Vodacom Bulls beat Cheetahs in Polokwane
The Vodacom Bulls sounded a stern warning ahead of their Super Rugby campaign as they demolished the Toyota Cheetahs 32-10 in their pre-season friendly at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, reports Brenden Nel of Supersport.com.
It may be early days and both teams will downplay the significance of the win, but with both fielding near full-strength sides, the Bulls looked far sharper and played at a significant pace, denting the Cheetahs hopes ahead of a big season.
Hougaard was exceptional on attack, determined on defence and combined well with his forwards to leave a lasting impression, while loose forwards Dewald and Jacques Potgieter both played their hearts out, the latter denting the Cheetahs defence with some massive runs.
However, a special mention must go to Francois Venter. Under pressure from IRB Junior Player of the year Jan Serfontein, the other Grey College centre was dangerous on attack and made some telling hits when it counted to come close to a man of the match performance.
The scoreline could have been much bigger, had the Bulls not fluffed four chances in the first half. In reality, while the Cheetahs defended well in the first half, they also scrambled well but had little ball to play with and did little when they got it.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske will be happy his charges defended against the tide in the first half, but with so much to attack from the Bulls finally found an opening.
The only score from the first half was Dewald Potgieter’s drive over from a lineout maul. The Cheetahs played into the Bulls hands by losing no less than a half dozen lineout balls, and struggled to get going.
In the second half, it didn’t take the Bulls long to add to the scoreboard. While the Cheetahs had missed two penalties through Elgar Watts in the first half, Morne Steyn added two of his own in the second to stretch the lead – the second being a 56metre bomb from inside his own half.
Hougaard took the ball from a scrum, stepped Sarel Pretorius so perfectly that his opposition number was left grasping at air, then chipped over the Raymond Rhule and was about to score, but was taken out by Francois Brummer in the tackle. The ball rolled forward and Venter pounced to score.
A minute later, a Cheetahs mistake at a ruck was exploited, with the ball popping out and no scrumhalf, Hougaard nabbing the ball and sending Lionel Mapoe away for a try to make it 25-0.
The Cheetahs finally found their heart, and found some phases to attack, putting the Bulls defence under pressure. It was no surprise when Willie le Roux stabbed a perfect grubber behind the defence and only Johan Sadie and Raymond Rhule were left to chase, with the winger dotting down for his side’s first try.
The Bulls will feel rather healthy at the end of all this, knowing they have depth, talent and are looking better prepared than last year. The Cheetahs will scratch their heads and do a rethink. The same old problems are back again and unless coach Drotske finds a solution they may have a long season ahead of them.
Die bestuur moet alles in hulle vermoe doen om Quin Roux terug Pretoria toe te kry . Daar is te veel slotte en flanke in die Kaap wanneer hy terugkom van Ierland af.
Posted by Loftus123 on 11 February 2013 14:35
@bloukaap - dont think that way we are going to klap the Stormers - we have to :)))
Posted by BullsRbest on 11 February 2013 09:45
As ek reg kan onthou het die Stormers ons laasjaar op Loftus sonder Bekker en Etzebeth geklop. Hulle het vir Elstadt en Steenkamp gespeel met Quin Roux wat onverwags in die tweede helfde die bordjies verhang het. Posted by bloukaap2 on 11 February 2013 08:58
@louisk - it does look like we have great depths this year - I am so excited for the Super Rugby I think we gonna shock everybody and show them who rules SA rugby. I also couldnt make the match and want to know how Spies played as there has been no mention of him at all????? Morne - Welcome back - you are "simply the best" :))))))))) GO MY BLUE BOYS - GO BULLS !!!!!
Posted by BullsRbest on 11 February 2013 07:56
Dankie Blou spike vir jou verslag. Wat my die opgewondste maak daarin is die feit die ouens "ondersteuning soek" om die bal in kontak uittegee.Kom ons hoop ook dat kompetisie onder die Bul spelers toegelaat gaan word, want dan gaan daar nie complacency wees nie, soos wat 'n ou kan aflei in jou kommentaar oor Morne se spel.Dan gaan jy weer die Flip van ouds kry, die beste uit Pierre etc etc.Dit is hoe dit hoort, die Bulle moet die baie talent wat daar is gebruik, dit sal daai talent net nog beter maak en hulle sal dan by die Bulle wil bly!!! Posted by Paarlbul on 11 February 2013 07:53
Vergeet ek moet 'n volle voor ry op die bank he - Grant Hattingh sal dan moet terug staan vir 'n Loskop, Juan Schoeman.Sien Bulle het in Soweto en Polokwane nie 'n volle voor ry op die bank gehad nie....
Posted by FRANNABUL on 11 February 2013 07:51
My span vir Stormers:Zane Kirchner, Akona Ndungane, Wynand Olivier, Francois Venter, Bjorn Basson, Mornè Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Pierre Spies ©, Arno Botha, Dewald Potgieter, Juandrè Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Mornè Mellett. Replacements: Callie Visagie, Frik Kirsten, Grant Hattingh, Jacques Potgieter, Jano Vermaak, Handre Pollard, Lionel Mapoe, JJ Engelbrecht.
Posted by FRANNABUL on 11 February 2013 07:43
Met Etsebeth wat 4 tot 6 weke uit is het ons kanse om Stormers te wen aansienlik verbeter!
