The first of the play-off matches sees the Crusaders host the Bulls in Christchurch, a match that will full of huge hits and big forward play, from both sides, but with more clinical finishing in the form of the Crusaders backs.
The Crusaders are without Kieran Read this week again, but with McCaw in at 8 and Matt Todd on the side of the scrum, the forwards aren’t weakened as much as the Bulls would have hoped. Amongst the backs, Robbie Fruean is back in midfield after missing last weekend’s clash, forming a formidable partnership with Ryan Crotty in midfield.
For the Bulls, Flip van der Merwe is back in the tight five after missing last weekend’s match, bolstering the forward pack. The Bulls backs will have to be in top form to hold the attacking backs of the Crusaders, with defence in midfield a key area, where Olivier and Engelbrecht will be forced to make tackles aplenty!
Crusaders: 15. Israel Dagg, 14. Adam Whitelock, 13. Robert Fruean, 12. Ryan Crotty, 11. Zac Guildford, 10. Dan Carter, 9. Andy Ellis, 8. Richie McCaw (Captain), 7. Matt Todd, 6. George Whitelock, 5. Sam Whitelock, 4. Luke Romano, 3. Owen Franks, 2. Corey Flynn, 1. Wyatt Crockett
Replacements: 16. Quentin MacDonald, 17. Ben Franks, 18. Tom Donnelly, 19. Luke Whitelock, 20. Willi Heinz, 21. Tom Taylor, 22. Sean Maitland
Bulls: 15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Akona Ndungane, 13. JJ Engelbrecht, 12. Wynand Olivier, 11. Bjorn Basson, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Francois Hougaard, 8. Pierre Spies (Captain), 7. Jacques Potgieter, 6. Dewald Potgieter, 5. Juandre Kruger, 4. Flip van der Merwe, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1. Dean Greyling
Replacements: 16. Willie Wepener, 17. Frik Kirsten, 18. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19. Deon Stegmann, 20. Jano Vermaak, 21. Louis Fouche, 22. Francois Venter
Tweet
gooo bullssssssssssssssss
eish that took a lot out of me 
Yeah I’ll also say it, I am a proud SAfrican
Gooooo Buuuuuuullllsssss
Stick it to the cheats
@FireTheLooser (Comment 2) : this is true, unless its my SHarks i never support the foreigners
We should all get behind the bulls today as so should they for us later on..more teams in the semis mean more chances that the cup is in SA preferably in the tanks trophy case ofcourse haha!!!
@shaniboi (Comment 4) : We’ll only support the opposition when it’s the Streamers playing
…not really
Wonder how good is Ben Lucas’ kicking game. Trying to think how the Reds are going to approach our game. They’ll try to neutralise our power pack. They’ll try to get us tired or revert to the kicking game they used to beat the Stormers last year. We need to enforce our game and keep ball in hand.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 6) : Ezactly boet, i said this earlier on on another site, Sharks today can win if we keep ball in hand and dont let the game open up to much, also our mental prep is so important, do the boys have the hunger? do they believe?? if so we can win
People always complare players, both teams have good players etc, For me its how we believe or dont believe that will be key, and show that hunger for 8- min
In other words, we nmeed to play the Bulls Sharks match style that was played recently again, with same intensity
Wow… Here we are, after weeks, no months of cat and mouse play we have arrived at the first playoff game….
And I have to say GO BULLS..
Geez that was difficult but true… Let’s get a Bulls vs Sharks final….
@sharks_lover (Comment 7) : 100%. I’m so pumped, could not sleep last night…feels like I’m playing today. Go Boys, you can do it…and good luck to the Bulls. It would be great to have 3 SA teams in the semi’s.
Carter with the fist attempt PK
Over…
Saders 3 – 0 Bulls
7min
Krusty smashed by Fruean..
Greyling off side big time..
Carter PK
Crusaders 6 – 0 Bulls
10min
2nd turn over Crusaders get in their own half…
Not good play by Bulls…
Bulls looking like they waiting for something…
Go Reds!!
Ralepelle off… Injured
@wpw (Comment 15) : hehe
Bulls stop the Saders 2 meters from their line… Good defense..
Bulls conceding their 4th penalty against 0 from the Saders…
Adv Sadres straigt in front…
Carter PK missed from in from
And steyn kicks the ball out on the full from the restart..
Steyn down….
@wpw (Comment 15) : Wil jy nou gemoer word of later?? of nou tot later??
Up again but not looking lekka…
Steyn doing his best to give scoring opportunities too the Saders…
Guildford over…
Bad defense by Steyn..
Carter converts
Crusaders 13 – 0 Bulls
26min
Steyn having a shocker….
The Crusaders can be a difficult team..
Bulls scrum inside Saders half…
Funny how bad Jacques Potgieter & Werner Kruger are… yet they’re capped Springboks and will be there again for the Rugby Championship.
It’s a good life being a Blue Bull.
