They may not be the same vintage as the 2009 and 2010 Vodacom Super Rugby champion team, but the Vodacom Bulls are steadily starting to believe in themselves – and that makes them very dangerous as the competition starts winding down to its business end.
But the Bulls know their real test was not against the struggling DHL Stormers last Saturday, but rather in a fortnight’s time when they face the Australian conference leaders, and the side that put them out of the semifinals last year – the Brumbies.
SuperSport
At least they will be facing them at their fortress of Loftus Versfeld, but it will take a similar slow poison performance as the one they put up against the Stormers if they are to take the valuable points on offer.
One man who was overly happy at the way the Stormers were dismantled during the game was captain Victor Matfield, who was grinning broadly after a classic Bulls performance that simply gave the Stormers no chance in the result.
And Matfield sees the belief growing in the Bulls – something that hasn’t been there too often this season.
“A belief is starting to grow in the team. When I walked off the field I told the coach I am very happy with this win, it was like the Bulls of old when we squeezed them,” the veteran lock said.
“After the first 20 minutes we didn’t give them anything. Our scrum killed them, and our defence was so good and our kicking game was so good. From this we can start creating attacking opportunities as well. I was very happy with this performance.”
Matfield said a solid kicking game, and excellent defence – two factors that have been absent in many games this season – were the difference and allowed the confidence to grow. But he gave credit to the Stormers for a gutsy performance, especially with all the injuries they have suffered.
“Everyone talked in the week about them playing a bit more, we weren’t too worried about that. We knew if we kicked it long, we would be okay. Our defence was good and we believed we can force turnovers and our plan worked for us.”
“That first 10, 20 minutes we gave away two turnovers that they scored off and credit to them, they did very well with those turnovers. They had a lot of injuries and they came out hard and they stuck at it until the end.”
Matfield said even though the team was 12-0 down at one point, the belief was there, and he simply needed to remind the players they needed to work for their points, and claw their way back into the game.
“I told the guys ‘let’s get in the right areas, let’s fight for the inches’ and I think we did. We got those inches and the three points and we fought our way back. Then the try came and we were outside seven ahead, we didn’t give them anything. “
Now with a week off the Bulls will return to training in seven days knowing they will have Bok lock Flip van der Merwe back from his suspension and halfback Piet van Zyl back from his injury, giving them more options ahead of a structured Brumbies team.
And more importantly they will be at Loftus, a ground where they haven’t lost this season, and where they play with more confidence than ever before.
There is, of course, still the question of whether or not this Bulls side, should they make the playoffs, will have enough to win a game away from home and overseas.
But that is a question for another day. For now they’re happy at gaining some momentum, and will enjoy their bye week with renewed belief.
How they use that belief for the rest of the season will determine where they finish up.
It’s all fine & well to have the “BELIEF”, but the Bulls are far from the complete side at the moment… the loosies are faulty, the handling errors abound… there are some definate ingredients missing.
I predicted a Mid- table finish for them and would be happy if that is the case.
If, and it’s a huge IF they make the play-off’s I will be very happy… but I do not recon they will progress past the play-off weekend.
@ grootblousmile:
I think we have some selection worries in the loose forwards and maybe WSS for JJ… but overall, if we go by the lows we were on at the currie cup, where if that team was 12 points down it would hae been game over last year, there was 8 odd players whos heads would immediately drop, but now even those players know that if they work together they can be competitive. while we have to admit that we simply are not good enough yet to compete with the antipodeans, we have done well, considering for yet another year the Bulls were written off to be battling for the wooden spoon with the Lions, but for a change, the new guys believe in themseles.
Quoting Frans Ludeke:
” Add to that the Sharks downturn in play of later and the difficulty of playing away from home, facing arguably the form side of the competition, the Crusaders this weekend and many Bulls fans will be wanting a loss for the fellow South Africans rather than hoping they can win.
But not the Bulls, as coach Frans Ludeke acknowledged the bye had come at a good time for his team, but said there was no way they wished anything but good tidings for Jake White’s side.
“We want to run our own race and we don’t want the Sharks to lose, they’re a South African team and we want to wish them well,” Ludeke said.
“We have always said if we run our own race we will be okay. This week is a nice off week for the players. We have had eight weeks on the trot, and have come back from the tour well.””
RESPECT
Love Ludeke’s comment on Sharks. Bulls heading right way. Our loosies are a problem but considering who we missing in there we’re doing well. I believe Bulls can reach play-offs and should we get loosies balanced we will be in with chance to make semi’s. Our backline is starting to gel and still have Small-Smith to make impact. Tight forwards are awesome. Reckon we’re going to give Brumbies a hiding.
1 @ grootblousmile:
But their game last Sat’ was just about the best I’ve seen them play in the last 12 months.
Hard driving by the forwards and good quick ball linking to the backs later in the game.
Hougaard had a good game, conentrating on good fast crisp service instead of waving his hands in the air complaining to the ref, (for the most part).
I really enjoyed the game.
@5 Scrumdown
The common demoninator for teams to have their best games is when they( unfortunately for some of us) play against the Stormers.
Bulls last week, Lions in the second round, Cheetahs at Bloem a few weeks ago.
The Sharks will probably struggle overseas now and come back and play the perfect game against the Stormers as well
@ nortierd:
haha true, and the Cheetahs are at the bottom of the log, the lions have just come back from relegation and the Bulls are having their second worst performance in the competition since 2002.
MacroBull wrote:
A conspiracy I tell you
yet they left their best for the stompers
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