Iol reports the Northern Bulls kicked off their defence of the Super 14 title they won in 2007 with a thrilling 16-9 win over the Western Stormers at Newlands Stadium on Saturday.
While the Bulls trailed 9-0 after half an hour, they scored 16 unanswered points from then on to run out comfortable 16-9 winners.
It was a remarkable turn-around for the visitors considering they are without World Cup stars Victor Matfield and Gary Botha, who’re now playing abroad, while they have a new coach in Frans Ludeke.
“The guys showed a lot of character to come back from 9-0 down,” said Bulls captain Fourie du Preez afterwards.
“All credit to the players – especially as it was our first game without a few key players.”
The Stormers enjoyed the majority of possession in the first period and they made it count with flyhalf Peter Grant slotting three first half penalties which allowed his side to lead 9-7 at the break.
It was a deserved lead as the home side maintained good discipline in the first 40 minutes, not allowing Bulls flyhalf Derick Hougaard one opportunity to kick for goal.
On the other side of the field the Bulls gave away numerous penalties and on three occasions Stormers No 10 Peter Grant kicked the goals. He missed two other opportunities which were from inside his own half.
Grant kicked three-pointers in the 6th, 17th and 27th minutes to put the Stormers 9-0 up and the score could have been more had centre Gcobani Bobo not been held up over the line by du Preez in the 25th minute.
But just when the home fans thought their new-look side under the coaching of former Currie Cup winning coach Rassie Erasmus were going to cause a major upset by beating the defending champions, the visitors from Pretoria struck back on the stroke of half-time with a Bryan Habana try.
The Springbok flyer dived over in the left corner after taking a quick pass from Du Preez and the conversion by Hougaard closed the gap to just two points at half-time.
Habana though was forced out of the game at the interval after injuring his left shoulder when going over for the try.
The Bulls though put the setback aside and pounced on the numerous mistakes made by the Stormers.
The pressure on the home team’s defensive lines grew quickly and it wasn’t long before Hougaard edged his side ahead with two penalties, turning a 0-9 deficit into a 13-9 lead.
And then with just two minutes to go Hougaard slotted his third penalty of the second period to put the score beyond the home team’s reach and ensure his side kicked off the defence of the title they won in 2007 with an away win – The Bulls picking up four points, and the Stormers one.
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The more things change the more they remain the same.
I take it you are not a happy puppy?
Nah not especially. 😥
Didnt get to see the game though.
Same here had to follow on RSG.
I better F%^&&* be back home next week so I can watch some rugby.
You got a loss BP though, and while that may not seem like much now they all help in the end.
Sharks are going to have to step it up a notch… sounds like the Stormers are on their way to turning the corner.
Ok – off to go watch a movie on my bigass TV. Goodnight guys
Heard that many times before Rob.
We always seem to be “turning the corner”.
Wish they would just get on and get around the damn corner.
Vinnie
😆
That corner seems to be on a downward spiral…. 😉
Just a WHOLE bunch of consecutive corners…….. 🙄
Reckon WP is confusing a corner with a traffic circle.
Suppose it could be worse – we could be Orstraylian.
Last time I try being positive about any other team! 🙂
🙂
I HAVE to make sure i am in front of a TV for next week’s game
Did you come right with mediazone?
We knew it was difficult for you Rob so we helped by showing what we thought you really meant. 😉
Nope
Well I came right but the connection is to slow in the hotel. 🙁
I even had the odd hiccup with RSG audio streaming 🙁
You’re a saint, KSA! 😉
🙄 😉 😀
Average game… big war… all the Boks from last year played well (apart from Wynand)… with a few on the outskirts showing form… P3, Liebenberg, Puke to name a few…
I see Fourie isn’t happy with the new laws, somehting about too much kicking. DUH, coming from a team that plays 10 man rugby with a kicking FB – although Kirchner looks like he is more attacking that roets.
Maybe it’s the fact that lumbering forwards who rely on neaderthal strength (and brain power) are going to be taken out of the equation.
The Bulls are in for a tough time…
(I couldn’t be happier!)
What trash! Bulls gore stormers. Willie Roos gored Stormers. His shocking officiating meant the bulls could win illegally. Firstly they were allowed to camp offsides. They should have been wearing stormers jerseys cos they hungout more in the stormers backline than they did in their own. The bulls forwards never tackled legally, they all shoulder charged players. And Habanas try yet again came from questionable ruck activity. The Stormers claimed the loose ball that the Bulls had lost and suddenly the Bulls players on the floor have the ball again. that screams two infringements, firstly the bulls must have played the ball on the ground and secondly they must have been off sides as they never came through the gate to collect the ball. it is sad to say but habana got punished for the sins of his team and i hope he is out for a long time, to let the bulls taste the bitterness of there negative play.