@hendrikp (Comment 32) :
Eish right after I say that, Crockett absolutely demolishes the big man Werner Kruger – what a waste of space
@Franshark (Comment 29) : Guess what? HM will still pick him…hehehe. He’s had shockers all year.
Basson down… Not looking good…
Oh boy, the Bulls are just not in this game – they look lethargic and as though they have lead in their boots.
The Saders are slowly picking them apart, and none of the Bulls play makers have any spark.
Carter drop goal…
Crusaders 16 – 0 Bulls
33min
Bulls get a kickable penalty and opts for the line out
And again…
Knock on and the Saders gets relief…
Bulls must go for broke now…no need to wait until the last 10mins.
3rd penalty for the bulls. Kicking for post this time..
Crusaders 16 – 3 Bulls
38min
Basson off… Injured
HALF TIME
Crusaders 16 – 3 Bulls
Bulls will have to dig deep during half time and find that cocaine Pedrie used for getting some spark.
Crusaders don’t normally have good second halfs so maybe the Bulls can still claw back.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 45) :
the fact is that they are not that far behind… They are playing bad and not so much the Saders playing good…
The Saders are beatable…
Go Bulls!
The closer it gets the more nervous I get…
2nd half under way…
Bulls playing with some energi…
@hendrikp (Comment 32) :
And then there’s Kirchner…
Penalty to the Saders.. Bulls holding on
Carter miss touch..
Okay… so the Bulls have the ball on the Crusaders try-line.
Werner Kruger isolates himself. Gets the support, but doesn’t place the ball.
How that guy is a professional rugby player, I’ll never understand.
Bulls loose the ball 2meters out… The Saders running out their 22….
Got Saders by 8
Ndungane off injured… Jano on…
When are SA teams going to learn that games are won and lost in breakdown? What’s wrong with our coaches? Get numbers to the breakdowns and get the technique and timing right.
Bulls are going down like flies after a spray of Doom
Carter PK
Crusaders 19 – 3 Bulls
49min
@Franshark (Comment 50) : join the club lol
Hougaard put the ball out on the full…
Steyn with a high-tackle…
Lucky not yellow…
Is the ref fair and consistant?
Carter PK
Crusaders 22 – 3 Bulls
52min
LOL.
You are playing terribly, and then you look at bringing on Deon Stegmann.
Things aren’t going to improve.
Well done Crusaders.
Kruger off… Steenkamp on..
@JarsonX (Comment 66) : my opinion.. Yes.. Fair
Steyn is the NR1 reason the bulls are loosing this game…
@Franshark (Comment 70) : My BB boss will probably blame the ref again
Penalty to Saders…
Carter miss again from in front
Crusaders 22 – 3 Bulls
59min
Try for Dewalt in the corner…
From a driving mall..
And Steyn’s kick refuses to go over…
Crusaders 22 – 8 Bulls
64min
Carter again miss touch for a penalty…
Game becoming loose now…
4 turnovers in one move…
Maitland miss with a DG, with a smile…
Carter PK
Crusaders 25 – 8 Bulls
71min
Morne Steyn is terrible…he is done…
Jacques Potgieter has been very good…
JJE has been very good again…at centre and wing…
Vermaak has been better at 9 than Hougaart…
Bulls have been Bullied…
@Hmmm (Comment 79) :agree…
@Hmmm (Comment 80) : I think, no I know..
Your in love with JP…
I guess it’s safe to say: Sorry Bulls.
Steyn off…think 5 min with Steyn off enough time for Bulls to win?
@Hmmm (Comment 80) : Hougaart has been very disappointing of late and I was a HUGE fan of him…
30mins to go for the REAL rugga
@Hmmm (Comment 85) :
Meisiekind in the corner…
Were the Bulls playing in pink again?
@Franshark (Comment 83) :
Who is JP?
As I thought…the Bulls got a fighting chance with Morne off…
@JarsonX (Comment 87) : ja the Bulls and Saders must feel privilege to play the pre-match for the main game
Crusaders 25 – 13 Bulls
78min
@Franshark (Comment 93) :
@Hmmm (Comment 91) : Potgieter…
Carter PK
Crusaders 28 – 13 Bulls
FULL TIME
@Franshark (Comment 86) :
And he is even worse when he tries to kick…
It was Clinical vs. Juvenile
Eish
Ooh Righty Then.
@Franshark (Comment 96) :
Nah…I think Strauss is better…
I would say best 4 is when fit:
Burger, Alberts, Vermeulen, Strauss…
And a scrum is 80% strength with Keegan there…
Must give Heineke Meyer credit…he has an eye for talent…wondered what he saw in JJ Engelbrecht…but JJE been the SA centre that has been breaking the most tacles in the last 4 weeks…even today again in a poor Bulls side…
I see Reunion (NZ rugby show) picks Basson and JPP as the best wings for this year…
With Bizzy, Beast, Etsabeth and Coetzee…