Bulls vs. Highlanders in Pretoria (18/05/2013)

[Gena_ZA]

<article>Original source - http://www.superxv.com/news/super15_rugby_news.asp?id=39032

"The Bulls have named their team to face the Highlanders on Saturday at Loftus and Pierre Spies has been named to win his 100th Super Rugy cap.
There are five changes to the starting side that beat the Hurricanes with a bonus point - three of those are in the backline and two in the front row.
Jan Serfontein returns to inside centre ahead of Wynand Olivier, Lionel Mapoe swops his place on the bench with Bjorn Basson and will play left wing and Jano Vermaak and Francois Hougaard also do swop the number nine and number twenty jerseys.
Up front Frik Kirsten and Morne Mellett take over the propping duties from Werner Kruger and Dean Greyling. In a change on the bench, Callie Visagie takes over from Willie Wepener.
Bulls captain Spies made his debut - ironically - against the Highlanders in Dunedin and on the wing back in 2005.
He will become the seventh player from the franchise to reach the 100 cap milestone
The day will also be a special occassion for Morne Steyn as he will be playing in his 117th match for the franchise and will move past Victor Matfield and Danie Rossouw's 116 match mark.
Spies says that the two milestone's will be celebrated off the field as the Bulls want to focus on beating the Highlanders.
"These milestones are special, but there is a place for that. My focus and that of the team is fully set on the Highlanders and what we need to do to beat them."
"We did very well against the Hurricanes two weeks ago, had a week's break and now need to find that rhythm and momentum again."
Bulls
Jurgen Visser , Akona Ndungane , JJ Engelbrecht, Serfontein, Lionel Mapoe, Morne Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Pierre Spies (c), Dewald Potgieter , Deon Stegmann, Juandre Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Frik Kirsten, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Morne Mellet.
Replacements: Callie Visagie, Werner Kruger, Grant Hattingh, Arno Botha , Jano Vermaak, Louis Fouche, Bjorn Basson."
</article>

 

[TRF_heineken]

I'm happy with the team. Our rotation policy works and we are not marred by injuries like some other teams. Mainly because of this rotation policy, and we still deliver the goods. Arno is ised well as an impact player and Dewald gives us a bit more grunt and against the Highlanders we will need that, then 2nd half he can come on and finish off the game for us.

 

[Gena_ZA]

Yes that is the logical conclusion, probably would have done the same if I was the coach
But I need his for my fantasy league man

 

[cyclone101]

Just bought tickets for the game. It's going to be epic, I love the Loftus atmosphere!

 

[Gena_ZA]

Just bought tickets for the game. It's going to be epic, I love the Loftus atmosphere!

Enjoy!!

You just might hear our screams from Moreletta Park side

 

[Larksea]

*sigh*

dont think I'll bother myskying this one.

 

[austingtir]

What can i say about this match.... the bulls fully deserved the win and are looking pretty ominious...... but man they got some help from that refree. That forward pass decision just gave them alot of momentum in this game and they were unstoppable after that. It was a very poor decision... you can only look on the bright side atleast the highlanders werent fighting for a playoff spot this time.

 

[tenpm]

I don't think the referee had much influence in the proceedings. I thought that the pass was a little forward too, but it doesn't surprise me that the TMO didn't agree, and the benefit of the doubt always goes to the attacking team in these situations.

The Highlanders have only themselves to blame for conceding so many penalties. This is the third game in a row where they lost players to the sin bin. Every game that the Highlanders play, my opinion of Hore as a captain gets lower. He needs to learn that challenging the referee will never change his mind, and will make him more likely to penalise them. It can't be a coincidence that the Highlanders conceded 14 penalties in total, but only 1 during the 10 or so minutes that Hore was off.

 

[TRF_heineken]

What can i say about this match.... the bulls fully deserved the win and are looking pretty ominious...... but man they got some help from that refree. That forward pass decision just gave them alot of momentum in this game and they were unstoppable after that. It was a very poor decision... you can only look on the bright side atleast the highlanders werent fighting for a playoff spot this time.

Its an interesting decision that. During half time, our pundits evaluated it. Nick Mallett pointed out, while magnifying the hands and the ball. At the time of the pass, the Highlanders player's hand was on JJ's right hand, but look at JJ's left hand as he is making the pass. His hand is directing the ball to go backwards. And the Highlander's player's influence on the right hand, causes the ball not to go backwards.

