Bulls down brave Cheetahs
31 Oct 2009
The Bulls relinquished a 24-point lead but held on for a 36-24 victory over the Cheetahs to claim the Currie Cup title.
It was a match in the mould of the previous titanic clashes between these teams – brutally physical, intensely tactical, but never dull – and this time the Bulls weren’t to be denied.
They blitzed out of the blocks, rushing to the aforementioned formidable lead within 20 minutes, which must have prompted the trophy engraver to motion towards penning a ‘B’. However, such was the resolve of the Cheetahs that they surged back into contention. But ultimately they had neither the individual brilliance or tactical refinement to break the Bulls’ hearts.
The likes of Adriaan Strauss, Heinrich Brussow and Frans Viljoen would have been worthy champions, but the pedigree of Fourie du Preez, Victor Matfield, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn and Bakkies Botha combined with the unrelenting spirit of Dewald Potgieter, Francois Hougaard and Deon Stegmann ensured the Bulls made history, winning the Super Rugby and Currie Cup crowns in the same year.
There was a definite air of apprehension prior to kick-off, with the blue disciples sensing, acutely, that their gods were up against the one side in the tournament that held little fear of the imposing cauldron of Loftus. They had, after all, captured the title here in 2005, and broken the Bulls’ domestic dominance thereafter. However, those fears seemed unfounded after the first quarter.
The Cheetahs showed their hand early by attempting to stretch the burly Bulls across the field, but they would be repelled and forced to go lateral by accurate, committed and bruising defence.
The Bulls absorbed the pressure and within 18 minutes they had established a 21-0 lead, all three converted tries coming after they had absolutely pulverised the Cheetahs’ ball carriers.
It would be failing Du Preez not to note his role in the hat-trick of scores, and, as he had in the Super 14 final, the majestic scrumhalf was central in the Bulls’ triumph. It would be a rugby travesty if he is not named the IRB Player of the Year.
Their first try came on the five minute mark, when Wynand Olivier broke the line, offloaded to Habana who in turn found Kuun with a clear run in on goal. He didn’t have the gas for glory, but the Bulls were awarded a penalty, and Du Preez showed his awareness with a cross-kick to an unmarked Hougaard on the wing. Steyn converted and was soon called upon to bank three more points, Habana striking.
Du Preez showed that the range of his ability knows no bounds as he scooped a wayward pass off his bootlaces and put Habana away. Their third, birthed from a Stegmann turnover and Du Preez’s chip into an unmanned space, saw Habana burn JP Joubert in a sprint to score. The Western Province-bound wing had one space open on his trophy cabinet, and he will be dead proud that he played such a decisive role in filling it.
Steyn added the extras, and took the Bulls 24-0 ahead with a penalty shortly thereafter. Then came the counter-strike.
Up until that point the Cheetahs had displayed an inability to adapt their planned expansive attack. But their fortunes changed with their willingness to show a greater appreciation for building a platform through phase play.
Viljoen dragged his side into the contest after percentage play had depleted the Bulls’ defensive line. Jacques-Louis Potgieter converted, and the Cheetahs were soon back in contention when centre Corne Uys was on hand to round off a quick tap and sharp handling. Potgieter’s conversion drew the Cheetahs to within 10, but Steyn ensured that the Bulls took a comfortable lead into the break with a drop goal as the siren sounded.
The scoreline didn’t fully reflect the visitor’s standing in the match. They had camped in Bulls territory for extended periods and would have felt confident of a dramatic comeback if they managed to harness, replicate and execute all that was good about their first half showing.
One of the outstanding features of that period was their scrummaging, and it was through a monumental shove in the Bulls 22, which resulted in a tighthead, that they breathed life into what at the end of the first quarter had seemed an improbable dream. The ball spat loose, Viljoen pounced, found Brussow, who sent Breedt through for the try. Potgieter made no mistake with the conversion, and when he sent a drop goal sailing through the posts two minutes later, the Bulls were put on notice.
Brussow, nullified in the first half to a large extent, became omnipresent on the deck and with ball in hand, and he was ably supported by a group of men who had risen from the canvas, bounced off the ropes and were now punching with renewed vigour and belief.
