Blues (6) 21 / 28 (15) Bulls (Final Score)
The Blues and Vodacom Bulls did battle in Super Rugby at Eden Park, Auckland at 05:05 SA Time (03:05 GMT, 16:05 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
*******************
Scorers:
Blues:
- Penalties – Baden Kerr (3)
- Drop Goals – 0
- Tries – Charles Piutau (1), Rene Ranger (1)
- Conversions – Baden Kerr (1)
Bulls:
- Penalties – Morné Steyn (1)
- Drop Goals – 0
- Tries – Lionel Mapoe (1), Akona Ndungane (1), Arno Botha (1)
- Conversions – Morné Steyn (2)
Teams:
Blues: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Francis Saili, 11 Waisale Nahole, 10 Baden Kerr, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Steven Luatua, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Kane Barrett, 5 Ali Williams (Captain), 4 Liaki Moli, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Quentin MacDonald, 1 Tim Perry
Replacements: 16 James Parsons, 17 Angus Ta’avao, 18 Ronald Raaymakers, 19 Brendon O’Connor, 20 Jamison Gibson-Park, 21 Martin McKenzie, 22 Albert Nikoro.
Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Lionel Mapoe, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Arno Botha, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Juandrè Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Morné Mellett.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Grant Hattingh, 19 Jacques Potgieter, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Jürgen Visser.
Referee: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCYua668NDw[/youtube]
@ Pietman:
Lyk my defence wen oor net hardloop.
3 wins by SA teams against NZ teams. Two of them in NZ who would have expected that?
Dit was nou die moeite werd om die game lewendig te kyk
Bulle het boonop nog 2 baie goeie kanse verspeel
Nee wat vandag is die Blues gematch deur die Bulle
ons kan net so lekker met die bal hol
@ leon:
Se Kitch en Jake ook mos!
@ superBul:
Ons hol lekker teen oorsese spanne, maar teen mekaar speel ons haai kiek en tjaarts?
@ McLook:
I said a while ago that SA is slowly getting over the jet lag syndrome. We play much better over there now
Not sure but since 2007 the Bulls have a better than 50% win ratio against NZ & AUS teams
Something promising is happening
Damn, I missed the whole game!
How the hell did that happen!
@ Pietman:
Bulle het ook teen Stormers goed begin hardloop, maar gou gou veilig begin speel na n paar goeie tackles van die Stormers.
Gister het die Chiefs gewys dat n grubber gate kan maak
@ grootblousmile:
Jis en ou maat dit was n goeie een
@ grootblousmile:
Jy het ‘n great game gemis.
Seems like work ONCW AGAIN prevented me from watching a decent game of footie.
Well done Bulls.
My Superbru now totaly screwed. Ah well, it’s not a National DisasterQ
Cheers Gents.
Enjoy your rwst.
Appointment in Germiston followed by golf in Centurion. (Weather permitting.)
162 @ Scrumdown:
Geez. Puma fingers. REST.
I would like to take a power nap now but too much adrenalin flowing now.
“Having watched the last few weeks of rugby from both the Northern and the Southern Hemispheres, it has become apparent that New Zealand rugby is now on a different planet from the rest of the world.”
Mark Reason
Luckily we share that Planet this week
Some New Zealand reaction
The Bulls posted their first-ever win at Eden Park, beating the Blues 28-21 to extend their unbeaten start to the Super Rugby season to three games.
The Pretoria-based Bulls had never previously beaten the Auckland-based Blues on their home ground but did so by three tries to two to end the Blues’ unbeaten start to the season.
Blues coach John Kirwan named a much-changed side, including six new caps, for the match after his team had unexpectedly won its first two matches.
The tactic failed and the Blues were outplayed by the Bulls who played a fast-paced style in warm, dry conditions.
The Blues briefly snatched the lead in the second half but the Bulls rallied to win with two late tries.
It was too little, too late from the Blues as they ran smack-bang into a Bulls-sized reality check at Eden Park today.
In front of 25,112 fans on a sunny Sunday afternoon, Sir John Kirwan’s Blues found the big South Africans just too much to handle as they sunk to a 28-21 defeat – their first of the Super Rugby season.
A late try to Rene Ranger briefly raised the home team’s hopes of a comeback victory as they closed to within four points, at 21-25, but an 80th-minute penalty to Morne Steyn sealed the Bulls’ first ever victory on Eden Park.
The Bulls, with their outstanding pack denying the Blues the possession they had feasted on over the previous fortnight, were well worthy of their three tries to two victory which makes them three for three for the new season.
