Ken Borland

Stokkies Hanekom on the charge

Bulls captain Flip van der Merwe says the 32-21 defeat at the hands of the Lions in their Super Rugby match at Ellis Park on Saturday night epitomised the three-time champions’ season that now looks likely to end without a playoffs place.

“It summed up our season, there were a lot of faults at crucial times. We were definitely in the game, we played some good rugby but the Lions played Bulls rugby against us very well,” Van der Merwe told a press conference after the game.

The Bulls are now down in ninth position on the log with 33 points and, with just two games remaining after the international break, trail the sixth-placed Hurricanes by four points.

But the Chiefs (35pts), Western Force (36pts) and Highlanders (38pts) are also all ahead of the Bulls and have three matches to play, while the Brumbies are fourth with 40 points with two games left.

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke said the team’s lack of accuracy on attack had again cost them dearly, as it has in so many of their away games this season.

“The big story was our finishing, we weren’t clinical. We played some good rugby, stringing phases together, but then penalties in the Lions’ half would break our progress, that’s where the momentum swung their way.

“When things aren’t going your way, you need a big moment to ignite the team and it just wasn’t there. It’s disappointing, we played against ourselves but we still feel there’s a small chance of making the playoffs,” Ludeke said.

The Lions camp, back on home turf after a tough four-week tour on which they were unfortunate to lose all their games, were far more optimistic as the victory showcased the character of the team and the bright future that lies ahead of them now that they have guaranteed Super Rugby.

“The boys are obviously glad to be home and they showed a lot of passion tonight. They were really hungry for the win because we felt we played better than our results overseas,” coach Johan Ackermann said.

“It makes me proud that the team never gives up, they train as if they are a winning team and I can’t fault the effort the last few weeks. It’s nice to get the reward.

Ackermann pointed out that they still needed to be sharper in areas of their game.

“We weren’t accurate in everything tonight, we lost a lot of lineouts, but we’ve learnt how to get out of our half and when to run the ball.

“The scrums were good and it was a big step up for Ruan Dreyer and Charles Marais after the late withdrawal of Julian Redelinghuys.

“The team fixed things well out on the field tonight and they worked hard for each other on defence.”

Lions captain Warren Whiteley was happy his team had shown how much they learnt on tour.

“We’ve shown how much we’ve grown, our brotherhood and our passion. We learnt valuable lessons on tour and we’ve got processes in place to stay calm, just think of the next task and stick to the game plan. I’m really proud of the effort,” Whiteley said.

The Lions’ defence was another standout area on the night, with an 89% tackle success rate compared to the Bulls’ 81%.

“Defence is something that epitomises us as a team, we pride ourselves on it. You can see our character and heart in it, the two try-saving tackles in the corner are one of those small margins that matter so much in Super Rugby,” Whiteley said.

The Lions have climbed off the bottom of the log into 13th place and finish their campaign with home matches against the Melbourne Rebels and Cheetahs.

http://www.supersport.com/rugby/super-rugby/news/140601/Van_der_Merwe_concern_about_season

Marnitz Boshoff - 22 points including two drop goals

The Lions enjoyed 22 points from the boot of flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff as they beat the Bulls 32-21 (half-time 9-6) in their SuperRugby match at Ellis Park on Saturday and all but eliminated them from playoffs contention.

Boshoff kicked two conversions and four penalties in a faultless goal-kicking display and also added two impressive drop goals.

The Lions, playing with tremendous energy considering they have just flown back from Australia, produced some top-class counter-attacking rugby as they capitalised on a host of Bulls mistakes.

They also scrambled superbly in defence and a Bulls side missing the composure brought by the rested Victor Matfield looked rattled throughout the game.

The Lions showed their character from the outset as they recovered the ball from a lost lineout in the second minute and Boshoff claimed his first drop goal (3-0).

While the Lions struggled in the lineouts, they gave the Bulls a working over in the scrums and the visitors were penalised in that set-piece in the fifth minute, allowing Boshoff to slot a penalty (6-0).

Bulls flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter missed a penalty in the seventh minute and was then penalised for not releasing in the tackle, Boshoff stretching the Lions’ lead to 9-0.

The Bulls fought their way back into the match, however, their big ball-runners making inroads, and two Potgieter penalties narrowed the gap to 6-9 at the break.

The Bulls replaced loosehead prop Dean Greyling in the first scrum of the second half, bringing on Morne Mellet, and immediately won a penalty, allowing Potgieter to level the scores in the 45^th minute.

