Blues edge Bulls in thriller
Sat, 29 Mar 2008 10:32
Elusive: Benson Stanley on the charge
The Bulls came within a whisker of causing a dramatic upset but ultimately succumbed 23-21 to the Blues in a Super 14 thriller in Auckland on Saturday.
A 72nd minute drop-goal from flyhalf Nick Evans saved the Blues' blushes on a day where the Bulls will rue a number of close calls that went against them.
It was a heart-breaking loss for the Bulls. They showed guts, character, skill and their defence was heroic - none of the traits that they have shown over the last few weeks.
They were up for this one, that is for sure, and probably feel that they did enough to come away with the four points. How cruel this game can be!
The match started auspiciously for the visitors.
They made a meal of the kick-off and handed the ascendancy straight to the Blues.
As early as the third minute they were down on the scoreboard. Wickus van Heerden was adjudged to be off-side, allowing Blues No.10 Nick Evans to give his team a three point lead.
The Bulls were buoyed by the return of speedster Bryan Habana, who meant business in Auckland. His very first touch of the ball signalled his intentions as he made a powerful run in midfield. He was in the action moments later when he sprung high into the night sky to secure kick. That was not his last meaningful contribution.
The Bulls had the chance to draw level but Derick Hougaard's penalty attempt on the half-way line fell well short.
The Blues were soon on the attack again.
Joe Rokocoko found space down the right-hand touchline and chipped ahead. A desperate try-saving dive onto the ball from Habana saved the day for the Bulls.
However the Blues' first try came moments later, albeit in dubious circumstances.
Troy Flavell forced his way over the line, but at first glance it seemed as if he was held up. The Blues' body language suggested the same as they hung around the try-line waiting for the television match official is make his decision.
He took ages to make his decision, as the angles were not conclusive. He eventually awarded the try to give the Blues a 8-0 lead.
Evans slotted the conversion to rub salt into the Bulls wounds.
10-0 after 11 minutes. At this stage it looked as though the Bulls were in for a torrid 80 minutes.
But they struck back soon after. Three minutes later to be precise.
The Blues knocked on their 22 to give the Bulls an attacking platform. They showed composure with a number of pick-and-goes, before ever-present flank Wikus van Heerden forced his way over for the try. Hougaard landed the conversion to make it 10-7 after 16 minutes.
It gave the Bulls the belief that they could compete.
They rattled the Blues with some ferocious defence. This caused the home team to make some uncharacteristic errors, their backline lacking fluidity in the face of the Bulls defence.
On the half hour mark, Fourie du Preez put Habana into space, who was unable to get his pass away.
However he was on hand again in the next phase when he charged towards to corner flag. A desperate tackle from the big John Afoa just managed to force the wing into touch.
10-7 it stayed it stayed for the remainder of the half. The Bulls were well and truly in this one!
The second half began in a similar vain to the first, with the Blues first to score.
Nick Evans found a good touch from a penalty that set up a line-out in the Bulls 22.
They spread it wide quickly but the Bulls held out.
Then another talking point arose. Keven Mealamu picked the ball up from the ruck and ran around the blindside to score. However replays showed that Pierre Spies was clearly held back by Isaia Toeava at the ruck. Spies was in a position to make the tackle on Mealamu but was clearly impeded. The Bulls had every right to feel aggrieved at the decision.
On the subject of Spies, the powerful No.8 made an encouraging comeback to the game, playing the full 80 minutes. Although he did nothing spectacular, his workrate was good and he showed to that has lost none of his physical presence.
Evans converted Mealamu's controversial try to make it 17-7 after 46 minutes.
But once again the Bulls hit back. And vintage Bulls it was.
At line-out 10 metres was taken cleanly. The maul was formed and there was no stopping a rampaging Bulls pack. There was only going to be one result once the maul gathered momentum. Wikus van Heerden stood up with the ball to claim his second try.
Hougaard slotted a difficult conversion from the corner to make it 17-14 in the Blues' favour after 52 minutes.
Evans gave the Blues some breathing space with a penalty on the 60 minute mark. 20-14 with 20 minutes to play.
The Bulls needed a spark. A Bryan Habana spark!
The Blues cleared their lines but failed to find touch. Habana dived forward to gather an awkward ball on the half-volley. He sprung to his feet and pinned his ears back. he avoided Kurtis Haiu with consummate ease and flew down the touchline. Derick Kuün was on hand to gather the pass and score under the posts.
Hougaard added the two points and the Bulls were in the lead for the first time in the game. 21-20 going with 12 minutes to play. It was a moment of brilliance from the 2007 World Player of the Year that set up a thrilling final 10 minutes.
The pace was furious with both teams looking threatening.
But the defining moment came in the 73rd minute when Evans slotted a drop-goal to make it 23-21. It was a cruel blow to the Bulls, but with seven minutes left, the game was far from over.
The Bulls had two further chances to win it.
Firstly, a brilliant pass from that man Habana put No.15 Zane Kirchner in acres of space. He was one-on-one George Pisi and decided to chip. It was the correct decision. Unfortunately he failed to gather the ball on the try-line and knocked it on. The Bulls were shattered.
But they picked themselves up and staged a ferocious attack in the closing stages.
Derick Hougaard slipped back into the pocket, ready for the drop-goal. But it never materialised. One too many pick-and-goes resulted in a Blues free kick.
Game over. It was an epic encounter. The Bulls might not have won, but they did regain some lost pride.
Man of the match: For the Blues Kevin Mealamu was prominent and Nick Evans was solid. Bulls flank Wikus van Heerden was superb but Bryan Habana deserved the plaudits for a heroic display. He was lethal on attack and his defence saved the Bulls on numerous occasions. He was 100 percent committed to the cause.
Moment of the match: Derick Kuün's try that was preceded by some Bryan Habana brilliance.
Villain of the match: No player deserved to be called a villain in Auckland. The same could not be said of the match officials, who were once again inconsistent to say the least.
The scorers:
For the Blues:
Tries: Flavell, Mealamu
Cons: Evans 2
Pens: Evans 2
Drop-goal: Evans
For the Bulls:
Tries: Van Heerden 2, Kuün
Cons: Hougaard 3
Teams:
Blues: 15 George Pisi, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Lee, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Justin Collins, 5 Troy Flavell (captain), 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Nick White, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Nick Williams, 20 Taniela Moa, 21 Ben Atiga, 22 David Smith.
Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14
Akona Ndungane, 13 JP Nel, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Derick Hougaard, 9 Fourie du Preez (captain), 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Wikus van Heerden (vice-captain), 6 Pedrie Wannenburg, 5 Danie Rossouw, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Ryno Gerber, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Guthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Deon Stegmann, 20 Heinie Adams, 21 Morne Steyn, 22 Dewald Potgieter.
Referee: James Leckie (Australia)
Touch judges: Brett Bowden (Australia), Josh Noonan (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Assessor: Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)
