SuperRugby - Stormers v Bulls - 31/03/2012

[Draggs]

Tragic.

Also, my apologies to all for not getting the matches up on time, I've been very busy for the past two weeks, but should be back now.
Thanks to all for getting the other threads up.

Anyway... Wish we could have seen Gurthrö and Bakkies in pink just once. Meisiekind must look wonderful!

 

[Gena_ZA]

lekker manne, lekkkkkkker

 

[SomeOke]

Nice to come out with the win game could really have gone either way.
Stormers defended well in the first half, and took our opportunities when we could, everything went a bit pear shaped in the second half and I just felt like we started slacking a little on defence.

We looked good when we did decide to attack but to often Duvenage is opting for the box kick, generally unsuccessfully, tactics need to change and soon! I also wish we would spread the ball a bit more at times, both our centres tend to be very selfish with the ball and we're wasting our talent on the wings, Hougie really showed up Duvenage for the average player he is as well.

Bulls were strong in most aspects and I liked how they changed tactics in the second half when their kick and chase strategy wasn't paying dividends. Their line-outs and scrums were also very solid and they probably had the edge in those area, although our pack did do well to contain them from complete dominance.

All in all I'm happy with the result but would love to see some changes in the way we play. I don't understand why we took the Bulls on in the kicking game when their outside backs are so good under the high ball and at best they just returned the kick with more distance (as Steyn does).

The good players: Chilleboy, J Kruger, Hougie, Etzebeth, Elstadt, Liedenburg.

The bad players: Duvenage, Bekker (stop chilling on the wing and put in some work!)

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

The SA conference is getting very, very interesting this way. May we see 3 teams from 1 conference in the play offs?

 

[Draggs]

The SA conference is getting very, very interesting this way. May we see 3 teams from 1 conference in the play offs?

Unlikely, with the way the Aus conference is set up.
Gotta love the Cheetahs, eh? Never underestimate them, just ask the Crusaders.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Especially with the Aussie conference this year it is possible. Rebels beating the Tahs, Force beating the Reds... That keeps 4 teams out of the play off spots

 

[Draggs]

Yeah, I suppose with the way it is this year it is possible.
Last year, they had one good and one decent team who were able to play some very poor ones multiple times.
It will be really interesting to see what happens when the Bulls and Stormers tour.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Sharks only had 2 matches at home and are almost in a play off spot. That gives me a good feeling

 

[TRF_heineken]

Good Game... Congrats to the Stormers.

My Bulls just couldn't get the lead at any stage in the game, but owned the second half.

Scrums were a shambles, and I thought Craig Joubert and his linesmen had a shocker - Both ways. In the Scrums i thought that Werner Kruger crushed Brock Harris, and he either popped up or collapsed but didn't get penalised, and on the other side it looked lik Kitshoff got the technical part better than Greyling.

As for the First Half, stupid decisions takne by the Bulls... box kicks didn't work as they planned it, and Morne once again didn't have his accuracy with the boot.

All in all, a great spectacle by both teams, and the 17-17 draw I thought would have been a fair reflection on the game.

Oh well, can't wait for the return clash at Loftus.

P.S. Sadie isn't working so well at 13 for the Bulls, or was it just that he missed his former teammates too much??

 

[Bull]

Well Bulls you certainly through the game away due to silly penalties and dumb discipline, in the end you didn't play too bad but left it too late. What the hell is up with Morne, 2 kick offs out on the full, not landing kicks at goal, not kicking penalties out on the full c'mon man you are better than this.

Just some irritating points I've picked up when Craig is the ref, he doesn't know **** about scrums as he proved when he gave the Stormers the match winning penalty it should have been a penalty to the Bulls, even Robbie Kempson acknowledged it. The rolling away rule, please Craig just use common sense if there are 2 or 3 guys lying on top of the tackler there is no way to role away. I'm not blaming the ref for the loss in any way!

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Glad for the win but again we had a good lead and instead of putting the sword into the basket we let up a bit and lost focus and ended up having a mad scramble for the win.

Kudo's to the Bulls, though, they never gave up and after the first try against the run of play they really got into the game. Stormers can feel lucky Steyn seems to be a 60% goalkicker at the moment.

See you guys again at Loftus (and later in the final!.. at Newlands).

 

[Shosoloza]

Well congrats to the Stormers. You deserve your current possition on the log.

All in all I think this was the match off the season sofar. The All blacks and Ausies and the poms must be ******** in their pants right now. I think the Bull who are the "happiest" after Saturday is Heyneke Meyer.

I said last week that the Stormers don't give you much scoring opportunities due to their solid defence and good discipline. So when you do get an opportunity you take it Pierre!!!!! you don't go for touch.

I got the impression that there were moments in the game where the bulls start to take controll. They seem to got over the advantage line more easily just to loose that momentum with ill dicsipline.

Can't wait for the return match at Loftus.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

It'll be good to see how the top SA teams go against the better NZ teams - arguably we haven't seen any of these matches yet, with the Blues performing poorly and the Hurricanes performing to the level you'd expect.

I'm looking forward to the Highlanders v Stormers and the Bulls v Crusaders matches this weekend

 

[Shosoloza]

It'll be good to see how the top SA teams go against the better NZ teams - arguably we haven't seen any of these matches yet, with the Blues performing poorly and the Hurricanes performing to the level you'd expect.

I'm looking forward to the Highlanders v Stormers and the Bulls v Crusaders matches this weekend

It will definately be two great matches. I haven't seen the highlanders sofar, but heard good things about them. However I will pip the stormers due to the fact that they travel good, their defence and discipline.

With all due respect I don't think the saders is the team of years gone by (yet). If the bulls can build on their performance against the stormers and also taking in consideration that this will be Morne's "on" weekend I'll say that the bulls will take this one.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

The Crusaders are no more a team of yesteryear than the Bulls.

Young All Blacks in the Crusaders: Franks x2, Crockett, Whitelock, Read, Guildford, Dagg

Throw in guys like Ellis, Donnelly, Carter, McCaw, Freuan, Maitland and I'd hardly say they're a team of yesteryear.