Bulls vs Brumbies Semi-Final Match Thread.

by Artful_Dodger Sat Jul 27, 2013 3:55 pm

Trying to watch more Super Rugby these days and after a cracking match between the Chiefs and Crusaders earlier I'm going to get stuck into this second semi final.

If anybody needs a link let me know and I'll send you a private message.

by Artful_Dodger Sat Jul 27, 2013 3:57 pm

Teams.

Bulls:

Zane Kirchner , Akona Ndungane, JJ Engelbrecht, Jan Serfontein , Bjorn Basson , Morne Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Dewald Potgieter (c), Jacques Potgieter, Deon Stegmann , Grant Hattingh, Flip van der Merwe , Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Dean Greyling

Replacements: Callie Visagie, Frik Kirsten, Morne Mellett, Paul Willemse, Jono Ross , Jano Vermaak, Jurgen Visser.

Brumbies:

1. Scott Sio , 2. Stephen Moore , 3. Ben Alexander , 4. Scott Fardy , 5. Sam Carter , 6. Peter Kimlin , 7. George Smith , 8. Ben Mowen (c) , 9. Nic White , 10. Matt Toomua , 11. Clyde Rathbone , 12. Christian Lealiifano , 13. Tevita Kuridrani , 14. Henry Speight , 15. Jesse Mogg

Replacements: 16. Siliva Siliva , 17. Ruan Smith , 18. Fotu Auelua , 19. Colby Faingaa , 20. Ian Prior , 21. Andrew Smith , 22. Joe Tomane

Will be keeping a close eye on Zane Kirchner ahead of his move to Leinster.

by Artful_Dodger Sat Jul 27, 2013 4:18 pm

Outstanding try - finished my Mogg but created after a brilliant hand off , run and one handed offload by Speight. Brumbies looking the much better team here, worrying time for the Bulls in their own backyard.

Bulls 0 - 10 Brumbies.

by Brendan Sat Jul 27, 2013 4:39 pm

Expected the bulls to win by 7. Is it still one sided

by Taylorman Sat Jul 27, 2013 4:41 pm

Sides touring SA usually start well but wither towards the end and I expect the Bulls to run away with this by the end.

by Artful_Dodger Sat Jul 27, 2013 4:44 pm

Brumbies still look to me the side playing much better rugby, but you may be right Taylor, I don't have a lot of experience of Super Rugby.

Brendan its now Bulls 11 - 16 Brumbies

by Brendan Sat Jul 27, 2013 4:45 pm

Hope so or my father in law won't be very happy, big bulls fan

Thanks Art, hows kitchner doing

by Artful_Dodger Sat Jul 27, 2013 4:46 pm

Should also be noted Bulls are missing a lot of tackles and Hougaard is having a very poor game particularly with his box kicks.

by Artful_Dodger Sat Jul 27, 2013 4:47 pm

Kirchner hasn't had many opportunites showed good acceleration and footwork in the Brumbies 22 a moment ago and hasn't made any mistakes under the high ball or with the boot. Nothing spectacular but hes having a reasonably good game.

by Artful_Dodger Sat Jul 27, 2013 4:49 pm

Fantastic take by Kirchner in his own 22 just now.

Half-time: Bulls 11 - 16 Brumbies

by Taylorman Sat Jul 27, 2013 4:57 pm

Artful_Dodger wrote:Kirchner hasn't had many opportunites showed good acceleration and footwork in the Brumbies 22 a moment ago and hasn't made any mistakes under the high ball or with the boot. Nothing spectacular but hes having a reasonably good game.

that about sums up Kirchners career. Safe, reliable, solid without being spectacular.

Just caught Speights run as I woke up late. Brilliant. Cant wait to see him in the RC. Played for Waikato here for a couple of seasons. Real talent.

by Hound of Harrow Sat Jul 27, 2013 4:57 pm

It's a decent enough game so far. Brumbies scrum going well.

by Taylorman Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:07 pm

Good stop by Smith. Still think its inevitable Bulls will dominate this half though Brumbies going well.

by Artful_Dodger Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:09 pm

George Smith is having an oustanding game for the Brumbies.

by Taylorman Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:13 pm

For the Chiefs sake be good to see the Brumbies win as all this travel will hit the Brumbies next week, the Chiefs not having to move during the knockouts.

by Artful_Dodger Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:27 pm

George Smith is a machine.

by Taylorman Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:32 pm

Hes sure keeping them in this. Saves the try and is right in there first in the breakdown.

by Artful_Dodger Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:40 pm

Second kickable penalty in a row given away by the Brumbies number 4, and second time the Bulls go for touch, yet after the last one they went for a drop..... Headscratch

by Artful_Dodger Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:42 pm

Finally they go for the 3....Fardy gave away two very silly penalties which could cost the Brumbies the match.

by disneychilly Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:44 pm

I reckon the Chiefs would rather play the Bulls-the Brumbies are a lot more awkward and we all know how good a coach White is. The Bulls play in the last five minutes has been flabbergasting to me-you can't try and pin them in the corner one ahead. Turn it over at altitude and you can be on the receiving end of a 60m touchfinder and if you stuff up after that you lose the lead. Biggest cheer of the game was to take that kick that just went over.

by Artful_Dodger Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:46 pm

Hho ho, is that a try?

by Artful_Dodger Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:47 pm

Thats a try for me.

by Artful_Dodger Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:49 pm

Full Time

Bulls 23 - 26 Brumbies

Brumbies will meet the Chiefs in the final.

by Hound of Harrow Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:50 pm

Well done Brumbies. Very good 2nd half from the Bulls, apart from not taking the points on offer. That was dumb.

by disneychilly Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:51 pm

My stream died for 2 mins-opened up again to see the replay of the try. F**k it.

