Super 15: Cheetahs vs Bulls. Free State Stadium (3/3/2012, 15:05 GMT)

[Darwin]

I will be backing the Cheetahs, but I'm expecting the Bulls to take the win. Should be a great match-up at 10 between Steyn and Goosen!

 

[Draggs]

I will be backing the Cheetahs, but I'm expecting the Bulls to take the win. Should be a great match-up at 10 between Steyn and Goosen!

I am going to miss this one, so I'll just imagine a big tennis match on the Highveld. Who can slot the most field goals from the ten metre line?

 

[Feicarsinn]

I will be backing the Cheetahs, but I'm expecting the Bulls to take the win. Should be a great match-up at 10 between Steyn and Goosen!

What kind of out half is Goosen, I've got to say I know bugger all about him. If he's anything like Steyn it might be a great match-up, but it'll be bloody boring.

 

[Darwin]

I am going to miss this one, so I'll just imagine a big tennis match on the Highveld. Who can slot the most field goals from the ten metre line?

10m line - pfft. From what I hear Goosen nails kicks from his own 22

What kind of out half is Goosen, I've got to say I know bugger all about him. If he's anything like Steyn it might be a great match-up, but it'll be bloody boring.

Goosen has a huge boot (both at goal and from hand), but also has a running game that is a bit uncommon in South African 10's.
See: http://www.therugbyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?26736-SupeRugby-Rookies-Part-2 for more detail (from someone who has seen a lot more of him than me)

 

[Draggs]

Yep, Goosen does have a running game, but can't resist the odd 60m droppie. (Especially when his team is 50 up, like last Currie Cup, IIRC).
He is no Patrick Lambie though.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Is Goosen going to play? he got a bump vs the Lions and went off in the second half... If he does, then it will be a great match-up...

Goosen is a great talent and my pick to become the next Springbok Legend... Lambie will have to move over to centre or fullback, because Goosen has the all round talent of an out and out fly-half...

that being said, I think the Cheetahs will be on the back foot in the forwards dept vs the Bulls...

 

[Icemn]

I will be backing the Cheetahs, but I'm expecting the Bulls to take the win. Should be a great match-up at 10 between Steyn and Goosen!

well if you cleaver like the crusaders was last year and deny them kickable penalties, there is a zero on the cards again....

 

[Darwin]

well if you cleaver like the crusaders was last year and deny them kickable penalties, there is a zero on the cards again....

Cheetahs ≠ Crusaders

 

[Icemn]

Cheetahs ≠ Crusaders

lol I was referring to the saders vs bulls game

 

[Darwin]

lol I was referring to the saders vs bulls game

I know... Let me explain. Just because the Crusaders (one of the best defensive teams in the competition) can do something, it doesn't mean the Cheetahs (one of the worst defensive teams in the competition) can do the same thing!

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Both teams announced

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/Olivier-named-in-Bulls-team-20120229


Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Rocco Jansen, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Philip Snyman, 11 Willie le Roux, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Trevor Nyakane.

Substitutes: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Lourens Adriaanse, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Cameron Jacobs.

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling.

Substitutes: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 JJ Engelbrecht.


The only change in either line-up is a center change; Snyman coming in for the banned Strauss and Olivier coming in for the injured Sadie.

Cheetahs back coach Hawies Fourie has stated that with some of the penalties given away at the breakdown over round 1 it's almost not worth trying to play any rugby in your own half (or anywhere from where the opposition goalkicker could take aim at posts from) and I tend to agree. At times the calls have been marginal or downright ludicrous but it does go some way to curbing indescretions at the breakdown which is always a good thing. My only worry is that if the Cheetahs don't try and run the Bulls off their feet I simply can't see them winning another way unless their defense has bettered fivefold since last year and they manage to take it on the back of Goosen's boot.

 

[Seaton]

I know that Drotske doesn't want an inexperienced half-back axis, but I thought de Bruyn wasn't doing at all well, sooner or later he is going to have to start trusting van Zyl to make the transition to Superugby.


Hopefully it doesn't come too late in the season for the Cheetahs, Lions with their now proven pathetic 'supporters' can GTFO if one of the SA sides are going to be dropped.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I know that Drotske doesn't want an inexperienced half-back axis, but I thought de Bruyn wasn't doing at all well, sooner or later he is going to have to start trusting van Zyl to make the transition to Superugby.

Yeah, happens every year and then the Cheetahs start winning games at the end when it's too late for the play-offs in any case and he can start selecting 'risky' players. Why Van ZYl is good enough to play Currie Cup rugby against the Lions but not Super Rugby against the exact same team is beyond me. Same for Philip Snyman vs Andries Strauss.

Hopefully it doesn't come too late in the season for the Cheetahs, Lions with their now proven pathetic 'supporters' can GTFO if one of the SA sides are going to be dropped.

