Bulls busted by a very ordinary Highlanders team.
May 19, 2012 in Uncategorized
The Bulls looked for most of the game against the Highlanders like a tired team. They made basic glaring mistakes .The loss of Jaques Potgieter also took a big bite out of the aggressive approach that the Bulls forwards normally adopt. Even Hougaardt did not look as sharp as usual behind the scrum. The problem lies with the pack and should be attended to.
In the backline the big problem seems to be Olivier. Olivier is someone that will make the best ballcarriers on his outside nervous and destroy their confidence. The reason for this is that when they receive the ball it comes with an incoming defender. The receiver gets the stuffing knocked out of him and he becomes very apprehensive when he needs to take the next pass. How to fix it ? Put anyone but Olivier at 12.
I would prefer Sadie but Venter will also do. Sadie is definitely a playmaker and it is hard to pinpoint why he is struggling at the moment. It is clear to anyone that his confidence took a huge knock. The Bulls made a huge investment here and should make an effort to establish what is wrong here. Please do wait till after the Stormers Bulls clash at Loftus. Personally i think that the closer to the play Sadie is the better he will become , but he must first sort his head out. Kirschner is also looking better, but the tackle he took after Olivier sold his scalp to the Highlanders might put him back a few weeks.
The last game against the Chiefs becomes now a do or die game. Come on Bulls . This is a real test of character awaiting you and losing is no option. Winning might put the Bulls on the road to glory and losing here might set them up for a very hard fall. The Stormers eyed this game with great interest. Winning against the Waratahs becomes non negotiable. A win would put the Stormers in a commanding position and a loss might mean the start of a long slip down the table and maybe out of the top six.
This is the start of the real business end of the season. You want to impress Heyneke and claim a Bok jersey-now is the time to do it within a team context. If you can perform under this difficult conditions and keep your act together then you have the temperament needed for test rugby. This is also the time when the top Kiwi and Aussie teams start to peak. Can we say the same of our teams? The answer will be found in the Stormers versus Waratahs and the Bulls versus Chiefs game.
Sports_Lover said on May 19, 2012
The “third week curse” – it happened to the Sharks, The Stormers, the Bulls and to a lesser extent the Cheetahs- Lions lose everything so it makes no difference to them
crocowild said on May 20, 2012
Yep ,the Lions is totally cursed.
BardofAvon said on May 20, 2012
Three chokes:
Olivier refused to pass.
Dean lost the ball on the tryline.
Spies tried to go on his own.
All very bad, and cost us three points and probably the competition.
GertBloues said on May 21, 2012
I didn’t watch the game, so I cant say anything on Olivier’s performance. But, whatever went wrong, I’m sure it’s down to rustiness from his lay off.
Olivier has had one of his better seasons thus far and, together with Morne, he is responsible for most of the Bulls’ tries.
On defense he is irreplaceable. If he has another nightmare against the Chiefs next week, something should be done. But I don’t think Wynand is a big concern at the moment.
hanjooveres said on May 21, 2012
Sadie is Sadie’s biggest problem, he isn’t performing, whenever he touches the ball he gets smashed, with support outside him he doesn’t pass, and he lacks confidence… play Venter and Olivier, olivier looked even better at 13…just my humble opinion.
Anonymous said on May 22, 2012
R U a stormer? Sounds like it…. Bulls will loose last game on tour, and then should pick up at Loftus….. Put it this way if Sharks beat Stormers the 1st SA place goes to the winner at LOFTUS!
MESSAGE BY YOUR USUAL HARRAGAT CRAP NATURED BULL WHO IS ACTUALLY ENGLISH SPEAKING WOW!
(In other words get a LIFE, imagine if I had made a post about the Saders FAIRLY beating the stormers or abt last years semi’s [not that we made it to them to be honest]).
Stormers also were FULL of young players not so long ago, the only difference is they did not do as well as this young Pink Bull ( Women’s Energy Drink ) Side!
crocowild said on May 22, 2012
Must say i agree that Olivier will do better at 13.