Bulls try-scorer: Wynand Olivier
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The Bulls held off a late Crusaders fightback to sneak home 32-30 in a thrilling Super Rugby clash at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.
The hosts led 32-16 with eight minutes left to play and seemed to have the game in the bag, but the never-say-die Crusaders refused to relent and in the end were denied by a knock on as they went in search of the decisive score.
The visitors outscored the Bulls by three tries to two and led by four points (9-13) at half-time.
But their discipline let them down in the second half and punished by Morne Steyn who ended the match with six penalties which ultimately proved to be the difference in the end.
The Crusaders started the match with a roar and a hiss after skipper Kieran Read galloped over to add to Dan Carter's drop-goal, while Steyn kept his team in the hunt with three penalties.
Loosehead prop Dean Greyling eased home fans' fears when he collected a pass from flanker CJ Stander to force his way over in some style for the Bulls early in the second period.
The boot of Steyn then once again came to the fore as he kept the scoreboard ticking and the hosts took a seemingly unassailable 32-16 lead when an error from New Zealand full-back Israel Dagg saw Wynand Olivier touch down.
But converted tries from Zac Guildford and replacement Tom Marshall suddenly made a game of it, and it took brave Bulls defence to hang on to victory at the death.
The scorers:
For Bulls:
Tries: Greyling, Olivier
Cons: Steyn 2
Pens: Steyn 6
For Crusaders:
Tries: Read, Guildford, Marshall
Cons: Carter 3
Pens: Carter, Taylor
Drop: Carter
Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies (c), 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 CJ Stander, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 JJ Engelbrecht.
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Tom Donnelly, 19 Luke Whitelock, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Tom Taylor, 22 Tom Marshall.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Comments
JayStarr says...
The refs were almost as biased as the commentators in this game...
Can SANZAR finally realise that Pro Legoete should not be allowed anywhere near a rugby field?
Jaco Peyper is normally a good ref, but the combination of him and the South African touch judges gave a one-sided slant to this game - equal to the trio of New Zealanders in the Stormers game (who were just plain terrible). Maybe we need to at least make sure that not ALL the refs are from the same country..?
Crusaders should've won this one. Bad luck guys.
Posted 03:36 08th April 2012
startledwombat says...
@euskadi: good discussion, enough to make me go back to look at some of those calls again on replay.
@leebok: I'm sure there's a good rugby analyst's brain in there just dying to express itself. You may want to increase the level of analysis in your comments, and reduce the exclamation marks, otherwise some of the folks here will regard you as a sock puppet or troll. Prove them wrong!
Posted 03:20 08th April 2012
isthatrightref says...
If the Bulls had lost by 2 in Christchurch on the back of a shockingly bad call by "the other" Lawrence we'd be knee deep in bok-somethings & something-boks alleging at least incompetence if not corruption... just 'cos the AR says something it doesn't mean the ref has to act on it - he should've at least referred it to the TMO. Maybe WE should start a Facebook page campaigning for ML to never ref again...
Posted 02:46 08th April 2012
KiwiLad says...
Fish, Thanks for your straightening out LeeBok, It would be unfair for Aussies and Kiwis to form the opinion that all Saffers are from the same very shallow gene pool that LeeBok emerged from.
Posted 01:18 08th April 2012
isthatrightref says...
@ leebok... take a look at the points table (the real one, not the one that has Brumbies 3rd when they're really 7th) & count the number of NZ teams... or the SA ones, even you must be able to count to 2...
Posted 00:12 08th April 2012
dolgun says...
@leebok
What a bitter and twisted idiot you are. Your knowledge of the rules is second rate and you're an embarrassment to your countrymen. We don't want to read your drivel on here so bugger off. It doesn't matter where you play, who you beat and by what margin - SA no longer has more RWCs than NZ. How many tri nations titles and super rugby titles have SA teams won? F all.
Posted 23:47 07th April 2012
golden_statenba says...
@leebok
Even if you come first you will still just be the boys.
More body cares.
Posted 22:09 07th April 2012
rugbylover says...
@leebok
.............c'mon sonny, time for your medication............
Posted 22:02 07th April 2012
brands says...
@ leebok
your a moron, of course you can only see blue, pillock!
Posted 21:21 07th April 2012
kahui says...
Leebok - who holds the world cup!!!!!!!! hahaha u jealous tool
Posted 19:55 07th April 2012
FISH says...
leebok....really shut the hell up......i am south african and just want to say his views do not reflect my own.....and i'm pretty embarrased that he and i share the same nationality......oh and lee bok grow up
Posted 19:53 07th April 2012
philipjfry says...
@leebok: Dude, I am South African. Read the comment again.
Posted 19:50 07th April 2012
7ton says...
leebok
"cheats cheats cheats"
exactly how old are you?
Posted 19:07 07th April 2012
FISH says...
morne is not in the same league as carter..........
and as far as conferences go......i'd say they are all pretty even....though the aussie conference is a bit .....meh
Posted 18:44 07th April 2012
philipjfry says...
Watched the last 20min; pulsating stuff, highly entertaining. Last 4min watching the 'Saders with ball in had reminded me of why I love this sport. Class. Cue another discussion on how poor the ref was, how stupid all South Africans are, how all the Kiwi players are cheats etc. etc.
Posted 18:43 07th April 2012
Euskadi says...
Good game, apart from some rather odd calls from the referee and his assistants.
Whilst I agree that Carter was running an interference line on Basson, Kieran Read is absolutely correct in that Carter was behind the ball, therefore onside, running in support of the ball carrier. Peyper was on the spot and although he was acting on advice from the assistant referee IMO if the referee sees nothing wrong with it then he needn't take their recommendation onboard.
The support player in that position is not required to make space for any defender so IMO that should have been a legitimate try to to Tom Taylor, although the Crusaders scored a try soon after that it almost didn't matter. I thought Peyper made a few, at least three, very marginal calls against the Crusaders at ruck time (Reid) or at kick receipt (Crockett) which resulted penalty kicks duly converted by Steyn. Did Whitelock get penalised for tackling Chilliboy without the ball when Greyling scored? I dont think he did and nor should he, a support player used as a decoy in any capacity should be open game for the defence.
Will be interesting next week vs the Stormers, although the Crusaders will be the home team they will be the ones fighting the effects of jet lag vs the visiting Africans, after watching the Stormers today they look to be the best team from the Republic with their defence being particularly solid, it will take a big effort from the Crusaders, my heart says the Crusaders but Superbru maybe more pragmatic and pick the Stormers.
Would love to see the Stormers vs Chiefs but sadly they dont meet this year, Stormers have an easy run home after the Crusaders game, they will finish top in the African conference with the Bulls second, good prospects for the African teams this year. I still think the Crusaders will be the second NZ team along with the Chiefs
Posted 18:37 07th April 2012
jackblack says...
I can't believe that Jaco Peyper is on the elite list of refs - he had an absolute shocker!
Posted 18:29 07th April 2012
FISH says...
looks like i missed a ripper........came home.....turned over to the game 32-30 and the crusaders had ball in hand with 81 mins on the clock!!!
Posted 18:05 07th April 2012