However, Steyn kept the Bulls in charge with two penalties, and with 11 minutes remaining the Cheetahs needed some inspired play to overturn the 12-point deficit. Their cause wasn’t helped by the sin-binning of Richardt Strauss with six minutes to go, and despite some enterprising play in the closing minutes, they were unable to breach a well organised and determined defensive line.
It’s futile debating whether this is the finest Bulls side in history as you’ll never come to an absolute conclusion. There is, however, no debating that they are amongst the best ever fielded, and now amongst the most successful.
Their performance was hardly spectacular, but ultimately history will reflect a phenomenal year for the Bulls, one in which they ruled the southern hemisphere, and then conquered on home soil.
By Ryan Vrede, at Loftus
86 Comments
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31 Oct 2009, 19:21 pm
SKOPSKIET is a POMMIE
31 Oct 2009, 19:23 pm
Justice has been served, f@#k the cheethas, they must f#$k off, this is vengeance, you got what you deserved.
31 Oct 2009, 19:30 pm
Geluk bulle.
Ek het net 1 ding om te se. As ek dit uit my gestel kry dan kan ek aan gaan met my lewe. As die eerste 3 tussen Habanna en FdP nie forward is nie hoe de fok kan die pas foward wees van die Vrystaatse lynstaan to die telling 33/24 was mety die Vrystaat wat al die momentum het. Ek sal seker nog lank huil oor daai 1. Maar sport is ‘n game waar jy soms iets kry en somes nie en vandag was die bulle die kampione van die mooiste en heiligste koppie in die wereld. As dit krag teen krag is in die currie cup is dit amper ‘n beter koppie as die wereld beker.
Geluk bulle en niemand wat loftus seisoen kaartjies het kan kla oor waarde vir geld vanjaar nie. Maar julle mediese rekeninge sal seker daai geld terug maak oor die games wat julle daar gesien het.
Dit raak net beter elke jaar.
31 Oct 2009, 19:32 pm
#2 BlueBlood: Ek wil net vir jou se dopkaas. die beter span het verloor. En jy weet dit. So fkof en gaan geniet jou wen en moet nie julle blou trulle ‘n slegte naam gee nie
31 Oct 2009, 19:35 pm
‘n Cheetah se ma is ook ‘n Cheetah, maar ‘n Bloubul se ma is ‘n koei!
31 Oct 2009, 19:35 pm
who cares, when does the Bokke squad get announced?
31 Oct 2009, 19:38 pm
#5 RedLion: En dis ‘n fyt soos ‘n koei
31 Oct 2009, 19:39 pm
#2 BlueBlood: Moenie ‘n d%^s wees nie,dude.Uit ‘n neutrale oogpunt was dit ‘n great game en die cheetahs het goed gespeel.
31 Oct 2009, 19:40 pm
Wies man of the match? Moet ‘n Cheetah wees.
31 Oct 2009, 19:41 pm
Lucky Bulls. MS, Habana and Kaplan won the game for them. Ne Blueblood?
Dewalt Potgieter had a big game. Him and Brussow to carry bok loose forward dominance through next decade.
Bok squad in about 15 min.
31 Oct 2009, 19:41 pm
wanneer kondig hulle bok span aan?
31 Oct 2009, 19:43 pm
#11 Die Dier:
5 minutes and counting …
31 Oct 2009, 19:43 pm
Fdp al weer Mom. Can’t they find another candidate now and again. Was Ms and Habana that won that game for Bully brekers, and D. Potgieter at breakdown.
31 Oct 2009, 19:44 pm
#12 RedLion: Cant wait!
31 Oct 2009, 19:44 pm
3 minutes and counting …
31 Oct 2009, 19:44 pm
Jeez, where did Pieter Roosouw get his hair cut? Avoid that barber like the plague!
31 Oct 2009, 19:45 pm
#13 skopskiet: Derrick kuun also had a monster game.
31 Oct 2009, 19:46 pm
I will only write the names of the new caps when they are read.
My bolt selection will be Buys from the Lions of course.
31 Oct 2009, 19:46 pm
#2 BlueBlood: The best part of this Bulls team and won is the players attitude , they could have easily been arrogant windgvat but they remain humble , sadly the same cannot be said of some of their idiot fans.