Fair play Brumbies. Smith was huge but the Bulls had it by the scruff of the neck and let it slip.

by **Biltong** Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:53 pm

Jake White has proved his point, Aussie Rugby players are smarter than SA rugby players, we still think we can bash through anything.

Well done Brumbies and Chiefs.

by Taylorman Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:53 pm

One of those momentum forward passes TMO's consistently never call back. Disney its the travel factor that will hit the Brumbies next week I think, Smith perhaps feeling it by the time the match ends but a good win to the Brumbies at the death and take your point re Jake White. Not sure how SAers will receive that one.

Hard luck Bulls, not sure they did enough to deserve this in the end, playing the percntage game didnt quite work for them in the end.

by **Biltong** Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:55 pm

Bulls deserved to lose , they weren't smart, their decision making ability is as woefull as the sharks and Stormers.

Have we no intelligence in SA rugby?

by disneychilly Sat Jul 27, 2013 7:22 pm

I reckon it's more of a problem with blind faith in the structure you guys play Biltong. We had that problem every four years and the stupidity to not change a game plan made us come unstuck.

The Bulls game is very intimidating and effective but only in certain situations and in that vein the flexibility is as rigid as that of the Bulls' structure.

by aucklandlaurie Sat Jul 27, 2013 8:06 pm

The Bulls were going fine at 20-19, why did they have to take that last penalty? all it did was take all their territory pressure off the Brumbies.

by aucklandlaurie Sat Jul 27, 2013 8:07 pm

And I should add two excellant games..

by **Rugby Fan** Sat Jul 27, 2013 8:14 pm

aucklandlaurie wrote:The Bulls were going fine at 20-19, why did they have to take that last penalty? all it did was take all their territory pressure off the Brumbies.

They needed to take those one of both of those earlier chances. Why on earth give up a virtual guaranteed three points only to go for a drop goal moments later?

I think the last time I saw captaincy as bad as that in a critical game was Dallaglio at Wembley in 1999 against Wales.

by aucklandlaurie Sat Jul 27, 2013 8:32 pm

Rugby fan

I thought Stein was doing the right thing, and Im sure he wasnt taking those kicks on purpose.Didnt he turn down three kicks.?

As long as they kept the play around the Brumbies 22, then the Bulls could hold them there for the next week, let alone the last 7 or 8 minutes. as soon as he took the panalty the Brumbies came back to half way kick off and what happened, happened.

by aucklandlaurie Sat Jul 27, 2013 8:36 pm

Also, cant explain the drop goal.. Maybe he had less time to think about that one?

by fa0019 Mon Jul 29, 2013 9:14 am

Amazing results. Did anyone call a Chiefs Brumbies final... even at the SF stage... perhaps some die hard in Canberra and Jake White.

Regardless of the Brumbies snatching it at the end for the brumbies to have even been within a converted try is an achievement in a away SF at the Versfeld.

by **Biltong** Mon Jul 29, 2013 12:02 pm

I am glad the Bulls lost, they didn't deserve to win, they aren't nearly good enough to compete against the Chiefs, this way we will get a better final, although I think the Chiefs will win it anyway.

But JW and his cohorts will provide a better challenge to the Chiefs.

Also Meyer will have learnt a lot from the weaknesses in SA rugby during that game.

by Taylorman Mon Jul 29, 2013 8:49 pm

Interesting how Dave Rennie said he'd only watch the replay of the Bulls Brumbies match after knowing who won so he'd only have to take notes on the one side.

Talk about efficiency!

by bsando Mon Jul 29, 2013 10:55 pm

Enjoyed both semi's, have to say I think the brumbies were lucky the bulls took the 3 points at the end there instead of kicking for the corner again. Although they weren't getting any points from it they were choking the brumbies, keeping them stuck in their own half. Bulls should really have held on and won the game.

by Artful_Dodger Tue Jul 30, 2013 8:14 pm

Have a look at these highlights of George Smith's performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAqhA0lnLI4

by Artful_Dodger Tue Jul 30, 2013 8:15 pm

He has an appreciation of the breakdown laws which even other top international 7's seem to lack. He knows the rules of the breakdown inside out. He never seems to go for a ball which would result in an illegal turnover and wins so many of the ones were he recognizes he can go for it.

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