Bulls are simply the best
Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:17
Free State Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské believes that the 2009 Currie Cup Champions, the Blue Bulls, are the best provincial team on the planet.
The Pretoria team ended their season on a high after defeating their Bloemfontein opponents 36-24 in the Currie Cup Final at Loftus Versfeld at the weekend.
The Bulls also successfully claimed their second Super 14 trophy earlier this year, after defeating the Chiefs 61-17 in the Final at the same venue in May.
"They are the best team in the world and they now have the record to prove it," said Drotské.
"They've been involved in quite a few Currie Cup Finals since 2004 and they've won two Super 14 titles and an Currie Cup."
The Blue Bulls were in rampant mood on Saturday and scored three early tries and raced to a formidable 24-0 lead after 25 minutes of play.
Wing Bryan Habana, who played his last game for the Pretoria outfit before continuing his rugby career in Cape Town, scored a brace of tries. Francois Hougaard, who was selected in the Springbok squad that will tour Europe later this month, scored the third try for the hosts.
The Free State Cheetahs hit back with two tries which were scored by flank Frans Viljoen and centre Corne Uys (24-14). However Springbok flyhalf Morné Steyn kicked a drop-goal just before the half-time whistle to hand the Loftus team a 27-14 lead.
After the break, Steyn kicked a penalty to stretch his sides lead to 30-14. However, the visitors hit back thanks to a try by lock Nico Breedt (30-21) which was converted by flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter.
The Cheetahs pivot then kicked a superb drop-goal as the visitors moved closer to the Bulls' lead (30-24). Steyn however put the match beyond doubt with two penalties late in the second half to hand the hosts their second trophy of the season.
"Credit must go to this special group of players," said Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke after the match.
"They showed their character in the Currie Cup semifinal, and they were excellent today. They've worked hard to get where they are and they've reaped the rewards of that hard work.
"We wanted to leave a legacy and now we've achieved that."
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