart Dickinson throughout the game. Yes, Dickinson is an arse, the Stormers has a record of played 13 lost 10 record when he officiated, but the 3 wins are consecutive. Why? We stopped bemoaning his mistakes, and started doing what he says. It’s called adapt and survive, the Bulls are not elite, they have to play the game exactly the same as everyone, they DESERVE nothing more than what they can achieve for themselves.
Everone complaining about the hand in the ruck at the bitter end can stop right now, firstly Dickinson was on the opposite side of the ruck, and wouldn’t have been able to see anything anyway, and secondly we had to pause, rewind and in slow motion see it happen, no-one even saw it in real time. In any case, the Bulls should never have been in that position in the first place.
The Bulls were poor, because firstly they believed themselves to be neigh invincible at Loftus and secondly half of their senior players’ focus is on their future and not the here and now. They should stop expecting everyone to respect them because of their reputation, and start earning that respect again, the old way.
The Highlanders showed everyone that the Bulls can be beaten, if they don’t sort out their issues, it’s going to be one hell of a long season.
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Disclaimer: This Article does not reflect the views of Rugby-Talk or it’s proprietors and must be seen as an Opinion Piece by the Autor of this Article.
dit is dalk n pak wat die bulls nodig gehad het.ek is seker hulle sal nie weer so swak speel nie.die stormers beter ook wakker skrik ander trap die highlanders hulle ook..
This is no honest retrospective, this is a pure and simple dig at the Bulls, a biased and opinianated piece of garbage writing!
… the bile spilling from the mouth of the jealous, the vitriol of somebody who desperately envies the Bulls.
What utter crap!
What a waste to have half your brain dedicated to running the Bulls down and the other half dedicated to nothing constructive at all….
lol, saint
i do not agree with everything you say
but
1. i do believe that the bulls (for one reason or another) were not as well prepared for this game as i have come to expect from this team
2. not kicking for posts in the opening minutes of the game, but rather opt to take attacking line-outs? 😯 well, i’m not sure what the scoreline between these two teams were last year, but the bulls looked like they were just “trying to continue from where the left off last year”
..
now, just a question … it seem like the nz teams have hit the ground running, while our teams are struggling for continuity, form etc. why is that and do you guys believe it something to be concerned about?
Ja, ek wonder nog wie was die meeste bly toe die Bulle pak gekry het, die Landers of die res van SA ?
Maar dit is reg, ons vat dit van wie dit kom.
😉
6@ bdb:
Die verskil is dat die Landers is baie meer beheersd in die plesier wat hulle hieruit put.
Die res… fok hulle!
Die Bulle lyk nie lus vir die lang rugby seisoen nie. Hulle is baie beter as wat ons Saterdag gesien het. Ek is bekommerd oor die houding wat gewys word deur van die senior spelers wat seker al ‘n plek in die wereld beker beloof is.
Hierdie gaan ‘n moeilike jaar wees vir die bulle as hulle nie hulle sokkies optrek nie.
Ek dink in elk geval nie die highlanders is baie goed nie, hulle sal die naweek sekerlik teen die Stormers verloor.
@ grootblousmile:
Ag please, don’t come and give me that crap… me desperately envying the Bulls? Come on GBS, at least give me something better than that. Oh no, wait, the Bulls supporters still believe that if all the Bulls were Bokke, the World Cup would be ours.
Your precious little team is not focused, not even a bit, in their heads is only the World Cup, for which they need to remain without injury, and their careers following the World Cup. Du Preez and Matfield moaned and groaned the whole night, Stegmann throwing the ball away, completely disrespectful.
But it’s easy to piss and moan that I resent the Bulls and move my post a number of spots down, much easier than answering the questions I ask.
The Bulls came into this game, believing an easy game was on the cards, they were arrogant and cocky. Kicking for touch, using the drift defence, not committing players to the breakdowns, not making one on one tackles, I doubt that they even watched the Highlanders’ previous games.
That is pathetic and shortsighted, and even though you believe them to be wonderful, face the fact that they are nothing more or less than any other team. And I find it even more pathetic that Bulls supporters can’t take a loss, they don’t have a divine right to win.
8@ Snoek:
Ons almal op Loftus en ook spesifiek die in die perslosie het erg gemurmereer oor Victor Matfield se klaagliedere met die ref en Fourie du Preez se armswaaiery in plaas daarvam om te speel dat dit gons.
As die ouens dink hulle is kaas, dan was Saterdag se verloor die regte medisyne.
Wat meer gepla het mynsinsiens is dat daar passie ontbreek het… want met pure passie wag mens nie gelate dat die ander span na jou toe hardloop nie, jy gaan stuit hulle verdomp daar anderkant die voordeellyn, jy speel so diep in hulle gesigte dat jy van agteraf deur hulle eie oge vir hulle loer!
9@ The Saint:
This Article is the worst piece of unadulterated trash ever published on this web site… by a mile.
You could not give an objective and honest opinion on the Bulls to save your life!
You don’t ask questions, you assasinate character…
This Article should have been binned by myself in stead of letting it stand.. for all to laugh at you!
In fact, I should put a disclaimer on the Article clearly stating that it does not reflect the views of Rugby-Talk or it’s patrons and that it is an Opinion Piece by someone with delusions of grandeur.
8: goeie punte wat jy noem daar Snoek. Ek was ook teleurgesteld dat Vic en FDP so bietjie kop verloor het. Hopelik kan hul dit regstel. Ek het ook reeds geskryf dat hulle nie moet rus op die welslae van die verlede nie, maar elke wedstryd opnuut moet hanteer as ‘n nuwe veldslag, ‘n nuwe oorlog om resprek af te dwing, soos ou Saint sê.
GBS, laat Saint sy sê sê, elkeen is geregtig op ‘n opinie, rugby is oorlog, ‘let the games begin’ 😉
gbs @ 11
“In fact, I should put a disclaimer on the Article clearly stating that it does not reflect the views of Rugby-Talk or it’s patrons and that it is an Opinion Piece by someone with delusions of grandeur”
..
but shouldnt ALL articles have such a disclaimer,
or
is that only reserved for “bull bashing” ones? 😀
gbs @ 10
“Ons almal op Loftus en ook spesifiek die in die perslosie het erg gemurmereer ….”
..
huh-uh, daa onnerie danie craven stands murmureer onsie noggie,
o’s vloek ma se *&^% as hulle nie wil regspelie!! 😀
..
nou gat ek sieker gebên word!! 😆
14@ Ashley:
Hehehe
Nee, ek waardeer die eerlikheid…. daar was maar seker ‘n paar manne wat onner die pandoorie ook wou invloek Saterdag op Roftus.
Nou seg nou vir my, hoe sien jy die game tussen die Stormpoppies en die moeilike lot onder die 2 Jaimies (Highlanders) die Vrydag?
gbs @ 15
highlanders to win and to so by quite a margin
and
i wouldve said so already after the 1st half of the landers vs bulls clash!!
..
stormers have played poorly thus far (super games and warm-ups) and i’d be suprised if we win this one!!
GBS
Funny how you didn’t put up such a noise when I did the same, or actually worse to the Lions last year?
I also had a short fight with the EP Kings, and you supported me in that instance as well…
Seems the man dost protest too much? Are you feeling bad for the Bully Boys? Afraid that maybe I will hurt their feelings?
Dankie bdb
GBS het my ‘n idee gegee, ek moet dalk my nic verander na..The Saint: SARU Assassin
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