Killer boot: Morne Steyn
Related links
Teams
Also see
Morne Steyn was back to his to sharpshooting best on Saturday, leading the Bulls to a 36-34 Super Rugby win over the Brumbies at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
The Brumbies outscored their hosts five tries to two but Steyn slotted 26 points - including drop goal and a penalty from his own half - as the Bulls claimed their seventh win in nine games.
Despite the loss, Brumbies coach Jake White will be delighted with his team's performance as they showed real fighting spirit to score 21 points in last 12 minutes to claim two bonus points and stay top of the Australian conference at the halfway stage of the tournament.
To be fair on the Bulls, they never really looked like losing after leading 19-13 at the interval and 33-13 around the hour mark.
That said, the Frans Ludeke will know his side will not win a fourth title if they have to rely on Steyn (and lady luck) to make up for a plethora of missed tackles when they jet overseas in a fortnight.
Steyn put the hosts 6-0 ahead early on as he looked to have found his rhythm after a nightmare at the kicking tee in Jo'burg last week.
But the Brumbies responded with two excellent tries - via Henry Speight and Jesse Mogg - that showed some worrying holes in the Bulls defence.
The Loftus faithful were appeased soon afterwards however as Steyn brought them within a point before Bjorn Basson scored at the end of some quick hands in the backline.
A Steyn drop goal gave the Bulls a four-point lead at the break and the Bok fly-half extended the gap with two more penalties after the restart.
The match officials then ensured the lead would grow even further when Steyn appeared to have dropped a simple pass, and while all the players stopped for the knock-on, assistant referee Stefan Breytenbach indicated to ref Marius Jonker that the ball had gone backwards, and CJ Stander bolted 60m to score.
With a 20-point lead, the Bulls looked to have the game in the wrapped up, but the Brumbies came flying back.
Andrew Smith, Anthony Hegarty and Ian Prior all grabbed late tries as the home defence disintegrated.
The scorers:
For Bulls:
Tries: Basson, Stander
Con: Steyn
Pens: Steyn 7
Drop: Steyn
For Brumbies:
Tries: Speight, Mogg, Smith, Prior, Hegarty
Cons: Lealiifano 3
Pen: Lealiifano
Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies (c), 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 CJ Stander, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Juandre Kruger, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling/Dawie Steyn.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Louis Fouche, 22 Johann Sadie.
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Nic White, 8 Fotu Auelua, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Ben Mowen (c), 5 Sam Carter, 4 Scott Fardy, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements:16 Anthony Hegarty, 17 Ruaidhri Murphy, 18 Peter Kimlin, 19 Ita Vaea, 20 Ian Prior, 21 Robbie Coleman, 22 Tevita Kuridrani.
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Comments
darthbok says...
brumbies should have won --- jonker tried hard to give the game to the bulls, and they almost threw it away -- not enough quality in the bulls back line -and they play like its the 80`s .. did not see hardly any offloads in the tackle , no creativity , no flair, , poor coaching ---they will be roasted on tour
Posted 07:27 24th April 2012
letsgoboks says...
Bulls shouldnt have let this slide so much.
Another win though. Hopefully they can travel well... the boys struggle away from Loftus.
One things clear though... Jake White is proving himself yet again!
Posted 13:12 23rd April 2012
BokAvenger says...
@IslandPower - ever heard of sarcasm mate? Here's a hint: it's under `S' in the dictionary
Posted 08:31 23rd April 2012
safehands says...
As a Kiwi and as neither a supporter nor hater of either team, Jonker definately favoured the Bulls in this match. Brumbies were dominant up front all game yet still sufferred more penalties due to some....lets call them 'marginal' calls....
This Brumbie outfit will be the team to beat as early as next season and well beyond if they can hang on to their young talent and continue developing.
As for the arrogance of people like BokAvenger and his sort, your team has won nothing yet old boy, the season is a long way from over and apart from the Stormers, the other SA teams look bang average. Keep counting them there chickens my boy.......
Posted 06:24 23rd April 2012
brands says...
@ Trinuts
agreed, im not a saffa nor a Bulls supporter and definatly backed the Brumbies, my comment was aimed at FISH head to let him know how it feels to post childish and inaccurate posts, PS shouldnt you be more worried about the Reds??
Posted 04:34 23rd April 2012
melkdave says...
