The Bulls, last year’s champions, could significantly re-announce themselves in Super Rugby if they upset the Crusaders at the small port town of Timaru on Saturday.
There is also the incentive of completing their first ever “sweep” on New Zealand soil, because they come off a 26-14 victory over the Hurricanes and then move on to Australian dates with the Reds and Force before their return to South Africa.
The team they beat in last year’s Super 14 final, the Stormers, beat off all New Zealand comers for the first time in finishing second, including a maiden 100 percent record there by winning against both the Blues and Chiefs.
Now the title-holders can follow suit on the road against the most formidable outfit in the NZ conference, even if the Bulls cannot complete the fullest “slam” of New Zealand conquests because they have already lost to the Highlanders at Loftus.
But if Victor Matfield’s men are to upset the Crusaders at the unfashionable Alpine Stadium – the 12 000-capacity venue is expected to be a sellout – they will also get a long-time monkey off their backs.
That is because you have to go back 15 years to 1996 for the last time the Bulls beat these opponents away.
It was a pretty convincing 34-18 at Jade Stadium in Christchurch then, at a time when neither team boasted a powerhouse reputation: the Crusaders finished rock-bottom of the Super 12 that year whilst the Bulls had not won the domestic Currie Cup since 1991 and would not do so again until 1998.
Since then it has been only heartache for the Bulls against the Crusaders abroad in seven subsequent meetings (including a 2006 semi-final), even if they have also knocked over the Cantabrians seven times on South African soil (once at Orlando Stadium, in the 2010 semi-final).
The Crusaders, it must be said, have found it easier to win occasionally in Pretoria, doing so four times.
The closest the Bulls have come in scoreboard terms to beating them overseas was in 2009, when the final score was 16-13.
It was an unusual outcome, at AMI Stadium, because the Bulls scored two tries (both Akona Ndungane) to one (by Isaac Ross) but played second fiddle in place-kicking terms, with Morne Steyn unusually landing just a solitary penalty on the day.
Especially after his highly influential showing in the game against the Hurricanes, the Bulls will surely be hoping for a better haul than three points by the Springbok pivot on Saturday …
Written by Rob Houwing of News24
Ashley OK it is up start the bashing, Bulls are in trouble here they have 3 wins in a row against the Crusaders so they are going for a thing that never happened before, winning 4 in a row. Surely they cant make it, remember too they only won their first ever game over there way back in the beginning. Ages ago.
super @ 1
😀
i didnt ask for the thread to be put up so we can bash the bulls
..
i really thought that it would be interesting to see what the bloggers could come up with
for the combined thread of the canturbary 10 and 12
..
btw
i doubt whether i’ll go for the bulls on superbru
but
i’ll be hoping that they can prove me wrong!
It’s going to be a very difficult weekend for the Bulls!
The Bulls showed however that they want to defend better by defending right IN the Hurricanes faces this last Saturday, and they will have to do it the whole time against the Saders to stand a chance of winning.
I have the Bulls down for a win on Superbru…because I just had a feeling that the Sharks are kakker than we initially thought, and they had the Crusaders close.
Those pedestrian fcukers better not dissappoint me.
4@ The Saint:
Well, well, well… you call the 3-time Super 14 winners Pedestrian fc-ukers, yet you pick them on Bru against the ALL Time Super Rugby side of the Crusaders, featuring Dan Carter and Sonny Bill Williams….
The only conclusion I can draw is that you actually really rate AND fear the Pedestrian fc-ukers….
The Saint wrote:
says the man whose team can not score tries anymore. Again the lowest try scoring team in SA with 9 from 6 matches. The lions have 15
Bitchy ladies, bitchy!
I think if Bulls beat Saders they will be on a all time high in confidence. Bulls will become the hardest team to beat after that.
This is a outstanding Saders side. Their midfield is sensational. They also have Dagg at fb now.
Good luck Bulls.
Whitelock is out with injury after the Twickers game. He was outstanding. But will miss 8 weeks due to surgery.
Hi Puma, I’d love the Bulls to klap the Crusaders at home, but I really can’t see it happening. And I must agree with the Saint for a change, I don’t believe that the Saders/Sharks game is a true barometer of the Saders true strength as, and I’m sorry to say this to a Shark supporter like yourself, the Sharks are not a settled team at the moment. Something is wrong down there at the Tank. The Stormers should not beat the Sharks at the Tank. Yet, it happened….
@ fender: Agreed, as much as i want the bulls to win and will support them all the way this weekend ? , just cant see them pulling this one off, although it will be a good thing for all SA teams if they do
It is nearly impossible, but wouldn’t it be nice to win this one. Like someone said, if the Bulls do pull of a win, the fear it will create is awesome. Dream on Superbul, dream on.
Come all you clever car buyers, i want to buy a bakkie , where what , new?
@ superBul:
Toyota
Jy kan nie verkeerd gaan met ‘n Hilux of ‘n Cruiser nie. Al koop jy ook 2dehands, dit bly ‘n bargain!!
Grootste verskil tussen die Stormers en van die ander spanne le in die feit dat alhoewel die Stormers nie driee druk nie, hulle nog minder afstaan! en hulle staan ook nie onnodig logpunt af nie. As ek reg het hulle sover net 2logpunte afgestaan die seisoen, en 25 gebank as jy die stupid bye uitlos! Die meeste punte wat die Stormers nog in ‘n wedstryd afgestaan het was 16!!
