The second game this Friday morning, and the second of the five South African teams in actions this weekend as the Bulls take on the Waratahs in Sydney.
The Waratahs come off an embarrassing loss to the Brumbies last weekend, and the team sees a total of seven changes, with Daniel Halangahu running at fullback, Adam Ashley-Cooper at inside centre and Sarel Pretorius back in the starting line-up. Rocky Elsom will captain the team from the side of the scrum.
The Bulls have made changes to their team as well, with a new centre combination in Venter in Sadie following the injury to Wynand Olivier and the rotation policy with JJ Engelbrecht. We also see Deon Stegmann in at the side of the scrum following the return to South Africa of Jacques Potgieter. Keep your eyes on the Sarel Pretorius/Francois Hougaard battle, as the two are sure to work on each other’s nerves.
Waratahs: 15. Daniel Halangahu, 14. Tom Kingston, 13. Rob Horne, 12. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 11. Afa Pakalani, 10. Berrick Barnes, 9. Sarel Pretorius, 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Chris Alcock, 6. Rocky Elsom (Captain), 5. Kane Douglas, 4. Dean Mumm, 3. Sekope Kepu, 2. John Ulugia, 1. Benn Robinson
Replacements: 16. Joshua Mann-Rea, 17. Jeremy Tilse, 18. Sitaleki Timani, 19. Lopeti Timani, 20. Dave Dennis, 21. Brendan McKibbin, 22. Tom Carter
Bulls: 15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Akona Ndungane, 13. Johann Sadie, 12. Francois Venter, 11. Bjorn Basson, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Francois Hougaard, 8. Pierre Spies (Captain), 7. CJ Stander, 6. Deon Stegmann, 5. Juandre Kruger, 4. Flip van der Merwe, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1. Dawie Steyn
Replacements: 16. Willie Wepener, 17. Rayno Gerber, 18. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19. Arno Botha, 20. Jano Vermaak, 21. Louis Fouche, 22. JJ Engelbrecht
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Go the Tahs !
Go Bulls … ai jai jai …
Dave Dennis on the bench is a travesty
Aussie commentators,love these guys
Steggies does what is natural to him – concedes a penalty in front of the sticks
Interesting stat. Bulls are the 2nd most penalised team in SR, 11 per game.
3 all
Tahs run thru a huge gap in midfield – 10-3
@Bokhoring (Comment 8) : A huge gap that they created from a set piece move. Why can´t we do that?
From rugby365
TRY – Rob Horne gets the first try, as he opens up the Bulls midfield from a line-out near the 10m line. Barnes adds the conversion and the Waratahs lead 10-3
@rhineshark (Comment 9) : It was courtesy of some poor Bulls defense – seemed both centres went for the same man
skip pass from 10 to 13, and try
@Bokhoring (Comment 11) : Waratahs created doubt in the minds of the defenders. That´s what a good backline is supposed to be able to do.
go Tahs!!!!!!
Dean Mumm gets a yellow
Man, Hougaard is a little tiger! Shrugs off Robinson and Elsom and scores…:cool:
10-6 after Morne penalty
sorry – 10 all after try
From rugby 365
TRY – The Bulls set up a maul and the Waratahs disrupt that. Then the men from Pretoria go for the pick-’n-drive. Francois Hougaard goes over as he slips three poor tackles – including Sarel Pretorius and Rocky Elsom.
embarrassing to see a prop and and flanker get thrown aside like that by a scrumhalf,but thn again I do remember Hougaard giving Wyatt Crockett a good bounce in 2010
Bulls kicking way too much ball away today
Stegman off – Botha on
Tahs win scrum penalty
13-10 Tahs
Nice Bulls buildup ended by forward pass
Can’t say am not happy to see Arno Botha on
Tahs dominating Bulls scrum again – another penalty
Tahs overthrow at ensuing lineout
Half time still 13-10
up and under, up and under, up and under ect……
sums up the first half of the bulls
Tahs dominating territory and possession in first half
Bulls kicking way too much ball away
@Ludz (Comment 26) : hang on… can’t say you’re not happy… does that mean you ARE happy or you AREN’T happy? Having a blonde moment
Krusty drops a high ball
Some tenacious Bulls defense forces tahs error in Bulls 22
Hahaha,now you even confusing me Rob,but ey I’m happy he’s on
Another Barnes penalty – 16-10 Tahs
Go Waratahs!
Ndugane try
17-16 Bulls
Bulls stuff up kickoff
Ndungane,Hougaard has been making the Waratah fowards look like sissies,think it was Kane Douglas who he pushed aside a moment ago
@Bokhoring (Comment 39) :
YEAY !!!