But the Lions regained their inspiration straight afterwards as Bulls lock Grant Hattingh failed to claim the kickoff in a key moment. The ball bounced into eighthman Warren Whiteley’s hands and the Lions captain quickly fed centre Alwyn Hollenbach, who went blind before jinking inside to score a fine try.

Boshoff added the conversion (16-9) and the Lions continued to separate themselves from their error-strewn opponents as the deadeye flyhalf kicked another drop goal and a penalty before flank Warwick Tecklenburg scored a try after a thrilling break by replacement Elton Jantjies. He sent Stokkies Hanekom, who had a dream game, haring towards the line with a brilliant flip inside, but the  outside centre was stopped just short of the line before popping the ball up for Tecklenburg to score.

There was some cheer for the flat Bulls as replacement centre William Small-Smith and flank Jacques du Plessis scored late tries, but Boshoff provided the fairytale ending for the Lions with an 80^th-minute penalty after a scrum infringement.

While the Lions have climbed off the bottom of the log with the victory, the Bulls are now in ninth place with 33 points and locked in a dire struggle with the Highlanders (38), Hurricanes (37), Western Force (36) and Chiefs (35) for a place in the top six and progression to the playoffs.

Scorers

Lions – Tries: Alwyn Hollenbach, Warwick Tecklenburg. Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (2). Penalties: Boshoff (4). Drop goals: Boshoff (2).

Bulls – Tries: William Small-Smith, Jacques du Plessis. Conversion: Jacques-Louis Potgieter. Penalties: Potgieter (3).

Flyhalf Handre Pollard kicked 20 of the Bulls' points in an accomplished display

The Bulls used their powerful, cohesive pack of forwards to out-muscle the Stormers and beat them 28-12 in their Vodacom SuperRugby match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday night, to maintain their interest in finishing in the top six and making the playoffs.

The Bulls had to fight their way back from a 12-0 deficit inside the first quarter, the Stormers using clinical counter-attacking play to punish the home side’s sloppy work at the breakdown, but were in firm control once they eliminated the mistakes from their game.

A dominant scrum allowed a tremendous platform for the Bulls to set up their favourite driving plays, and the lineout was as solid as ever, and the Stormers were left to live on scraps of quality possession, while also generally trying to play from their own territory thanks to the excellence of the Bulls’ kicking game.

To put it frankly, the Stormers had their backsides handed to them and, no matter how positive the attacking intent, you can’t do much with crap ball.

The demolition job was made even more dramatic by the spectacular change in fortunes after the first quarter. The Bulls were scrappy in the first 10 minutes and the Stormers looked in control.

Schalk Burger rolled back the years to play a typically destructive role in the first quarter, but he also showed his skill and nous in setting up the opening try. Fellow flank Nizaam Carr had just made his second breakdown steal in the first 10 minutes, the Stormers quickly shipping the ball wide, and Burger cut inside before offloading beautifully to Cheslin Kolbe on the left wing. That injected the pace required and Kolbe then found centre Juan de Jongh, who sent flyhalf Kurt Coleman racing clear for a thrilling opening try.

The second try was also a direct result of the Bulls not protecting possession well enough in the ruck, with hooker Scarra Ntubeni pouncing on an unattended ball. Carr was once again involved before the ball was sent wide and De Jongh provided a strong finish to put the Stormers 12-0 ahead in the 19th minute.

But fortunately for the Bulls, these breakdown errors were not ongoing. They tidied up their act at that crucial phase and the steady stream of possession was used to batter the abrasive Stormers defence into submission. Eighthman Grant Hattingh, flank Jacques du Plessis, lock Paul Willemse and even Jono Ross carried the ball strongly and centres Jan Serfontein and JJ Engelbrecht were also willing battering rams.

While the Stormers had produced some inspired counter-attacking play off turnovers for their points, the Bulls were clinical in their own methodical way – most times they were in the opposition 22, they came away with points.

The Bulls opened their scorecard in the 23rd minute, the incisive running of Serfontein and Engelbrecht causing the Stormers to stray offsides and flyhalf Handre Pollard, who certainly had his eye in when it came to shooting at goal, slotting the first of his five penalties.

The Bulls were back in Stormers’ territory three minutes later and Pollard, who has donned the number 10 jersey with aplomb since being elevated to the starting line-up, slotted a slickly-taken drop goal.

The home side secured front-foot ball from the scrum with ease and, in the 29th minute, they really shoved the Stormers backwards to earn a penalty, Pollard converting well from the centre-spot.