Posted by FRANNABUL on 11 February 2013 07:38
dit klink my die Bulle het lekker diepte die jaar
Posted by louisk on 11 February 2013 07:14
@ 19 so jy se Mapoe moet eerder op 13 begin as JJ? Ek vol weer Ulrich Beyers bring beitjie onvoorspelbaarheid in di ons game veral in daai laaste 20 minute. Beter skopper as Visser.Dinge klink positief vir die bulle. maar dit bly geen punte op enige tabel nie en na verlede jaar se swak curriebeker dink ek dis meer sielkndig as enige its anders. nietemin goed om te hoor dat die kombinasiesbegin werk en dit klink of daar nuwe wedstryd plan is waar die bal langer lewendig gehou word. sal graag wil sien hoe dit daruitsien. ek dink die kompetisie ondelring tussen die spelers is dalk net die regte doepa.
Posted by bloukaap2 on 10 February 2013 18:55
@19 Dankie vir jou berig.Ek dink dit gaan vir ons almal n lang 2 weke wees kan nie wag vir die game teen die stormers nieHOU BY DIE BLOU
Posted by kzn bul on 10 February 2013 18:25
Dagse mense, ek was by die game. Spies het weer gespeel soos ouds,dit het 2-3 spelers gevat om hom plat te trek. Daai man is so sterk soos n bul en lyk my hy begin dit nou besef en gebruik sy grote tot ons voordeel. Wat my nogals opgewonde gemaak het is die wyse waarop ons spelers vir ondersteuning gesoek het om die bal uit te gee. Morne het my verbaas met sy verspreiding van die bal, het net geskop wanneer ons niks anders kon doen nie. Die twee Potgieters het hul tipiese stormram rugby gespeel, dodelik op die verdediging.Na Saterdag gaan Jan nie net sommer in die span instap nie, volgens my moes Venter die MOTM gewees het. Dit was verseker sy beste wedstryd nog in die blou trui. JJ was nie sleg nie, maar ek sal hom gebruik op vleuel in Akona se plek. Visser was goed op heelagter maar het teleurgestel op losskakel. Daar is sekerlik nie n beter speler in SA as Basson onder die hoe bal nie. Wynand lyk skerp en het beindruk vir die tyd wat hy op die veld was. Weereens bewys dat mens nie ervaring nie kan koop nie.Dinge lyk goed in die bloubul-kamp, mens kan Victor se handewerk by die voorspelers sien. Cheetahs het gesukkel in die scrums. Hulle het geen teenvoeter gehad in die lynstane teen Flippie, Kruger en Spies nie. Ek dink die kompetisie onder die spelers maak dat almal daai ietsie ekstra wil gee. Niemand is verseker van hul plek nie. Baie teleurgesteld dat Arno Botha nie kans gekry het nie, ek sal begin met hom bo J. potgieter. Hougaard lyk weer lus vir speel, het lanklaas gesien dat hy so vinnig skoonmaak. Vermaak was skerp vir die rukkie wat hy op was. Die Stormers sal verseker slaaplose nagte he voor die game op Loftus. Hierdie bulspan lyk nie te veel veroes nie, en dit wil voorkom of ons uit ons foute van laasjaar geleer het.As ons kan voortbou op die wedstryd, en nie weer terugval nou die skop en jaag tegniek nie. Gaan ons nog baie ander spanne se ondersteuners se monde sloer. Ons verdediging was uitstekend, jy kon dit duidelik agterkom dat daar bietjie met die manne gewerk is. Spies het selfs n paar monster tackles ingesit, dit wil voorkom dat ons die regte plek vir Pine gevind het. Welgedaan Bulle, hou so aan.
Posted by Blou Spike on 10 February 2013 17:57
Johannesbul ek sien jy is een van die speervarkies!
Posted by Shark-eat-Bulls on 10 February 2013 17:24
Wat vir my nogal opvallend is, is dat Spies se naam nêrens genoem word nie. Hoop maar dat hy 'n goeie game gehad het.
Posted by Gooner on 10 February 2013 10:19
soutpansberg stem nie saam serfontein is n moet as jy goed genoeg is is jy oudgenoeg. serfontein gaan nog defnitief hiedie jaar vir die bokke speel
Posted by johannesbul on 10 February 2013 10:09
Altyd lekker om die Cheetah gemors 'n les te leer, dinge lyk goed Bulle.MY BLOED IS BLOU!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Jimmy on 10 February 2013 01:45
Posted by Jimmy on 10 February 2013 01:35
Posted by Jimmy on 10 February 2013 01:29
Posted by Jimmy on 10 February 2013 01:22
I had a friend was a big baseball player back in high school. He could throw that speedball by you, make you look like a fool boy… Glory Days - Bruce Springsteen.
Posted by Jimmy on 10 February 2013 01:17
In the day we sweat it out in the streets of a runaway American dream, at night we ride through mansions of glory in suicide machines… Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen.
Posted by Jimmy on 10 February 2013 01:13
'n Paar songs van "The Boss" vir die laatnag...
Posted by Jimmy on 10 February 2013 01:10
Posted by Jimmy on 10 February 2013 01:07
Bulle vir ewig, bly jy nog in Vereeniging?
As jy was sou graag jou wou bietjie uit vra?
Posted by Bulle vir ewig on 09 February 2013 21:23
@3 Was jy by die game?
Posted by Bulle vir ewig on 09 February 2013 21:05
BULLE julle maak n man se hart bly kan nie wag vir die stormers nie man o man dit gaan great wees HOU BY DIE BLOU
Posted by kzn bul on 09 February 2013 20:04
Rus in vrede Oom Jan. Nog n groot springbok ........
Posted by Bloumens on 09 February 2013 19:16