31 Oct 2009, 19:47 pm
Ja hulle moes seker ‘n bul MOM gee want hulle het hulle spene afgetackel
31 Oct 2009, 19:49 pm
Cheetahs have lot of heart but no brains, that evident when they couldve drawn or beaten the BI Lions earlier this year – theyre exiting to watch – up to a point – but dont put yr money on them – if they werent the wooden spooners in the Super 14 this year they been that before plenty of times – so how they couldve reached the final today is a mystery – a gutsy performance, that all, gave the Bulls a bit of a scare here and there – we may as well have had Griquas on the field – you expect a few good moves here n there but the BMT is not there – turnin point of the match may have been where the Cheetahs was close to line and JLP decided to drop instead of spresding the ball
31 Oct 2009, 19:49 pm
here they are
backs
Heine Adams
Meyer Bosman
de Jongh
Riaan Viljoen
forwards
Hargreaves
Ashley Johnson
Rubenheimer
Heinkie
31 Oct 2009, 19:51 pm
no Mapoe but Adams Viljoen Rose De Jongh go. Skande.
No new props except for Van der Merwe. Kak squad, we gonna get a hiding by France and Ireland
31 Oct 2009, 19:51 pm
hargreaves…?!?!
u cant be serious.
where is mapoe?
31 Oct 2009, 19:52 pm
Rose and Nokwe made it
Maku is also in
31 Oct 2009, 19:53 pm
f;ck me, someone’s lost the plot and still thinking of schoolboy teams.
31 Oct 2009, 19:53 pm
#21 RobinW: No bmt. Wie het meer currie cups gewen die afgelope 5 jaar. Dink wat jy se.
31 Oct 2009, 19:53 pm
jusy think of the nice betting you can do against at your own team .. “world champions” getting thrashed …
31 Oct 2009, 19:54 pm
#2 BlueBlood: Blueblood, you just define the reasonwhy most people detest the Bulls!!
Well doneto the bulls for a great match!! The Cheetahs dominated most aspects of the game, bt the experience of the Bulls, and the boot of Steyn saved the day!!
I am proud of the Cheetahs…. winnng two out of the three finals on the day!!!
Felt the yellow of Richardt was a bit harsh, but such is life!!
Well done Bulls!!proud of you guys Cheetahs!!
31 Oct 2009, 19:55 pm
ek gee you gelyk, B , sorry
31 Oct 2009, 19:56 pm
Rose will always make it. Even when his 50 and retired. His PdV love child. Must agree about the props. This WP Nel is special. Maybe he will become a Heikie Meyer. Best props ever not to get a chance.
31 Oct 2009, 19:56 pm
Francois Hougaard is in too
31 Oct 2009, 19:56 pm
#29 Cheetah 4 Eva:
The definition of domination is being able to control the scoreboard. The Cheetahs didn’t dominate.
31 Oct 2009, 19:57 pm
Viljoen great prospect so too De Jongh. Bosman a waste of a place and Rose too. Mapoe should be in the team what these **** heads thinking?
Wp Nel or W. Du Preez should have gone as well as Liebenberg, and Hargreaves a lightweight lock.
Some coaches/selectors got rocks in their heads.
31 Oct 2009, 19:59 pm
The full squad from Supersport.
Springbok touring squad 2009
(Test caps in brackets) Forwards (20)
John Smit – Sharks, Captain (90)
Victor Matfield – Vodacom Blue Bulls, Vice-Captain (89)
Andries Bekker – Vodacom Western Province (18)
Bakkies Botha – Vodacom Blue Bulls (63)
Heinrich Brüssow – Vodacom Cheetahs (10)
Schalk Burger – Vodacom Western Province (53)
Bismarck du Plessis – Natal Sharks (30)
Jannie du Plessis – Natal Sharks (12)
+ Alistair Hargreaves – Natal Sharks (-)
+ Ashley Johnson – Vodacom Cheetahs (-)
Ryan Kankowski – Natal Sharks (10)
+ Bandise Maku – Vodacom Blue Bulls (-)
Tendai Mtawarira – Natal Sharks (19)
+ Dewald Potgieter – Vodacom Blue Bulls (-)
Chiliboy Ralepelle – Vodacom Blue Bulls (8)
+ Davon Raubenheimer – GWK Griquas (-)
Danie Rossouw – Vodacom Blue Bulls (43)
Pierre Spies – Vodacom Blue Bulls (28)
Gurthro Steenkamp – Vodacom Blue Bulls (22)
* Heinke van der Merwe – Xerox Lions (1)
Backs (17)
+Heini Adams – Vodacom Blue Bulls (-)
* Meyer Bosman – Vodacom Cheetahs (3)
+ Juan de Jongh – Vodacom Western Province (-)
Fourie du Preez – Vodacom Blue Bulls (52)
Jaque Fourie – Xerox Lions (51)
Bryan Habana – Vodacom Blue Bulls (54)
+ Francois Hougaard – Vodacom Blue Bulls (-)
Adi Jacobs – Natal Sharks (28)
* Zane Kirchner – Vodacom Blue Bulls (1)
Odwa Ndungane – Natal Sharks (6)
* Jongi Nokwe – Vodacom Cheetahs (4)
Wynand Olivier – Vodacom Blue Bulls (24)
Ruan Pienaar – Natal Sharks (35)
JP Pietersen – Natal Sharks (30)
* Earl Rose – Xerox Lions (-)
Morne Steyn – Vodacom Blue Bulls (9)
+ Riaan Viljoen – GWK Griquas (-)
+ Denotes new cap
* Denotes recalled to squad
31 Oct 2009, 19:59 pm
I see Hougaard and Nokwe made it ahead of Mapoe. Skande, sies!