Both teams came into this match with their confidence high after a couple of wins, but it was the Bulls who imprinted their style and game-plan on to proceedings the better.
With No 8 Pierre Spies leading a brilliant loose forward trio and the back three of Zane Kirchner, Akona Ndungane and Lione Mapoe enjoying perfect conditions, the visitors dominated for long periods.
Kirwan had made six changes to his in-form side and in the end this probably hadn’t done the Blues any favours as they struggled to settle into a rhythm in this match until it was too late.
The Bulls had led 15-6 at the break, wings Mapoe and Ndungane crossing for the only tries of the half.
Mapoe’s came just inside the opening quarter when Ndungane did very well to retrieve a high kick, the big visiting forwards rumbled it up and the wing was put across in the left corner.
Five minutes later new Blues No 10 Baden Kerr paid dearly for a loose kick which saw the Bulls stretch out to their nine-point halftime lead.
Impressive Bulls flanker Deon Stegmann gathered the charged down ball and headed upfield. Eventually possession was shifted right, and Kirchner’s flat pass put his wing one-on-one with Waisake Naholo, and that was no contest at all.
The Blues rattled off 10 straight points inside the first quarter of an hour of the second spell to lead 16-15 on the back of Kerr’s third penalty and a very well-taken try by fullback Charles Piutau wide on the left.
But that just steeled the Bulls.
Three minutes later flanker Arno Botha crossed wide on the left, after another fabulous break up the middle by Ndungane, and when Morne Steyn added his second penalty soon after the South Africans led 25-16.
Halfback Jano Vermaak nearly made the game safe a dozen minutes from time but just lost the ball as he reached for the line, before Ranger raised home hopes four minutes from the end when he was put clear by Francis Saili and bumped off Kirchner for the five-pointer.
But at 21-25 in arrears the Blues needed things to fall their way over the final few minutes, which didn’t happen as Steven Luatua was bundled into touch and Steyn applied the finishing touch with his boot.
The Blues now have a bye to reassess things. They hinted at their ability, but just weren’t able to establish the possession platforms to give those backs of theirs the opportunities they would have liked on a sunny afternoon.
Score wrong here, late comers will cut their wrists GBS
Super Rugby: DHL Stormers vs Chiefs – Live Game Article
StormersChiefsStormers (26) 33 / 34 (17) Chiefs (Final Score)
The DHL Stormers and Chiefs did battle in Super Rugby at Newlands, Cape Town at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
Good mornings, just watched it “delayed life” and what a great performance
SA teams having one over the NZ teams this weekend, their attacking brilliance not so evident against structured and composed opposition
We are ina agood space at the moment
Congrats to the Bulls, what a fantastic result. They are proving many critics wrong and are probably the team that will top the SA log alongside the Stormers.
Only 3 Super Rugby sides still unbeaten in 2013…
Brumbies (Their 18 Log points include 1 Bye weekend)
Bulls
Sharks
Really great to see we won! Just been reading through all the comments to get an idea of how the game went thanks guys for posting, was awake for a bit about an hour before the game but really needed my beauty sleep pity missed it though it would have been brilliant to follow it live considering the result!
Well done Bulls. Was up at 6am to watch this game. Just in time to watch the 2nd half. Terrific physical rugby from the Bulls. Really pleased they won. 3 from 3 from the saffa sides against the kiwis this week, that for me is awesome.
No internet in our area this morning so finally can post now the reason I never blogged with everyone during this game.
171 @ grootblousmile:
Yip and there are two saffa teams there as well as Jake’s team…. 🙂
Thanks for the highlights our great and glorious webmonster! Lovely to see the Pinksplay such enterprising rugby.
Can’t believe I missed a Bulls game! I never miss a game….ever!! Dammit!! Think I must have killed the alarm instead of snoozing it. Watched the Sharks game with fellow Sharkies and had way to much to drink… Hahaha!
Great result for SA! Hope next week we’ll have the same success? Maybe the Kings can put one over the Chiefs I hope? Bulls over Crusaders, Cheetahs over the ‘Tahs and Sharks over the Brumbies? Wouldn’t it be great if we klap the kiwis 2 from 2 and the ozzies 2 from 2… ?
I recon the Lions will have to dig deep to get their place back in Super Rugby! After watching the Sharks vs Kings game, I must say, the Kings looks hungry! Maybe the’re not a walking 5-pointer…
I still climbed 4 places on SuperBru, not to bad considering the kak predictions I made!! Hahaha!!
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