According to Mallett the right decision was made. And so I'm happy with the call. But I think Smartcooky should assist with this matter.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

It was the wrong call. The TMO simply didn't have the balls to make the right decision. I don't think it would've made any difference in the end, but the number of incorrect TMO decisions this year has been ridiculous and is a blight on the game.

 

[TRF_heineken]

It was the wrong call. The TMO simply didn't have the balls to make the right decision. I don't think it would've made any difference in the end, but the number of incorrect TMO decisions this year has been ridiculous and is a blight on the game.

It might be the wrong call, and I am in no position to judge the call. But as far as how Nick Mallett explained it, JJ's hand movements showed that he intended to pass it backwards, and that the influence of the Highlanders player was enough to cause doubt to make a decision.

I do however agree with the amount of bad calls. With all the new rights given to TMO's and refs, the amount of bad calls are supposed to decrease, and increase like it has.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

It might be the wrong call, and I am in no position to judge the call. But as far as how Nick Mallett explained it, JJ's hand movements showed that he intended to pass it backwards, and that the influence of the Highlanders player was enough to cause doubt to make a decision.

I do however agree with the amount of bad calls. With all the new rights given to TMO's and refs, the amount of bad calls are supposed to decrease, and increase like it has.

It doesn't matter what his intentions were - the fact of the matter is that the ball came out of his hands forwards. It's no different to a knock on.

 

[TRF_heineken]

But what does the laws say? The movement of the hands or the ball or both? I think if the opposing player didn't assist with the movement of the ball, it would've been a clear indication of whether the pass was forward or not. But there were doubts, and this time the doubts favoured the attacking team.

That also being said the TMO has been guilty of previous indescretions of bad calls. I'm just that for once it was in favour of an SA team.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

The law doesn't care about his intentions, only the direction he passes the ball. The only a ball can travel forwards from a pass is when momentum carries it forwards (you know, that IRB video they've done?). Like I said, his pass was no different to a knock on. When being hit hard in the tackle, the player has no intention of dropping the ball forwards, but it still counts as a knock on - this is the same thing, but with a pass.

 

[cyclone101]

I agree, that was forward, simple as that. Peyper and the TMO was horrible. But I think the lander's inability to keep it clean in the rucks and mauls cost them.

Personally I think the Bulls were very average this game and they looked very tired at the end, I hope they get some form back before next week, the sharks will want to make a point.

 

[austingtir]

I don't think the referee had much influence in the proceedings. I thought that the pass was a little forward too, but it doesn't surprise me that the TMO didn't agree, and the benefit of the doubt always goes to the attacking team in these situations.

The Highlanders have only themselves to blame for conceding so many penalties. This is the third game in a row where they lost players to the sin bin. Every game that the Highlanders play, my opinion of Hore as a captain gets lower. He needs to learn that challenging the referee will never change his mind, and will make him more likely to penalise them. It can't be a coincidence that the Highlanders conceded 14 penalties in total, but only 1 during the 10 or so minutes that Hore was off.

Totally disagree the first yellow card was justified but the second was not and the discussed forward pass aswell as numerous other decisions which werent as important as those two. Give the bulls that much momentum in a game and im very suprised the Highlanders actually finished the game as close as they did. The score was 35-18 but thr highlanders didnt deserve that scoreline.

Nick Mallet is stupider than i thought if he's claiming that wasnt a forward pass. It was clearly a forward pass no doubt at all about it.

 

[Gena_ZA]

This TMO sucked as well, JJ 's pass was forward and Serfontein'ss try was pretty legit

 

[austingtir]

Watch from 3:05 Even the SA commentators are like stunned mullets by that decision. They couldnt believe it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu1mT-qI7U0

 

[Kiwiwomble]

there is some fancy editing in there, Tanaka and Quasie are shown scoring a try and converting it respecively...then shown on the bench showing dissappointment at the bulls last try...and then shown in play before ellisons try


...if we're going to clone someone i would have though Ben Smith would be the first choice

 

[tenpm]

I saw that too, Tanaka magically reacting to his own try on the bench somehow...