31 Oct 2009, 20:02 pm
#30 RobinW: So as jy my gelyk gee hoekom praat jy van bmt jou idioot. Gelyk vitr my beteken dan Cheetahs geen bt en bulle geen bmt. Of sukkel jy met die somme.
31 Oct 2009, 20:02 pm
Crazy!! Earl Rose, and Heinke vd Merwe, but no Mapoe, and what has Heinke done to deserve a call up, hasn’t played in 6 months!!!
It’s a travesty, that the best front row, doesn’t get a look in!!!
31 Oct 2009, 20:03 pm
Raubenheimer who’s he?
31 Oct 2009, 20:03 pm
absolutely shocking display of officiating by Kaplan and touch judges, i mean really was he watching the same game. and as for the touch judge who saw and heard things, where is he from outer space. there is nothing worse than an official who wants to make name for himself and keeps trying to get into the game.
31 Oct 2009, 20:05 pm
#39 skopskiet: I think his black.
31 Oct 2009, 20:05 pm
please someone tell me, is earl rose really the “cover” for morne steyn, cmon rose, yeah he is in a class of his own……..
31 Oct 2009, 20:06 pm
mapoe has been cheated..no pun intended…
31 Oct 2009, 20:07 pm
#40 rugbyfan007: Ja well thats sport. Watch the N Habour vs Canterbury game in NZ this morning. I think that ref pipped Kaplan today.
31 Oct 2009, 20:08 pm
#39 skopskiet:
A ‘fatty’ from the Griquas – much better player than Burger and the natural replacement for Juan Smith.
31 Oct 2009, 20:09 pm
This squad is far from what it could be:
Forwards:
Sykes over Hargreaves (he’s like the sharks 4th choice)
Liebenberg over Maku
WP Nel over Jannie Dup
Alberts or Vermeulen over Kanko
Deysel over Raubenheimer
Backs:
Mapoe for Ndungane
Peter Grant for Earl Rose
31 Oct 2009, 20:09 pm
Cheetahs is goeie wannabees … dalk het hulle bietjie BMT in plaaslike games .. ek sien egter geen BMT wanneer hulle byna elke jaar met die Super 14 houtlepel terugkom nie . die kopdokters wat saam met hulle werk in die S14 en die Currie beker is blykbaar nie dieselfde spul nie
31 Oct 2009, 20:10 pm
#33 coherence: I did say the Bulls dominated the scoreboard… the Cheetahs doinated in every other aspect!!
The stats show that, or can’t you read what wrote????
The bulls experience, carried them through despite being outmuscled, and dominated in possession, and territory!!
Don’t be pedantic coherence!! Gave the Bulls credit fo their victory, and I am proud o the Cheetahs!!
31 Oct 2009, 20:11 pm
Os du Randt should be part of the national training squad …..
31 Oct 2009, 20:11 pm
Actually there some really bad selections there, this could be a helluva end to the year. No Sykes or Deysel or Alberts in those NH conditions. big problems here.
Bakkies is going to be dead on this tour. They’ve missed a big thing here. They taking it too easy and have no idea what awaits them against france and ireland, let alone the midweek games.
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