Well i have to say was surprised the Brumbies nearly won the match.To score 5 tries and still lose must be a disapointment and im sure JW wont be happy about the amount of penalties they gave away thats what cost them the game imo,lack of disapline.The differance in the scores was the try from the supposed knock on when the Brumbies stopped expecting a whistle .The old saying play to the whistle cost them .when they didnt as well the the constant penaltiy give aways allowing the Bulls to build a lead.Still a decent game of rugby for us neturals to watch .Bulls fans i thibk you had a lucky escape in some ways ,and your team isnt championship contenders just yet imo ,close but not quite there yet
Posted 15:40 22nd April 2012
Donhead says...
Brumbies will need to. put a marker down and start winning the big games .Happy that you disapproved lots of hecklers who wrote you off.
Posted 10:55 22nd April 2012
BokAvenger says...
Trinuts: Dodgy home refs? Coming from an Antipodean that really gives me fits. Want a list of dodgy home refs? Try these: Paddy O'Brien, Bryce Lawrence, Stu Dickinson, Paul Honiss, Glen Jackson, George Ayoub, Matt Goddard and Steve Walsh.
Posted 10:44 22nd April 2012
Golden_statenba says...
Brumbies should have won. It's a shame but they look like they will be a great team next year.
Brumbies only have themselves to blame, play to the whistle!!!
Says it all really. Will be interesting if that statement is the same next time the Bulls loose.
Posted 10:14 22nd April 2012
hayj05 says...
Well the Brumbies basically got a draw didn't they, 2 competition points. They won't mind that at all considering they were heading towards 0 points right up until the 77th minute.
Posted 10:08 22nd April 2012
Ramage says...
Well done Brumbies you certainly played the rugby. Has anyone noticed how much those officials not actually refereeing the game are having on the games being played in South Africa. First Muewesen's famous intervention when he went beyond his brief in in the test match against NZ. Then Legoate calling a so called obstruction, not forgetting his infamous call last year. Now Breytenbach saying the ball went backwards. Hmm does anyone else see a pattern developing here?Now I'm not going as far as to suggest that South African officials are cheats. No I would never suggest that. Perhaps Andre Watson should see if he can gain some sponsorship for his team of assistants of sacked and junior referees from Specsavers and see if they might be give some optical assistance.
Posted 09:45 22nd April 2012
Dangerous says...
Both teams will be pretty tender today. Both very physical, which is pretty standard for a bulls outfit but the brumbies look much sharper then they have been for a long time.
Posted 09:08 22nd April 2012
BokAvenger says...
Don't be such sore losers by blaming the ref. Typical Aussies! (feels a bit different when the shoe's on the other foot eh?)
Posted 08:09 22nd April 2012
bloemboy says...
How on earth did the Bulls let it get that close? to concede like that in the dying minutes is not the sign of a Chanpionship team.
Posted 05:51 22nd April 2012
bokrocker says...
Pain Steyn won us the game. Hougaard was the darling of Loftus but this man should be the king.
Posted 05:00 22nd April 2012
Chicka says...
Good result for the Brumbies. Apart from Moore this is a team of no-namers on a rebuilding exercise. I expected a hiding from the Bulls on their home turf but this is as good a result as you could expect from a losing team and a sign that the Brumbies will be a a temendous team in years to come.
Posted 04:56 22nd April 2012
Fatflanker says...
Anyone reading this article who had not seen the game might be forgiven for thinking the Brumbies were not absolutely robbed.
Posted 01:06 22nd April 2012
seaninhalf says...
Bulls were very lucky to win today. Brumbies were a much more powerful team up front. Bulls cannot rely on Morne Steyn to win them games.... Bulls won, yes, but by 2 points. The losing team scored 2 bonus points! That's not a good win, that's a lucky escape! @ brands: I guess you're a Bulls supporter so that makes sense that you're beyond arrogant.... get real....
Posted 23:32 21st April 2012
carpelone says...
Well done the Brumbies.
Posted 22:30 21st April 2012
JayStarr says...
As far as I'm concerned the Brumbies won this match. As a South African I even thought Jonker was very much leaning one way... but still the Brumbies managed to come within 2 points! I think even though they didn't get the points, confidence and self-believe -wise they should see this as a win. Very impressive.
Posted 22:13 21st April 2012