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The unstoppaBulls trample Highlanders

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:50

On the charge: Bulls centre Stephan Dippenaar - Pic: Rian Botes

The defending champion Bulls continued their relentless unbeaten march at the top of the Super 14 standings when they easily disposed of the Highlanders - winning 50-35 in Pretoria on Saturday.

Bulls captain Victor Matfield admitted his team was nowhere near their best, but they will be pleased with another full-house five points and yet another 50-pointer, their third of the season.

They also scored seven tries, taking their total for the season to an amazing 24 after just four games.

Funny to speak of a match in which 85 points were scored but this was drab - at least  after the first 20 minutes or so.  It was messy and there was little to admire. Part of the problem was that the Bulls were streets better than the Highlanders. They should have behaved accordingly.

The Bulls scored three quick tries to go 21-0 up after 12 minutes and already then they started to unravel.

Then they got their bonus point and after that  it was almost silly as they bumbled and stumbled about Loftus Versfeld doing very little well. Their handling was shoddy, they were beaten at the post-tackle and their tackling was woeful.

The Stormers did not let the Highlanders score single point. Here they scored 35 and got a bonus point for four tries.

The second half was a long-drawn-out affair and it seemed to take ages before the final whistle stopped it all. It was certainly not inspiring.

The first try came from a great run by Danie Rossouw. Fourie du Preez and Zane Kirchner handled and Gary Botha padded over for the try. Steyn converted. 7-0 after 5 minutes.

The Bulls roared back from the kick-off. Gürthro Steenkamp had a strong run and François Hougaard scored. 14-0 after 7 minutes.

The next try was the brightest spot of the game. The Highlanders were attacking and looked like scoring when Stephan Dippenaar won a turnover well inside the Bulls' 22. Du Preez did not kick. He passed to Roussouw who immediately gave to right wing Gerhard van den Heever and off he raced over the 22, over the half-way line as defenders lagged behind and over the next 22 and then a try in the right corner, which Steyn converted. 21-0 after 12 minutes.

At this stage the Bulls became careless. When their handling went awry Israel Dagg beat Hougaard, whose tackling is fragile, and raced over for a try which Berquist converted. 21-7.

Immediately the Bulls put their mind to it. Kirchner fielded a kick and punted high. Potgieter won the ball as it dropped and gave to Derick Kuün who floated a great pass to Wynand Olivier who scored in the corner. Steyn, astonishingly missed the conversion and there was a funereal silence at Loftus Versfeld.

A high kick by Steyn set up the next try. Dagg knocked on, Dewald Potgieter picked it up and gave to Hougaard who gave to Pierre Spies who galloped over for the try. 33-7.

The Highlanders knew the game was won but they could salvage something from it. A kickable penalty became a scrum in midfield. Romans ran wide to the right and did a scissors with Dagg who had not difficulty in scoring. 36-14, which was the half-time score.

For a long time the Highlanders dominated possession in the second half and a quarter of an hour later they scored a third try. They attacked from a penalty and Jason Shoemark threw a long, wonderful pass to Tim Boys who scored. Berquist converted. 36-21,

That became 43-21 when the Bulls drove a long maul downfield and then Du Preez popped a short pass to Hougaard who scored his second try.

Unlike in the first half, much of the Bulls' kicking in the second half was pointless and then just rank bad as Jacques-Louis Potgieter kicked out on the full.

The Highlanders have the wonderful ability to create an overlap on the extremities and they did on their left where James Paterson raced ahead and chipped for Robbie Robinson to score. Dagg converted, 43-28 with 10 minutes top play.

From a five metre scrum, after Jaco van der Westhuyzen was held up in trying to score a try, the Bulls wheeled enough for Spies to pick up and score. 50-28.

Still the Highlanders were not done. But the Bulls were. They even let the kick-off after that try bounce about amongst them.  The Highlanders attacked, Olivier was penalised at a tackle and the Highlanders attacked again till Dagg scored his hat-trick try and converted from touch.

Man of the Match: The temptation is to say nobody but at least Pierre Spies had life and Israel Dagg was enterprising and skilful and scored three tries. He is our Man of the Match.

The scorers:

For the Bulls:
Tries: Botha, Hougaard 2, Van den Heever, Olivier, Spies 2
Cons: Steyn 6
Pen: Steyn

For the Highlanders:
Tries: Dagg 3, Boys, Robinson
Cons: Berquist 3, Dagg 2

Teams:

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Derick Kuün, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Deon Stegmann, 20 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 21 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 22 Pedrie Wannenburg.

Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Kenny Lynn, 12 Jason Shoemark, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Mat Berquist, 9 Sean Romans, 8 Steven Setephano, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Tim Boys, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Chris King, 2 Jason Macdonald, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (captain).
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Hayden Triggs, 19 John Hardie, 20 Scott Cowan, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 James Paterson.

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Pro Legoete (South Africa), Christie du Preez (South Africa)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)

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