Bulls save SA from nightmare weekend
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| Wynand Olivier © Gallo Images |
After losses for the Sharks, Lions, Stormers and Cheetahs this weekend, the Bulls were the sole hope to stop a whitewash of losses, but started badly with the Waratahs powering to a 17-0 lead early on and later 26-10 lead.
But as many sides have learnt over the years, it takes a lot more than a good start to stop this Bulls side. Their unbeaten record now stretches to 13 consecutive matches, and had they scored two more points, it would have been the fourth consecutive game that the Bulls scored 50 at Loftus (including last year’s Super 14 final).
Still, the victory rocketed the Bulls back to the top of the log, and kept them as the only side with a full complement of points after three rounds. The team will enjoy a bye this week knowing they are well on course for the defence of the title they won last year.
Yet, as in previous weeks, there is still food for thought for Frans Ludeke and his coaching staff. They went behind against the Cheetahs and Brumbies as well, but as with this game, produced sparkling second-half performances to strangle their opposition.
On the positive you could say it takes a lot to rattle these Bulls, but there is still certainly work for the side before they hit their peak. That in itself, should be a frightening prospect for other teams in the competition.
The score could have been higher as referee Marius Jonker refused to hand out a yellow card, despite five professional fouls by the Waratahs on their own line. Three times Jonker told Phil Waugh to talk to his players where a stricter referee would have dispatched players from the start.
The Waratahs enjoyed possibly the perfect start, as they surprised the Bulls from the kick-off, and scored almost immediately after turning the ball over and immediately going onto attack.
Tatafu Polota-Nau crashed over from close range in the third minute to silence the Loftus faithful, and Berrick Barnes, who pumped over the conversion, added a penalty to extend the lead two minutes later. The game wasn’t 10 minutes old when flanker Ben Mowen was flung over the tryline by Werner Kruger and with Barnes on song, the defending champs stared down a 17-0 scoreline.
The Bulls hardly had their hands on the ball at this stage, and when they finally did, the Waratahs purposely pulled down a rolling maul twice on their own tryline, to howls of disgust from the crowd. It was not to matter though, as the next phase play saw Morné Steyn deliver a perfect inside pass to Francois Hougaard to score.
Barnes put through a drop and two penalties to take the score to 26-10 on the half hour, with things looking bad for the Bulls. However, one thing about this side is their grit and determination, and after Gerhard van den Heever was initially held up, the next wave of attack saw Stephan Dippenaar cross to leave his side eight points adrift at the break.
The Bulls came out in the second half with renewed vigour, and it was immediately apparent when Steyn pulled a penalty back to get them within five.
Hougaard finally put them into the lead in the 51st minute after Rossouw stole a lineout ball out of Dave Dennis’ hands, with the Brumbies defence stretched the entire time. But the Waratahs retook the lead as they caught the Bulls napping, with Lachie Turner going in at the corner for a television referee sanctioned try.
The Bulls finally got their bonus point after another string of penalties on the Waratah line, with Van den Heever at the end of a classic backline attack and the winger ran a beautiful line five minutes later as a dummy runner to flummox the defence and let Wynand Olivier in for the Bulls' fifth try.
Ten points up and it seemed as if the game was over, but the Waratahs bounced back as Drew Mitchell finished off an exceptional blindside move to wrongfoot Morne Steyn and bring his team back within three points.
Victor Matfield’s insistence on putting penalties to the corner paid off when the Bulls built up some momentum, and Steyn chipped perfectly over the defence for Jacques-Louis Potgieter to seal the victory.
The Waratahs earn one bonus point for their four tries, but will leave Loftus knowing they threw everything at the Bulls, yet, were beaten by a true champion side.
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls - Tries: Francois Hougaard (2), Stephan Dippenaar, Gerhard van den Heever, Wynand Olivier, Jacques-Louis Potgieter. Conversions: Morne Steyn (6). Penalties: Steyn (2).
Waratahs - Tries: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Mowen, Lachlan Turner, Drew Mitchell. Conversions: Berrick Barnes (2), Kurtley Beale. Penalties: Barnes (3). Drop Goal: Barnes.
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