The Bulls were carrying the ball with more and more confidence by this stage and, after the flood of turnovers in the opening exchanges, the momentum had definitely shifted at the breakdown (consistently getting over the gain-line will do that) and a frustrated Burger was in referee Craig Joubert’s ear more and more.

“In the first 20 minutes, we were able to carry the ball and be influential on attack, but the tide turned and then it became difficult for us. I got a bit worked up and had a few words with Craig, but I tried to calm down and I apologised to him as we went off at half-time,” Burger admitted after the game.

It was a ruck penalty against eighthman Duane Vermeulen for not supporting his own body weight that allowed Pollard to level the scores at 12-12 on the stroke of halftime and the Bulls, having shown great character in clawing their way back to level terms, will remember the second half with much fondness as they clinically shut the Stormers out of the game.

The Stormers, jailed in their own half by the pinpoint kicking of Pollard, scrumhalf Francois Hougaard and fullback Jurgen Visser, were brave and positive, but the generally poor quality of their possession and the physicality of the Bulls meant they were up against a brick wall.

The Bulls made the ideal start to the second half when Serfontein’s lovely dart from the kick-off forced the Stormers to come in from the side of the ruck, and Pollard kicked the penalty to give the home side the lead for the first time, in the 42nd minute.

Pollard stretched the lead to 18-12 in the 55th minute when Vermeulen and Ruan Botha combined to stop a rampaging Dean Greyling, celebrating his 50th SuperRugby game, but the young lock then did not roll away after the tackle.

The Stormers enjoyed a better period of possession thereafter and spent time in the Bulls half. But, in the 66th minute, substitute flank Siya Kolisi, on for Burger, tried to burst on to a flat pass but knocked on.  The ball bounced into the hands of another replacement loose forward, Jacques Engelbrecht, and he quickly fed the ball to the backline.

The resulting try not only clinched the victory but came straight from the Stormers’ own play-book.

Hougaard read the situation brilliantly, putting the grubber through behind the Stormers defence for wing Akona Ndungane to chase. The veteran wing showed great pace as he got there first, hacking the ball further forward and then winning the race to the dot-down as it crossed the try-line.

With Pollard’s conversion, the Bulls’ lead was 25-12 and the win was secure, Stormers coach Allister Coetzee saying afterwards that it was the pivotal moment in the game.

Replacement flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter added a 71st-minute penalty from the halfway line as the Stormers were sentenced to their eighth defeat in 11 matches – Burger summing up their showing when he said: “We brought quite a young and inexperienced team here and we really put the Bulls under pressure at the start. It was a big effort, but the accuracy wasn’t that good.”

Coach Coetzee is right to point out the huge injury problems that the Stormers have, and bringing two very inexperienced locks – 22-year-old Ruan Botha and 20-year-old debutant Jean Kleyn – to Loftus Versfeld meant their engine room was always going to be under pressure. To make matters worse for the visitors, experienced loosehead prop Brok Harris had to be replaced for much of the match and Springbok tourist Ntubeni went off after 55 minutes. Their replacements were rookies Alistair Vermaak, on debut, and Stephan Coetzee.

The Bulls have now climbed to eighth on the log, just two points from the playoff positions, and captain Victor Matfield warned that the same confidence that saw them win the South African Conference last year with nine successive wins is returning.

“The belief is starting to grow and I’m very happy with tonight’s performance, it felt like the Bulls of old. We just squeezed them, gave them nothing and our scrum killed them.

“We kicked long and then got our line up, we were able to get the ball in the right areas and then fight for inches. It was a great effort to come from behind and then we just built our lead. I’m very confident of the future when I look at our young players,” Matfield said.

Marcel van der Merwe on one of his bullocking runs

As it often is with the Bulls, it was a long and drawn-out process, but they managed to beat the Cheetahs 26-21 in their Vodacom SuperRugby match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday night and in so doing kept their slim playoff hopes alive.

The Cheetahs, meanwhile, who are back at the bottom of the SuperRugby log, will wonder how they managed to lose a game after leading 18-9 at halftime and looking much the better side.

Their supporters will be wondering why the exciting Cheetahs backline, which stretched the Bulls dangerously in the first half, was hardly used in the second half. Although the visitors will be livid that they were penalised for holding on to the ball in the ruck late in the game when Jan Serfontein was clearly not supporting his own body weight, they had only themselves to blame because they made it easy for the Bulls defence by simply bashing the ball up for phase after phase. Their backline looked on, standing deep and way out of the action.

“It was frustrating, but credit to the Bulls because they manage to mould you into their game plan of kicking and driving,” Cheetahs captain Adriaan Strauss, celebrating his 100th SuperRugby match, admitted afterwards.