Tahs try -
come now Bulls!
Barnes miss the conversion – 21-17 Tahs
Come on Bulls!!! I need SB points
Bulls penalty = 21-20 Tahs
Tahs penalty – 24-20
bulls try werner kruger
bulls sneak it 27-24
that’s the way, Bulls!
@robdylan (Comment 52) : they win even playing badly
@robdylan (Comment 52) :
You alright Rob?
Call an ambulance quick!
BULLS!!
That’s the way I like it….
Thanks for the updates guys, and condolences to those whose team did not win
@diablo (Comment 55) : congrats pet… that must make you very proud indeed
@Pokkel (Comment 54) : I don’t like them, but I support them because they are a bloody good team and know how to win when it matters.
HUGE result for them, this. Bulls will win Super Rugby in 2012.
@robdylan (Comment 57) : Don’t know if they will win it, but I reckon they will top the SA conference
@Bokhoring (Comment 58) : let’s face it, in the absence of a clear candidate for the title, the Bulls are looking ok for it.
A lot will depend on how they go against the Chiefs away. I doubt they’ll win that, but a narrow loss there could set them up for another crack at them in Pretoria
@robdylan (Comment 56) : Thanks, but pride does not come into it just yet – I have no darn nails left & this scraping through will send me to looking for comfort in “bad men & cheap wine”
@robdylan (Comment 59) :
I said earlier in the season that one of the big differences between a championship team and the Sharks is that a championship team knows how to win the close games.
@robdylan (Comment 57) : Pains me to say it, but young Hougaard is the embodiment of the Bulls attitude; if you can’t win through finesse, then win by bloody-mindedly bludgeoning your opponent if necessary, but win damnit! And never give up!!
It sure would be nice to see more of that attitude at the Sharks…
@Culling Song (Comment 62) : I prefer not to swear here, but FUCK YES
@diablo (Comment 60) : better to win than lose. Just repeat that over and over to yourself.
@robdylan (Comment 57) : if that happens I’m in BIG sh*t for next year
@Culling Song (Comment 62) : even if its only one Shark….
It’s so good and damn refreshing to see such positivity over the Bulls’ victory,Hougaard is a gem in that team,Mr Heyneke needs to look no further for his Bok no.9,it’s his time now,Rob I tell you what I’d be ecstatic if these lads won the comp. They’ve already exceeded my expectations for the season
@Culling Song (Comment 62) : @robdylan (Comment 64) : speaking of which, WHY are the Sharks talking up tomorrow’s game like they’re facing the Crusaders? it is only the FORCE!!!
you know those whipping boys from Perthfontein?
Excellent result for the Bulls, and SA rugby – The Bulls play winning rugby, and winning teams with a winning ethos either refuse to lose, or don’t know how to lose…
The Bulls snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, and all too often our Sharks snatch defeat from the jaws of victory…
There is something fundamentally very secure in the Bulls Union…
Each team and or victory against them deserves to win, because they played better rugby against a good team… So much The Sharks can learn from Bulls structures…
If you take a look at how the Vodacom Cup team wilted away in the 1/4 final last week, you can’t help but wonder…
The Sharks desperately need an overhaul – Nic Mallet is unemployed… He can take the place of “Reecey”, “Bashy” and “Rudi” – Plum can be forwards coach, then we get a few specialist consultants, and we start to look like a union that wants to win trophies… No room for sentiment in professional sport… Time for change…
@Ludz (Comment 67) : And, aint it great that Francoois has deemed the Bulls THE franchise to put his faith in again – tells one something, no so?
@Megatron (Comment 68) : because the Sharks are all about marketing and controlling what people think and say…
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 69) : “The Bulls snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, and all too often our Sharks snatch defeat from the jaws of victory…”
Just summed it up right there, mate. Just summed it up right there.
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 69) : Bulls certainly have the mental aspect sown up. I don’t know if it is part of Heyneke’s legacy at the Bulls, but I would love to know what the bloody secret is
Yeah he’s repaying the faith in a big way,still can’t believe WP were so blind to such a talent
@robdylan (Comment 57) : Bulls and Stormers doing SA proud. Just need to check which teams in the top 6 are they still to beat for us.
@Culling Song (Comment 62) : Our guys just don’t have the confidence in themselves and the passion for the jersey. You see this in the way they tackle and defend. The only people I have seen put in big tackles this year are Marcell, Deysel and JPP. Means Marcell has been fighting a one man battle in that pack.