Geez, try time, have another cup of coffee…
Anyways guys, just a quick in and out to motivate and console you sharkies lot.
As you can see from the Sharksworld Superbru Pool, I am the only Bulls supporter there and will, obviously, lead the Pool within the next week or so (would have done so already if I didn’t slip up being out within only 1 point in three of this week’s games and 2 points in another). In any case, let’s just call it refinement after a bit of a lay-off.
Now, when I realised this morning that I would be leading the said Pool, I felt a bad sad at first but then also realised that the Sharks supporters were always good followers rather than good leaders. As a matter of fact, one might even argue that he Sharks supporters actually prefer it that way. Following that is…
So, you guys just hang in there and keep following. I will look after the leading part.
Cheers!
Sincerely yours in rugby.
His shocking officiating meant the bulls could win illegally.
TT
I beg to differ.
I would say INSPITE of his shocking performance the bulls managed to win.
To me it sounded like the Bulls were on the receiving end most of the time rather than the ones getting away with it.
tt – you quite right… Roos was shocking…I cannot believe that he is still allowed to ref a game yet alone a BULLS game(he is soooo obviously biased in their favour).
kandas 😆
Lekkkkkkker windgat.
it’s always easier to chase somebody with a target on their back that it is to look over your shoulder. 😉
Dannie Rouseau got away with so many foul plays it was laughable…Roos even issued a warning, and then didn’t act on it.
KSA – if u say Bulls were on receiving end & tt & I say Stormers were, in my opinion, it emphasises just how BAD a ref. Roos is!! 🙄
m2
no argument from me there.
Roos IS shocking but to call him biased is not on IMO.
For how many years now have the Bulls beat the Stormers…in a row
17.02.08 10:28:52 – try time
Crap….the Stormers could not hold onto the ball even if it was super glued to their hands….
The ball died a few times when it got to Bobo and was turned over almost as many time…
JdV made a few good breaks and got across teh advantage line but his handling was also far below standard….
Fiji played very well with ball in hand…and so to Aplon….but Stormers never looked like crossing the tryline…
It was close but Hougaart outkick you and you had no reply….
But did not enjoy this game at all….the lowlite of the first round…very scrappy…
Hmmm, have you tried holding onto a ball when someone shoulder charges you in the gut?
And how are you supposed to get your backline going forward if the opposition is not onside?
KSA – how come when Bulls are reffed by Roos they get away with stiff arm tacles, tripping the opp. (Dannie on the Fijian) and shoulder charges … & not the other teams?? Seem to have only one eye on many occassions 😕
Hmmm agree with you…definitely the worst game of the weekend!!
Hey tt…u a Stormers supporter 😉
Hey people…a few things were missed and Roos let stuff slide for both teams…
He just did not make much of anything that happened…I mean look at the spike by Fiji assisted by the flying arm of Tiaan….and he only gave a penalty…
So it is not like he favored any team, he just let it go nad did not make much of it…
Some people would have loved it like that…referring to good old days a so forth….
17.02.08 12:29:30 – try time
Rubbish…..Burger lost the ball in a tackle from the back…JdV juggled a few balls with no one near him…
Bobo tucked the ball and took contact and lost it a few times…..he cost you 2 def tries…
It’s like you guys practiced making the worst decisions when it mattered most….
Hmmm … “you guys” referring to Stormers supporters? Then you got tt & Me2 all wrong! We just 😐 hehehehehe
It’s like Rassie encourages the Stormers to play with attitude…and I think that cost them…
17.02.08 12:47:51 – Me2
Nope….meant “your guys” and was referring to the Stormers players….assuming you were Stormers supporters…
As I said…just 😐 obsevers 😆
Nice chatting to u..got to go make lunch for the hungry!
Bye for now!
PS – Stormers have alwats had an attitude ..didn’t need Rassie to teach them! hehehehehehe!!
LoL Me2….
But it seemed like they all worried more about their attitude than anything else….
Good talking to you to…
Cheers…
Hmmm
TT is a SHARK, I am not sure about M2 though. 🙂
I’ll keep you guessing!! 😉
🙂