Both team has made several changes and it is anyone’s guess which coach got things right as the Blues host the Bulls in Auckland.
Teams:
Blues: Charles Piutau, Frank Halai, Rene Ranger, Peter Saili, Waisake Naholo, Baden Kerr, Piri Weepu, Steve Luatua, Luke Braid, Kane Barrett, Liaki Moli, Ali Williams (c), Charlie Faumuina, Quentin MacDonald, Tim Perry.
Subs: James Parsons, Angus Ta’avao, Ronald Raaymakers, Brendon O’Connor, Jamison Gibson-Park, Marty McKenzie, Albert Nikoro.
Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Lionel Mapoe, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Arno Botha, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Juandrè Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Morné Mellett.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Grant Hattingh, 19 Jacques Potgieter, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Jürgen Visser.
Referee: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
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March 10th, 2013 at 6:13 am
Very good first half for the Bulls, they are in a good position to take this. Again a balanced aproach like the Cheetahs and Stormers earlier this weekend is proven to work against NZ opposition.
March 10th, 2013 at 7:26 am
Great win for the Bulls. The best performance by a SA team this weekend imo.
March 10th, 2013 at 7:36 am
The South African teams are so far behind the overseas teams, they play boring bash up rugby. The NZ teams are really treating us with a showcase of extremely fine talent. A pity they cant defend though.
March 10th, 2013 at 8:41 am
Reply to Aldo @ 7:36 am: there is a lot of irony there.
The reason why the SA teams did well was because they scored tries. The Bulls went wide, de allende and De Villiers gained ground and the Cheetahs did well in defence.
Usually those are issues for each of those trams.
March 10th, 2013 at 9:46 am
Really happy to see the SA teams “expand” their game and showing there is more to our game than just the bash it up mode. Maybe with some more success the national side could do the same and become a more all-round team.
Thanks to the kiwi sides who showed what they are capable of in the early rounds and pushed the SA sides to adapt – which we did with great results
old saying – you are only as good as your opposition… Bulls & Stormers looked shit against each other…
March 10th, 2013 at 12:25 pm
well I am very happy. Our teams all showed we can play this game. Lets keep it up. Fok die laager
March 10th, 2013 at 12:54 pm
Just watched the 1st half and Vermaak is having a great game – good crisp service from the base of the rucks
Hougie will have trouble getting back “his” 9 jersey
March 10th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
As a big critic of Spies I must say he had a good game, even made some good tackles, off-loads and a few runs!
March 10th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
Reply to JT_BOKBEFOK! @ 1:37 pm:
on that performance I would even be ok with HM bringing him back for the Bokke.
March 10th, 2013 at 3:54 pm
I’ve read the match report. Seems the Bulls
had a good rethink about their style.
As did the Stormers, whilst the Cheetahs
made peace with the idea that tackling forms
an integral part of rugby.
Now for the Guppies to come to the party.
March 10th, 2013 at 4:43 pm
Spies really did play well. Good for him he takes a lot of flack ( some well deserved). Hopefully he continues to blossom like the fushia shirt he has to wear.
Aldo you must be pleased as pink punch today.
March 10th, 2013 at 10:33 pm
Reply to JT_BOKBEFOK! @ 9:46 am:
I think it is more a case of the SA teams, being much better than they have been given credit for. Against each other the games are dour because the defenses are just so good. Against weaker defenses, they score tries. You play as much attack as your opponent will allow.
In previous years, week 4 was normally when all the SA teams would lose.
Perhaps we are now finally seeing the emergence of a unified SA game-plan. At its core, is the Stormers’ defense. Adopted by the Boks last year and now permeating to the other teams.
March 10th, 2013 at 11:34 pm
Saw three of those tries and the Bulls really did some incredible slick down the line passing…
March 11th, 2013 at 4:40 am
The Bulls were just okay though.
The Blues were really kak. Lots of elementary mistakes and lots of poor decisions. They probably underestimated the Bulls a bit .
March 11th, 2013 at 6:25 am
Having watched the last few weeks of rugby from both the Northern and the Southern Hemispheres, it has become apparent that New Zealand rugby is now on a different planet from the rest of the world. The Chiefs smashed the Cheetahs at the weekend playing badly. That’s how far New Zealand is moving ahead.- 06/03/2013
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/opinion/8385340/NZ-teams-play-rugby-from-the-heavens
I wonder if he has been eating humble pie this week.
March 11th, 2013 at 9:31 am
Bulls much better at the break-down…
Spies’ power pick-n-go was classic keeping opposition on the back-foot!
March 11th, 2013 at 10:10 am
Reply to Timeo @ 4:40 am: “They probably underestimated the Bulls”. Spot on observation. Every time sports journalists asked why there were 6 changes in the starting lineup for this game, it was pointed out that the Bulls have never beaten either the Blues or Crusaders in NZ.
So, yes, their 2-0 record before the game lead to complacency, the six changes disrupted teamwork and the lack of passion in the first half resulted in a passive flat performance in the first half that ultimately cost them the game.
March 11th, 2013 at 10:51 am
I love seeing the Kiwis been caught on the hop.
They expected kick and chase with a massive dose of arrogance and got beaten out wide too.
Well done Bulls it was great to watch, such a pity it did not happen sooner as you would have won a lot of trophies with this measured play.
Good to see cheap shot Weiner Oogseer get a bit of his own medicine.
It is amazing to see the travel factor in the players fitness as the Cheetahs folded last week on the second half and the Bulls tiring.
The Bulls are only going to get better and well done to Morne Steyn to show good character.
Still the refereeing is a big problem with local teams getting the rub of the green even though losing in some games.
When the Bulls play running rugby beware….
March 11th, 2013 at 11:06 am
Reply to Mug Punters Organisation of South Africa @ 10:51 am:
When South Africa plays running rugby beware….
March 11th, 2013 at 7:45 pm
i’m not a bull fan but they did it like a BOSS
March 11th, 2013 at 9:19 pm
March 12th, 2013 at 5:33 pm
something seems to be wrong with the points allocation on rat race
Blues vs Bulls 21 – 28
my score prediction 20 – 25
points on ratrace 0
who do I contact?
March 12th, 2013 at 5:43 pm
Reply to RUGGA_MIND @ 5:33 pm:
Shit on Morne @ruggaworld.com
