Steyn powers Bulls to victory

by Brenden Nel | 20 February 2010 (18:55)

Morné Steyn © Gallo Images

Inspired by another exceptional performance by Springbok sharpshooter Morné Steyn, the Vodacom Bulls stormed home in the second half to beat the Brumbies 50-32 in their Vodacom Super 14 match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Blow-by-blow scoring

Steyn contributed 35 points with another display of pinpoint kicking, and added a brace of tries to his tally as the Bulls took home all five points on offer, with the Brumbies leaving with nothing for their performance.

After they were shocked early on by a Rocky Elsom try, and behind at the break, Victor Matfield’s side controlled the phase play well, put the Brumbies under a lot of pressure and kept on letting Steyn plug the penalties away to send them to the top of the Super 14 log after two rounds.

The Bulls are the only side in the competition to have a full house of points from their two outings and while the Brumbies did rattle them early on, they showed once again that it will take a lot to beat the Bulls in Pretoria this year.

However, a sluggish start will give the Bulls something to work on as first Stirling Mortlock put the Brumbies ahead with a penalty, and then Elsom stormed through two tackles to score in the corner.

Steyn’s boot brought them within two points but an uncharacteristic mistake by scrumhalf Fourie du Preez allowed the Brumbies to stretch their lead to nine. With an elaborate move from a lineout going wrong, the ball was passed between Pierre Spies, Deon Stegmann and onto Du Preez, who knocked on, with Elsom snaffling the ball and sending away George Smith for the score.

The Bulls hit back shortly afterwards, after several phases and with a little help from referee Mark Lawrence, who looked as if he impeded defender Ben Alexander when Du Preez rectified his mistake by running in from close range.

A Mortlock penalty on either side of Steyn’s first try – which came as the Bulls went directly up the middle for nine phases, then sent it wide – gave the visitors a slender one-point lead at the break.

Matt Giteau extended that lead a minute into the second half with a big drop goal, and Mortlock made it seven with another penalty, but it was to be their last happy moment, as the Bulls went into overdrive.

First Gerhard van der Heever toed through a loose ball from a lineout to pick up and run through untouched, before Wynand Olivier capped another big performance with a beautiful switch move with Steyn that led to a try.

Ten points up with less than twenty minutes to go, Steyn continued with two more penalties before he finished off another phase play, stepping some very exhausted Brumbies to take the score to fifty.

Pat McCabe brought one back on full time, but the Aussie wizards will leave Pretoria knowing they have a lot of work to do if they are to take the title away from the Super 14 champions.

Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls - Tries: Wynand Olivier, Fourie du Preez, Gerhard van den Heever, Morne Steyn (2). Conversions: Steyn (5). Penalties: Steyn (5).
Brumbies - Tries: : Rocky Elsom, George Smith, Pat McCabe. Conversion: Stirling Mortlock. Penalties: Mortlock (4):

Read more on the Super 14 page.

Comments

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by AustinBrumby February 20, 2010 18:57 GMT

A truly terrible refereeing performance. Brumbies ran out of steam in the end but they didn't plan on playing against 16 opponents.

by Ryan Higgs February 20, 2010 21:17 GMT

I thought the referee did a good enough job. All rugby games needs to be refereed. I wonder if Elsom will get cited for hitting the Bulls number 6 in the face in the early stages of the game?

by SuperBru February 20, 2010 22:23 GMT

"All rugby games needs to be refereed" Thanks for pointing that out Ryan.Do you think they will have them next week to?

by Ryan Higgs February 21, 2010 03:16 GMT

Dear JVB, why are you such a hater? I was merely making a point based on AustinBrumby's statement. Referees have off days the same way players do. I still think the referee did a solid job for the most part. Instead of being such an idiot, and using the comment section to act out your true character, maybe next time use it when you actually have a point to make. Judging by your use of the language you probably just lack the intellectual ability to bring something else than your negative, worthless nitpicky comments to a discussion.

by SuperBru February 21, 2010 12:07 GMT

Come on Ryan,have a sence of houmor.Dont be so sensitive.Im sorry i hurt your feelings.Im not a hater and your "All rugby games needs to be refereed" comment was a LOL.Thanks.

by James Oliver February 21, 2010 15:21 GMT

To accuse the ref of being biased is wrong! The bulls were the better team on the day give them credit for it. Now you sound like a sore loser who has very little appreciation for the game but rather the result. Yes the ref did get into a bad position when FdP scored but that was one time and you should not let that cloud your judgement later. The Bulls won comfortably give credit where it is due.

by jaun grundling February 21, 2010 15:45 GMT

Aggreed the bulls were the better team yesterday. Brumbies could not keep up the pace with the bulls pack of forwards. The last 20min of the game it was very clear that they were tired. I also think that the ref had a bad game, but not enough to say the brumbies lost cause of him. This is only the beginning of the season, so things will change. But i must say the bulls are looking very dangerous this season and they are one of the main contenders for the cup this year. Crusaders lost badly to reds and that was due to all the penalties given away. Highlanders are also showing some good early form.

by AustinBrumby February 22, 2010 02:39 GMT

My comment was more about the critical mistakes that Mark Lawrence made throughout the game that worked collectively against the Brumbies. I concede they were beaten by the better team on the day. It is just frustrating to watch week in week out where the game is let down by second rate refs. Missing double knock ons, awarding tries where there is a suspected knock on and not deferring to the video...it all adds up to make you want to go back to neutrals refs. Worse still the South Africans are perceived as the worst cheats in rugby (ask the poisoned All Blacks)...Mark Lawrence did his countgry no service and should be demoted...of course we know he won't.

by yardbirds63 February 22, 2010 03:49 GMT

Yeah, I admit that Mark Lawrence made some errors in his referring ( the assistant refs are as much to blame also ) ......the double knock etc......what I didn't care for was the way Mark let Matfield ( Sharks John Smit another match different ref ) talk him down in a disrespectful manner..........but i wouldn't call Mark Lawrence a second rate ref.......refs can have bad days just as big name rugby players can.

by Just a Fan February 22, 2010 09:10 GMT

"South Africans are perceived as the worst cheats in rugby" LOL..this coming from an Australian.....

by AustinBrumby February 23, 2010 22:56 GMT

Hey I must admit I haven't seen too many Aussie refs in action. They have been shockers in the past.... I suppose we can be grateful it's not cricket and Pakista,. Good luck to the Bulls they will be hard to beat...long season to go.

by jdesousa February 25, 2010 07:00 GMT

yes here we are again, the whinning from the tough aussies...Brumbies ran out of steam, they choked, etc, heard that one as well from the kiwi's. How about they beaten by a better side.

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