Bulls coach Frans Ludeke said that a few key ajustments made by Victor Matfield have been central to their recent success.
The Bulls beat the Sharks in their return match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, handing the visitors their first defeat of the season.
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When the two sides met in the first round of the competition in Durban, the Bulls were convincingly beaten by their coastal rivals.
Ludeke said that the difference had been a few tactical changes made by Springbok veteran Matfield who was the team’s attack coach before making a return to the playing field.
“A lot of things we worked on over the last few weeks came through. Victor made a few smart adjustments to our attack in the week and it paid off for us today,” he said.
The victory was affirmation to the Bulls coach that his side was on the right track as they cemented their place among the top sides in the competition with only five points separating them from the log-leading Sharks.
“If you get a win against the Sharks, the way we played, it is a good reward for us and playing against a side that is on top of their game,” Ludeke said after the match.
Matfield, who took over the captaincy after lock partner Flip van der Merwe, was ruled out due to a hamstring strain on Friday, lead a spirited Bulls pack.
The return of former Bulls captain Dewald Potgieter to the side also added a new dimension to the side as he formed a handy trio with Deon Stegmann and Jacques du Plessis.
The 20-year-old Du Plessis is clearly coming into his own as he was again valuable with ball in hand and defensively.
Stegmann and Potgieter were equally impressive with the former terrorising the Sharks at the breakdown area.
The Bulls lay down the gauntlet after the restart with Du Plessis breaking through a tackle in the 47 minute to score, with flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter converting to level the scores on 13-13.
“We felt at half-time we created opportunities that we didn’t use, we gave away soft penalties that kept them in front,” Matfield said.
“But 20 minutes into the second half we were good and we can take a lot out of that, there are still a lot of mistakes but we are a work in progress.”
Matfield said the secret to beating the Sharks brimming with Springbok players was the fact that they aimed at playing as a unit instead on relying on individual stars.
“Against the Blues we were very happy about how we played, tonight we always knew it would be tough because the Sharks are a very good team, they haven’t lost yet,” he said.
“We really had to fight till the end with 23 guys giving their best, playing for each other and really showing great commitment out there.”
Our lock pair really surprised me. When Flip withdrew i thought that’s it.
Victor will on current form walk into any test team. Hm must hope and pray the old man stays fit.
Dewald also played a great comeback game.
I am worried about Piet van Zyl,s slow feeding of the scrum, he is not sharp enough there. Check how long he takes.
been telling you okes for a while now. paul willemse is going to be a giant of bulls and springbok Rugby
@ MacroBull:
Great news. We have nice depth there at the moment. FL spoiled for choice. Victor must not be stubborn and insist on playing all the games.
What a great victory by the BULLS !!!
I called this game on superbru because im my opinion the Sharks with Jake White leading the charges were a bit over confident even leaning towards arrogant going into this game…
Hope Jake White learned his lesson and don’t pull a “snorre” on himself again 🙂
http://www.beeld.com/nuus/2014-03-23-victor-troos-hartseer-frans
Ai, nie geweet dit is so erg om teen ‘n ‘middelmatige swak voorspelbare’ Bulle span te verloor nie, soos White almal probeer wys maak het voor die wedstryd nie ?
Weet iemand waar ek extended highlights op die internet kan kyk van die Bulle teen Haaie wedstryd, nie die 5 minute weergawe op supersport nie ?
@Ben
Jy bedoel seker ” Oom Victor”
1 @ superBul:
I for one thought that VM was wrong to come back, but have to admit that he’s almost back to the level he was at when he “retired”.
Dewald Potgeiter also had a good game (although I only got back home in time to see the 2nd half), and IMO the Buls were foull value for the points.
The Sharks have consistently faded in the 2nd half of their games this season, and the Bulls capitalised on it on Saturday.
Well done Bulls. A deserved victory.
6 @ Ben:
Ek is seker Supersport sal n uur lank package wys ten minste 15 keer tussen more (Dinsdag) en Vrydag.
Lambiekind out for 6 weeks, it is a huge blow IF jake does not move Fransie to flyhalf, in that case here comes a 6 week win streak maybe?
This is poetic from Gavin Rich:
Talking of former heroes returning, it was also good to see Dewaldt Potgieter back too. Somehow the Bulls seem more like the Bulls we know when he is present, and the experience of seeing both him and Matfield in the same team was a bit like the feeling you get when you arrive back at a South African airport after a long trip overseas and spot the biltong shop.
9: lees weer. Ek vra op internet, nie tv nie.
@ Ben:
Jissie Ben, jy weet klaar wie het gewen. Die Bulle speel ook nog tenminste twee keer die jaar teen die Sharks, en dan is daar seker nog 100 ander games ook.
Jy kan seker een Repeat mis 😛
P.S. Ek dink die extended Highlights gaan net 5 minute lank wees, daar was nie baie Highlights nie, Sharks het eers die laaste paar minute begin speel toe Beast en Swiel af is.
Skip maar tot die laaste 20 minute.
12 @ Ben:
Kyk na die Review Artikel… daar is die hele Bulls / Sharks game!
@ Ben:
5
man het ek daai foto geniet, wou hom sommer hier plaas. Hy het gedog hy skop dan so briljant dit kan mos nie met hom gebeur nie, hoe dan nou!!!!
@ grootblousmile:
Hey Oom Groot hoe gaat dit.
16 @ superBul:
Goed, na ‘n rowwe naweek… die rugby en die Rendezvous@Emhlangeni expo…
@ grootblousmile:
Ek moet nou regtig begin rigting kry met my PC.
Ek het net n moederbord en kas nodig. Is jy op kantoor?
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