While the Bulls managed to con referee Marius van der Westhuizen with that Serfontein breakdown steal, they were generally more accurate at the ruck, especially in the second half, helped by the fact that their big ball-carriers were mostly getting over the advantage line.

“We clawed our way back and we managed to squeeze them in the second half. The maul was working well and momentum and quick ball meant we had a lot of attacking plays and every time we got penalties we kept the pressure on them.

“It was a team effort at the breakdowns, everyone was really switched on to ensure we secured the ball. We had to work hard and it was like slow poison in the right areas,” Bulls coach Frans Ludeke confirmed.

The Cheetahs, going backwards, struggled to stamp their mark on the breakdown and the scrums were also an area of concern for them, a tendency to push inwards not winning the favour of the referee.

Loosehead prop Caylib Oosthuizen was penalised for hinging to allow Bulls flyhalf Handre Pollard to open the scoring with a 52-metre penalty, but Cheetahs loose forwards Boom Prinsloo and Jean Cook then combined well to snuff out a promising break by William Small-Smith and earn an Elgar Watts penalty to level the scores in the ninth minute.

Handre Pollard, who was singled out for praise by Ludeke for the way he bounced back, then went through an awful five minutes to give the Cheetahs a 13-3 lead.

Pollard, so used to calling the shots at flyhalf against minors, flew a long flat pass in the face of the defence as the Bulls probed away in the Cheetahs 22, and centre Johann Sadie read it perfectly, intercepting and running 75 metres to score under the poles.

Watts added the extra two points and, in the 23rd minute, referee Van der Westhuizen seemed a tad pedantic when he yellow-carded Pollard for not retreating the full 10 metres when Cheetahs scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius took a tap-penalty. Watts again added the three points.

A crowd of 17 606 welcoming the Bulls back from their winless overseas tour were no doubt contemplating stronger drink at this point, but the Bulls, to their credit, would not be distracted from their game plan.

Strong runs by eighthman Grant Hattingh and prop Dean Greyling earned a penalty, kicked by fullback Jurgen Visser, as Strauss went off his feet at the ruck, and the Bulls were unfortunate to be denied a try by the bullocking tighthead Marcel van der Merwe five minutes from the break when the TMO harshly ruled that captain Victor Matfield, standing to the side of the ruck, had been obstructing an offsides Heinrich Brussow.

Brussow erred again two minutes later, lying all over the ball at a ruck, and Pollard, back on the field, slotted the penalty to bring the Bulls back to 9-13.

But the half belonged to the Cheetahs, who always seemed the more likely team to score, thanks to the spark of the backline and they scored what seemed to be the crucial try in the final minute of the first half.

Sadie took the gap with the sort of hard, straight running he seldom produced while at the Bulls, and the powerful Benjamin was on his shoulder for the offload, making further ground before flinging a long pass out to Raymond Rhule on the right wing.

The Ghanaian-born flyer finished clinically, beating two cover defenders, and the Cheetahs went into the break as the team in charge, leading 18-9.

“At half-time I thought we had done reasonably well. But in the second half, the Bulls maul was really effective, they would force penalties and then make us defend for the next four or five minutes.

“We let it slip in the second half, our discipline was bad, we gave away too many penalties at their drives and we missed opportunities of our own,” Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske lamented.

It was Pollard who sparked the comeback – the boy’s clearly got something – with a lovely chip-and-gather that put the Bulls hard on attack in the Cheetahs 22, with lock Paul Willemse, another of the young brigade that is exciting Loftus Versfeld, muscling over for a try from a ruck.

Pollard converted but then Jono Ross took too long to roll away in the tackle and Johan Goosen, back in SuperRugby after what feels like an age on the sidelines, kicked the penalty to stretch the Cheetahs’ lead to 21-16.

The power ball-carrying of the Bulls forwards would be the deciding factor, however, as the under-pressure Callie Visagie did well to storm over from 10 metres out after the home side had kicked a penalty to touch but elected against the rolling maul. The penalty came after Brussow had once again infringed at the ruck.

Pollard converted to give the Bulls the lead (23-21) for the first time since the sixth minute and, after Goosen had missed an angled penalty attempt in the 60th minute, the sniping skills of centre Serfontein saw the Cheetahs trapped offsides and the boot of Jacques-Louis Potgieter provided the final points of the match.

“It’s taken a lot of the pressure off, we had that sick feeling in the stomach that we really wanted to win,” Matfield said afterwards. “Things just seem to happen easier here at Loftus, I don’t know why.”