Hurricanes hammer pathetic Bulls
Sat, 12 Apr 2008 19:05
Bull basher: Nonu terrorises the Bulls defence
The Bulls were embarrassed at Loftus Versfeld when they were thrashed 22-50 by an enterprising Hurricanes team in a Super 14 clash in Pretoria on Saturday.
The defending champions produced their worst performance in years, conceding seven tries due to some shocking defence.
The Bulls' alarming downward spiral this season sees them occupying 13th place after nine rounds.
Some serious questions need to be asked at Loftus headquarters. How can a team that won the Super 14 in 2007, produce a performance of this nature? The excuses are running thin, and it's time for action.
The Hurricanes completely dominated the hapless Bulls for the entire 80 minutes.
They set the tone early on and registered their first try as early as the fifth minute.
Ma'a Nonu, in his first start at No.12, burst through the tackles of Derick Hougaard and Danie Rossouw to score under the posts. It was a great angled run by Nonu, who found the Bulls defence wanting. Gopperth's conversion was a formality. 7-0 after five minutes.
The Bulls came back strongly, if only for a very brief passage of play.
Gurthrö Steenkamp made a powerful surge, as did Danie Rossouw. The Hurricanes drifted off-side and Hougaard stepped up to make it 7-3 after seven minutes.
But then the Bulls were struck by a yellow wave, and what a powerful wave it was.
Four minutes later, the 'Canes surged ahead. John Schwalger showed a clean pair of heels for a prop to get the 'Canes on the front foot. Jimmy Gopperth then made a telling little run before timing his pass to Chris Masoe to perfection, who went over for the try in the corner. Gopperth added the extras with a beautiful kick from the touchline.
14-3 after 11 minutes - not what Bulls fans were hoping for!
It was to get worse. A lot worse!
Five minutes later Nonu ran hard at the Bulls midfield. He sucked in two defenders which allowed Nonu's centre partner, Conrad Smith, to run clear. He sprinted towards the line but the Bulls defence was there. It looked as though he was going to be held up over the line but he showed incredible strength for a slightly built man to dot the ball down for the visitors third try.
Gopperth made it 21-3 after 16 minutes.
Soon it was to be 28-3! The Bulls had the ball but Danie Rossouw's pass was intercepted by Nonu, who wasn't going to be caught. His 50 metre run was a dagger to the heart of the Bulls.
Nonu's second try was the Hurricanes fourth, which meant that they had earned their bonus point after just 22 minutes! Fantastic stuff from the Wellington franchise.
The match as a contest was basically over after 20 minutes.
The Bulls got their hands on the ball after Nonu's try and mounted their most promising attack of the game so far.
JP Nel made a telling break, but was taken down 15 metres from the try-line. The ball was swung wide to Habana who was bundled into touch. But the 'Canes, specifically Conrad Smith were palpably off-side. Smith's misdemeanor earned his a yellow card.
The Bulls then set up the line-out. They mauled and came close but the 'Canes transgressed again. The Bulls opted for another line-out, and another maul. The 'Canes defence held out momentarily as the Bulls went wide.
Then it was Jerry Collins' turn for 10 minutes in the sin-bin as he was adjudged to have his hands in the ruck. The Bulls scrummed and Spies picked up. So'oialo was unable to stop him and Spies went over for the Bulls first try. Hougaard added the two points but at 10-28 down after 30 minutes, the Bulls had a mountain to climb.
It stayed that way until the break. It was a dreadful first half display from the Bulls, who missed a startling 24 tackles in the opening 40 minutes - it showed on the scoreboard.
It wasn't going to get any better in the second half for the bumbling Bulls.
Derick Hougaard's kick-off failed to travel the mandatory 10 metres.
It summed up the match so far for the Bulls. They simply did not show enough desire with ball in hand and seemed to be going through the motions.
The Hurricanes had the opportunity to extend his team's lead after he was high tackled. His attempt drifted just wide.
A minute later he was gifted with another chance when Pedrie Wannenburg committed a needless foul. This time Gopperth made no mistake, and at 31-10 with 30 minutes to play, the game looked well and truly over.
Moments later, Gopperth was presented with yet another three point opportunity after Wikus van Heerden put his hands in the ruck. But he hooked his attempt from the half-way line to let the Bulls off the hook.
The Bulls dominated the next 10 minutes and seemed to play with renewed vigour. But they simply could not finish what they started.
Trailing by 21 points with 20 minutes on the clock, the home team needed to produce something special.
But that spark was nowhere to be seen as Wynand Olivier was sin-binned for an early tackle. The 'Canes were on the attack once again and scored, once again! Replacement hooker Hikawera Elliot was on hand to dot down after the 'Canes pack mauled the Bulls forwards over their line.
Gopperth added the extras to make it 38-10! It was getting embarrassing for the home team.
The 'Canes machine kept rolling. Moments later Cory Jane was the recipient of an aimless kick from Hougaard and found acres of space down the midfield. He pass found Shannon Paku who had too much gas for the Bulls. 43-10 after 67 minutes!
The Hurricanes were soon to notch up their half century, profiting from some more shocking defence. Cory Jane, the architect of Paku's try, strolled over the 'Canes seventh try. Wepu slotted the conversion to make it 50-10 with 10 minutes to play!
The Bulls, courtesy of Wikus van Heerden, scored a brace of tries in the final 10 minutes. Van Heerden showed strength to force his way over the try-line from close range. Steyn missed the conversion but it was of little relevance.
In the 78th minute Van Heerden set up Jaco Engel's try with a clever kick ahead, after he had broken a few the tired Hurricanes tackles.Jaco Engels outstripped the defence and dived on the ball to score the Bulls third try. Steyn made it 22-50, and that's how it stayed.
It was 80 minutes to forget for all Bulls fans, who showed their displeasure by booing the Bulls off the pitch.
Man of the match: Andrew Hore was superb up front. He scrummed Derick Kuün into the ground and was prominent on attack. But Ma'a Nonu gets the award for his two tries and numerous menacing runs that had the Bulls rattled.
Moment of the match: There were many if you were a 'Canes fan, but Shannon Paku's try was the pick of the lot.
Villain of the match: Conrad Smith, Jerry Collins and Wynand Olivier all received a yellow card but for minor offences. I would be tempted to give the entire Bulls team the award for a heartless performance.
The Scorers:
For the Bulls:
Tries: Spies, Van Heerden, Engels
Cons: Hougaard, Steyn
Pens: Hougaard
For the Hurricanes:
Tries: Nonu 2, Masoe, Smith, Elliot, Paku, Jane
Cons: Gopperth 5, Wepu
Pen: Gopperth
Yellow cards: Smith (Hurricanes,24 - professional foul), Collins (Hurricanes,30 - professional foul), Olivier (Bulls,63 - early tackle)
Teams:
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, 6 Pedrie Wannenburg, 5 Danie Rossouw, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Rayno Gerber, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Jaco Engels, 19 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 20 Heini Adams, 21 Morné Steyn, 22 Deon Stegmann.
Hurricanes: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Hosea Gear, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Shannon Paku, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Rodney So'oialo (captain), 7 Chris Masoe, 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Hikawera Elliot, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Jacob Ellison, 19 Craig Clarke, 20 Scott Waldrom, 21 Alby Mathewson, 22 Tamati Ellison.
Referee: James Leckie (Australia)
Touch judges: Geoff Acton (Australia), JC Fortuin (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Assessor: Dennis Immelman (South Africa)