Agreed. If they can't get excited and attend games as CC champions in the 1st round particularly with the vague threat of possible relegation looming then there is no hope for them. At least you can be sure the Kings will draw a semi-decent crowd.

 

[igziabeher]

Looking to Drotske's interview, it looks like the Cheetahs won't run any ball from their own half, and will play a more classic game plan. Don't know if it's a good option against the Bulls. The Bulls were good enough in their forwards' play against the Sharks, and Cheetah's pack should find the game a bit too long if the Cheetahs based their game plan on basics and no risk in their own-half. We saw that the Bulls are still the best when they play at their tempo. If you don't try to play high tempo game against them, it's very difficult to think about the win. Especially with a weak enough pack like Cheetah's one. Goosen is a good quality player, but what about his injury last week ? Is he 100% fit ? 1st game at home, what about the pressure which should be higher than last week away from home ? Bulls' pack won't be that indisciplined than the Lions were last week at the breakdown, and Morné Steyn should be able to dominate Goosen if the game is a Bulls tempo one. Nevertheless, with de Bruyn at 9, have the Cheetahs a chance of playing quality running rugby ? Naka should opt for van Zyl, who looks to suit better to fast and running rugby. Don't think the Cheetahs are coming onto this game with a good strategy to take the win. Was suprised by the quality of the Bulls' pack last week, especially Kruger in lineout, or Stegmann who looked disciplined for once, and Potgieter who breaked line several times. If the Cheetahs don't run the ball, even in their own half, they have no chance in my opinion. Happy enough to see le Roux, we'll see if he goes well at this level.

 

[Darwin]

vBookie: Cheetahs vs Bulls

vBookie added

 

[TRF_heineken]

With Daniller at the Back, the Cheetahs has some real rocket launchers to do the kicking when the ball is in their half... But in saying what Hawies Fourie said, I get the feeling they're opening themselves up for counter attacks...

the Bulls will now let their wings and fullback drop back a bit when defending in the cheetahs half, to get the ball back quickly when it's being kicked, and with Bjorn Basson there, it could come back to haunt the cheetahs...

That being said, the Cheetahs could be using some reverse psychology and play a more running game than last week... Either way, the responsibility is going to be on Goosen to make the decisions...

Apart from Brussouw and Strauss in the forwards, the Bulls look a bit stronger... Interesting to see how meisiekind will go at 13 and not the traditional 12...

 

[Gena_ZA]

Looking to Drotske's interview, it looks like the Cheetahs won't run any ball from their own half, and will play a more classic game plan. Don't know if it's a good option against the Bulls. The Bulls were good enough in their forwards' play against the Sharks, and Cheetah's pack should find the game a bit too long if the Cheetahs based their game plan on basics and no risk in their own-half. We saw that the Bulls are still the best when they play at their tempo. If you don't try to play high tempo game against them, it's very difficult to think about the win. Especially with a weak enough pack like Cheetah's one. Goosen is a good quality player, but what about his injury last week ? Is he 100% fit ? 1st game at home, what about the pressure which should be higher than last week away from home ? Bulls' pack won't be that indisciplined than the Lions were last week at the breakdown, and Morné Steyn should be able to dominate Goosen if the game is a Bulls tempo one. Nevertheless, with de Bruyn at 9, have the Cheetahs a chance of playing quality running rugby ? Naka should opt for van Zyl, who looks to suit better to fast and running rugby. Don't think the Cheetahs are coming onto this game with a good strategy to take the win. Was suprised by the quality of the Bulls' pack last week, especially Kruger in lineout, or Stegmann who looked disciplined for once, and Potgieter who breaked line several times. If the Cheetahs don't run the ball, even in their own half, they have no chance in my opinion. Happy enough to see le Roux, we'll see if he goes well at this level.

Tend to agree with all that is said here, good post
Bulls have the personnel to make the Cheetahs suffer but then again they have the ability to lift there game, especially when playing the Bulls
Still going for a comfortable Bulls victory here

 

[Icemn]

Tend to agree with all that is said here, good post
Bulls have the personnel to make the Cheetahs suffer but then again they have the ability to lift there game, especially when playing the Bulls
Still going for a comfortable Bulls victory here

yip... that is what the Blues fans said this morning....

 

[Seaton]

When were TMO's no longer allowed to rule on double movements?

Bullcrap that the Bulls try was given, double, if not triple movement, playing the ball on the ground, playing the ball when a ruck has formed, a knock and two attempts groundings, so actually a quadruple movement depending on what you constitute as a movement and to top it off the TMO told the ref there were two attempts at grounding, by a prone player.

Farcical series of events.

 

[big ginger 8]

I think that try should be given to Chilliboy nothing to do with him being in my fantasy team or anything...