Bulls surge against Brumbies

The Bulls eased to a 50-32 victory over the Brumbies at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday bringing up their second 50 pointer for tournament.

 

The victory stretches the Bulls unbeaten run at Loftus Versfeld to 12 matches.

 

The Brumbies enjoyed a strong first half and led the Bulls by 21 points to 20 at half time but the second half belonged to the Bulls even if they were a little lucky with a few of the calls from the referee.

 

The Bulls scored five tries - two from man of the match Morne Steyn who scored 35 points - but were probably a little lucky with two of them.

 

Their first try was awarded to Fourie Du Preez when local South African referee Mark Lawrence obstructed Ben Alexander from tackling him but Lawrence allowed the try nevertheless.

 

Later in the match Wynand Olivier scored a great break through try but video replays - which were not called for by the officials - showed that Olivier might have knocked on seconds before getting the ball over the line.

 

The Brumbies did not appear to be happy with many of referee Mark Lawrence's calls and questioned him almost throughout the match.

 

Just before the 20 minute mark Josh Valentine could be heard over Lawrence's microphone debating his judgement of the offside line. Other Brumbies could be heard questioning Lawrence's calls throughout the match.

 

The first half scoring sequence see-sawed from the very first kick-off when the Bulls were penalised for obstruction for Stirling Mortlock to slot the penalty from right in front, but the visitors somehow kept their noses in front until the 33rd minute.

 

The early minutes were marked by aggressive tackling from the visitors that didn't allow the Bulls much leeway. The Brumbies also scrummed well initially, but despite one or two turnovers at the breakdowns the possession stakes went to the Bulls.

 

The first two tries nevertheless went to the Brumbies who took the lead in the 15th minute after a storming run from Rocky Elsom that took the score to 8-3 after Steyn had earlier evened matters.

 

The Brumbies exploited an elaborate Bulls set move gone wrong in their own half. George Smith rounded off after Elsom had stolen the dropped ball and fellow-loosie Stephen Hoiles had switched his pass cleverly.

 

At 15-6 matters looked gloomy for the Bulls who couldn't get into their full stride because of the close Brumbies attention.

 

But Fourie du Preez got on the board when the Bulls opted for a line penalty from where they drove well to set Du Preez loose on the blindside.

 

With the conversion good, the Bulls were only 13-15 behind and then 13-18 after another Mortlock penalty.

 

Again the ruck - or rather, a series of rucks - came to the Bulls' rescue. With Francois  Hougaard and Flip van der Merwe prominent, Morne Steyn virtually strolled through under the posts for a converted try.

 

After 33 minutes, the Bulls were ahead for the first time (20-18). Another penalty to the Brumbies, after a good build-up, was slotted from touch by Mortlock, and the Brumbies went into the break at 21-20.

 

The Bulls' driving tactics paid off increasingly in the second half and they controlled possession and also territory, but not before Matt Giteau had dropped a goal from just short of 50 metres on the angle and Mortlock had stretched the halftime lead to 27-20 11 minutes later.

 

The Bulls pressure really started taking its toll, and Steyn pulled back a penalty.

 

Then, from a Bulls lineout, ironically won by the Brumbies, a handling lapse by Giteau saw Gerhard van den Heever collect and run 30 metres to score under the posts (30-27 to the Bulls).

 

Next, from a scrum in centre field an inside the Brumbies 22, Wynand Olivier ran a good angle from a Steyn pass. With the latter converting the Bulls had scored 17 points in ten minutes to lead 37-27.

 

Olivier's try also brought the try bonus point in the 61st minute. Six minutes later Steyn added to the Brumbies agony with another penalty (40-27) and rubbed it in with one more six minutes later. (43-27).

 

Then, with four minutes remaining, a good run by Van den Heever brought the ball back and Steyn broke through for his second try and conversion giving him a total of 35 points in the match.

 

Pat McCabe got a consolation try for the Brumbies after the hooter.

 

Final Score Bulls 50 Brumbies 32

Scorers

Match Officials
Referee: Mark Lawrence (SA)
Ass. refs: Marius Jonker (SA), Stefan Breytenbach (SA)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (SA)

Teams

Bulls : Zane Kirchner, Gerhard van den Heever, Stephan Dippenaar, Wynand Olivier, Francois Hougaard, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Pedrie Wannenburg, Deon Stegmann, Victor Matfield, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Gary Botha, Gurthro Steenkamp.

Replacements: Bandise Maku, Bees Roux, Fudge Mabeta, Derick Kuün, Heini Adams, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, and John Mametsa.

Brumbies:1. Ben Alexander 2. Stephen Moore 3. Salesi Ma'afu 4. Justin Harrison 5. Mark Chisholm 6. Rocky Elsom 7. George Smith 8. Stephen Hoiles (c) 9. Josh Valentine 10. Matt Giteau 11. Francis Fainifo 12. Christian Lealiifano 13. Stirling Mortlock 14. Pat McCabe 15. Adam Ashley-Cooper

Reserves 16. Huia Edmonds 17. Guy Shepherdson,18. Ben Hand 19. Mitchell Chapman 20. Patrick Phibbs 21. Matt Toomua 22. Tyrone Smith