The Free State Cheetahs host the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Bloemfontein on Saturday and they require just a bonus to make the semifinals and more than likely end the Blue Bulls season. The Cheetahs overcame a sluggish first half to beat the Griquas 52-21 in Kimberley last weekend and the bonus point they gained is crucial in that it puts them 5 points ahead of the Blue Bulls with a superior points difference of 22. The Cheetahs are on 22 log points with the Lions on 21 points and the Bulls on 17. It can probably be assumed that the Lions will beat Griquas in the early match and that means the Blue Bulls will need to score a 4 try bonus point while preventing the Cheetahs from doing so, and they would also have to win the match by 12 points or more. The Cheetahs have had pretty close encounters in their last 2 home matches, they lost to WP by 2 points a fortnight ago and prior to that edged the Lions by 3 points. The young Blue Bulls side has fought hard. They have at times looked capable of mixing it at the business end but the big home defeat to the Lions and the failure to beat 14 man WP have ultimately come back to haunt them. They beat Griquas 52-10 in their last away match but went down by 9 points to the Lions at Ellis Park the previous week. Head to Head The Blue Bulls started slight underdogs against the Cheetahs in Pretoria but turned in perhaps their best display of the season to win by 16 points. 2013: Bulls 26 Cheetahs 10 2012: Bulls 34 Cheetahs 30
2012: Cheetahs 32 Bulls 18
2011: Cheetahs 22 Bulls 22
2011: Bulls 33 Cheetahs 30
2010: Cheetahs 20 Bulls 14
2010: Bulls 23 Cheetahs 25
There are some similarities with the Springbok v All Blacks test in that at least one of the sides is likely to be chasing the 4 tries. While the Blue Bulls need for the bonus point is pretty much a given (unless the Lions finish pointless against the Griquas) the chances are that the Cheetahs will be chasing one to overtake the Lions and finish 3rd on the log. An entertaining game should be on the cards and the Blue Bulls simply have to roll the dice if they wish to extend their season. I am expecting them to get the 4 tries and perhaps even to win the game but I think the Cheetahs will find a way of securing the bonus point they need, most likely by scoring 4 tries themselves. At the time of writing it wasn’t clear which of the returning Boks would be available for the sides. Prediction: The Bulls to win a high scoring game by between 1 and 10 points and if you enjoy a bet then backing a high scoring encounter could lead to profits. Please log in at the top of the page to post comments
Nollis smile breed - 2 goeie spelers en 2 uitstekende leiers teruggekry vir Saterdag (WSS en Liebenberg). Hopelik kan ons nou hier ook 'n beker wen. Twee bekers by die juniors sal darem bietjie troos......sien Pine se strategie by losvoorspelers vir Sat is geskoei rondom groot baldraers - wonder waar hul die bal gaan kry (om 2 meter te vorder)....... Posted by 2B2B on 09 October 2013 11:12
Hulle verwys na sy vroeë vrystelling uit die Bok groep.
Posted by Blou Karnallie on 09 October 2013 11:10
In Die beeld se berig vanoggend verwys hulle na doe vroeë vrystelling van Bjorn Basson. Weet iemand iets hiervan of het Beeld die kat aan die stert beet?
Posted by Old Blue Eyes on 09 October 2013 11:00
.Ek het dit al voorheen gese en ek sal dit weer se. Toe Meyer ons gedrop het en ons ruggraat uitgeruk het deur 4 afrigters en Schwartz gevat het, is daardie personeel nooit vervang nie. Al wat gedoen is, is die wat oorgebly het, het nuwe rolle gekry.(changing of the deck chairs on the Titanic?) Daarna het hulle eintlik merkwaardig gedoen om ons 2 de te laat eindig in vanjaar se S15. En toe verloor ons amper al ons senior spelers. Party van hulle sommer in die middel van toernooie... Ek voel ons as ondersteunders was meer as geduldig gewees tot dusver. Ek is baie meer bekommerd oor wat van die veld af aangaan as wat op die veld gebeur op hierdie stadium. Ek is n baie bekommerde ondersteuner op hierdie oomblik, want daar is n baie groot moontlikheid dat dit nog slegter kan gaan met die Bulle. Hoop maar iets positief is aan die gebeur in die agtergrond waarvan ons nie weet nie.
Posted by Loftus123 on 09 October 2013 10:21
Solank daar nie verandering kom aan die bestuur en afrigting span nie, is dit NAG vir Blou Bul rugby.
Posted by Namib on 09 October 2013 10:19
Jammer maar ek stem nie saam, cheetahs met 7+ maar sterkte Bulle...wie weet
Posted by DIE BLOU BAAS on 09 October 2013 09:52
Ek sou nie veel aan die span verander nie, Sal met Hattingh en Engelbrecht en Jacobs begin.Dink hulle moet 'n kaans kry.Dink Jacobs sal baie druk van Pollard af vat.Go Bulle
Posted by Noemie on 09 October 2013 09:52
Ek is glad nie oortuig dat ons die knoop kan deur hak teen die cheetahs nie. Met hulle bokke terug is hulle 'n heel ander span. Ons Bulle Bestuur is redelik stil, want ek dink hulle kan sien waarheen hierdie situasie lei. Swak besluite van die veld af, swak beplanning, en ...en...en kelder die span op die veld. Slegs 'n baie groot wonderwerk kan ons die knoop laat deur hak.
Posted by Obelix on 09 October 2013 09:50
Bulle speel vir my elke Saterdag better , jammer tyd is nie aan ons kant nie. Dink wel ons kan die een vat Saterdag.Dat die bulle baie talent het is verseker.
Posted by Noemie on 09 October 2013 09:48
Interessant. Ook maar versigtig in die uitspraak. Sal grootliks ook afhang van hoeveel bokke is terug. Ek dink ons kan dit doen.
Posted by NETBLOU on 09 October 2013 09:41