Nou, soos ek rugby verstaan moet jy sorg dat wanneer die eindfluitjie blaas jy meer punte oppie scioreboard het as die ander span. Anders gestel, jy moet keer dat die anderspan meer punte as jy aanteken. Die Stormers het in die wedstryd teen die Force gewys dat die driee oppad is, en ek voorspel dat hulle eerskomende naweek hul bonuspunt aan driee gaan kry!! Die span is net te goed om nie drie te druk nie!!
O-ja, ek gaan nou nie soos Saint die Bulls pick die naweek nie, maar ek hoop regtag hulle stop bietjie die Crusaders se momentum!!
@ superBul:
I agree with King Paul re ~Toyota Hilux ……Go to You Tube and watch Top Gear Toyota Hilux episode. The team try to kill a Toyota Hilux…It is hillarious!!
@ KingPaul:
Kan nie met jou stry nie, iewers het die Stormers die lig gesien en besef mooi rugby beteken nie noodwendig wen nie. Die jaar word baie minder driee gedruk deur die meeste spanne. Die verdediging van die meeste spanne is baie beter as laasjaar.
2010 was daar na week 7 , 2418 punte afgestaan en 250 driee gedruk
2011 was daar na week 7 , 2185 punte afgestaan en 212 driee gedruk
Bonus punte vir 4 of meer driee , 2011 = 21, 2010 = 24
Stormers moet net nie an swak dag op verdediging he nie, dit kan nag wees dan.
Die Rebels laat daardie stats hierbo “goed” lyk, waar hulle gespeel het is daar 47 driee aangeteken , 15 vir hulle en 31 teen hulle.
Vat hulle weg en die driee verminder dramaties.
GBS
It’s not a case of rating the Bulls, rather not rating the Crusaders as high. Let’s be honest, up to now, the only team of note that they have faced, they lost against, and then the game against the Sharks, well, we all saw that the Sharks’ main game plan is, get the ball to Alberts, and if that fails, get the ball to Alberts, not too difficults to suss out.
If the Bulls do what they normally do, and keep the ball away from the Crusaders, I fail to see how either Carter OR SBW can make an impact. The Bulls’ main problem in this game would have been McCaw, he’s not playing, so the Bulls’ second rate fetcher (Stegmann), should be within his limits and facing an equal.
Not really a heart decision, I thought about this.
@ superBul:
Isuzu, there is only one.
Hi Super, is there a Superbru group for IPL? If so please let us know the code.
Hilux is the way to go!!! And if you can afford it the Cruiser is the ultimate machine. Best buys are the 1999-2004 models!!
If the Cheetahs can beat the Waratahs, then the Bulls can beat the Crusaders!! I know it’s a big ask ti dismantle the Crusaders overseas, and they are on a high at the moment, that said overconfidence have brought many a team crashing down!!
Bulls can do it!! Go Bulls Go Cheetahs!! Go stormers, and well yes Go Lions/Sharks
What do you guys/girls think about the injuries the Cheetah team have suffered, is a conditioning problem? If so, how come as the team fitness seems to be very good. How else does a team make twice as many tackles, and still stay in a match to the very end??
Historey has shown that the Bulls seem to struggle in week 2 of their travels overseas but lets hope they are up for it on Saturday, Crusaders are the best team in the tournament at the moment.
Izuzu…gmf..The Hilux got to the rubbish dump first as it was towing the Izuzu.
You get the Cruiser pickup with the V8 Diesel in SA? Now that’s a machine!
Come join my IPL prediction game on SuperBru! It’s free and loads of fun. Just click here:
http://www.superbru.com/ipl/pool.asp?p=168154
Pool name: VUl IPL 2011
Pool code: mattsays
Against all logic I have this funny feeling in my waters that the bulls might pull it off this Saturday.
There is no logic in this feeling I must add 🙂
Toyota? Rubbish when compared to an Isuzu.
@ Loskoppie #28,
Guess it depends what you want to use it for. As a daily commuter, the Isuzu is comfy, and economical, but if you want a vehicle that has a history for going almost anywhere in Africa, and has a reputation for reliability, then the Toyota is definately the prefered choice!!
How many Isuzu’s do you see roughing it in the bundus?
Then again the sales figures for the past 20 years tells its own story. Toyota bakkies outsell the competitors by a country mile, and have been doing so for years. In fact if you add the total bakkie sales of Isuzu, Nissan, Ford and Mazda, you might just even the Toyota sales!!
When looking at the Bulls this season it seems that the senior players are just that hal a meter to slow. Some guys may not make the world cup squad if you look at current performances. Now I realise that some players may be pacing themselves, but it could also pace you out of a world cup spot.
As far as the Crusaders are concerned, SBW has made a big difference in the midfield with his offloading capabilities and someone is going to have to show the rest how to take him down in a tackle. It shouldn’t be that difficult as he loves to carry and offload with one hand on the ball. If we can’t find a counter for that, it will take the Crusaders all the way to the title. They are playing scintilating rugby at the moment.
I think the men to take down SBW is Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie.
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