Bulls bash Kings into submission
It's a result that flatters the Blue Bulls as the Kings were more in the game than the score and six tries to nil suggest. There is no doubting the Kings' efforts, but their problem is in their messy birth. They have got together late with suspect resources and although they have the spirit to want to try and do well it seems that they do it one at a time and perhaps with less stamina than other sides who have had a better programmed preparation for this year.
Just one sign of this was how rarely their wings, Luzuko Vulindlu and Malcolm Jaer, got a pass. The three inside of them were more intent on doing things themselves than letting them play. But late in the game when Jaer did get a pass the brave, little man was marvellous as he flashed down the left and came close to scoring twice.
Good will is there but not enough of team work.
But today they brought along a most promising player – 20-year-old James Hall who was at Kearsney when he went to Craven Week in 2014. His crisp, accurate, sympathetic passing, his decision-making, his bravery in entering harm's way, his strength and confidence – all suggest that he is the sort of scrumhalf South Africa needs even if he is not a sixfooter.
The Bulls' finishing was the biggest difference between the sides. They did not have anybody on attack who grubbered good ball to a fullback who was standing in in-goal. It must have been this year's worst kick.
The Kings were less penalised than the Bulls, had the better of the scrums and managed their line-outs well. But not even when the Bulls were down to 13 players were they able to score a try.
That the Bulls were down to 13 players hardly redounded to their credit. Both players were in the sin bin in the first half – first lock RG Snyman for grabbing the Kings' scrumhalf who was waiting to get the ball from a tackle on the Bulls' line. Snyman was sitting it out when Marcell van der Merwe followed him, penalised three times at scrums and then for offside within five metres of his line.
The Kings actually scored first – a penalty goal when Lappies Labuschagne was penalised at a tackle. 3-0 after 12 minutes. But four minutes later the Bulls had the lead with a fortuitous try.
Jürgen Visser the Kings' fullback, formerly of the Bulls, originally from the Western Province, got the ball in his 22 and ran a straight line across the field before kicking. Jan Serfontein charged the kick down and raced after it as it got close to the join of the dead-ball line and touch-in-goal, diving on it to score and wind himself. 5-3 after 16 minutes.
The Bulls went through 16 phases till Tian Schoeman threw a great pass to send Jamba Ulengo over in the right corner. 10-3 after 22 minutes. But at this stage a Bulls' victory did not look a certainty.
The third try came from a backline movement going left. SP Marais, formerly of the Sharks, formerly of the Kings, born in Western Province, joined in the centre and went outside Fouché and inside Lukhanyo Am to score. Tthis time Schoeman converted. 17-3 after 28 minutes.
Fouché goaled a second penalty. 17-6 after 37 minutes.
But still the Kings did not look out of it.
The siren went but the Bulls opted to go attacking but burly flank Stefan Willemse of the Kings won a turnover and raced down the right on a long run and the next thing bustling Edgar Marutlulle was racing for the line, stopped two metres short as the Bulls rallied on defence and the Kings rallied on attack. It was here that Snyman earned his yellow card.
The Kings opted to scrum instead of kicking the penalty at goal. This led to a sequence four penalties and four five-metre scrums, and then a yellow card for Marcel van der Merwe. Prop Werner Kruger came on and Arno Botha was sacrificed to accommodate him. The Kings bashed and a TMO was consulted when Visser went over but was held up by Travis Ismaiel's clever determination. This enabled the referee to declare half-time some 10 minutes after the siren had sounded.
Trevor Nyakane won a turnover inside the Bulls' half and Piet van Zyl kicked a high up-and-under which chasing Jesse Kriel got hold of in a contest with Visser. Kriel charged ahead and then flipped an underarm pass to Ulengo on his right and the tall, athletic wing raced an easy 30 metres to score. 24-6 after 34 minutes.
Serfontein had a good break and Jaer had a run down the left till Ismaiel caught him three metres from the line.
The Bulls went wide left as Roelf Smit created space. Kriel played back inside and Strauss gave Snyman a short pass. A hand-off and a short gallop produced the try. 31-6 after 63 minutes.
Jaer had another run down the left with a rapid chip and chase.
Then the Bulls attacked on the left and despite having an overlap Marais grubbered, gathered and scored. Francois Brummer converted from touch. 39-6 after 74 minutes.
Man of the Match: The temptation is to choose James Hall but he was substituted in 52 minutes. Of the Bulls one could choose quietly efficient Tian Schoeman, active SP Marais, industrious Trevor Nyakane, two-try Jamba Ulengo and our choice – energetic, efficient, skilful Lappies Labuschagne with the smile on his face.
Scorers:
For Southern Kings:
Pens: Fouché 2
For Bulls:
Tries: Serfontein, Ulengo 2, Marais 2, Snyman
Cons: Schoeman 3, Brummer
Yellow cards: Rudolph Snyman (Bulls, cynical play – slowing down the ball, 40); Marcel van der Merwe (Bulls, repeated infringements – offside, 40)
Teams:
Southern Kings: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Luzuko Vulindlu, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Malcolm Jaer, 10 Louis Fouché, 9 James Hall, 8 Aidon Davis, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 John-Charles Astle, 4 Steven Sykes (captain), 3 Tom Botha, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Sithembiso Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Martin Ferreira, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Justin Ackermann, 19 Schalk Oelofse, 20 Cyril-John Velleman, 21 Ntando Kebe, 22 Leighton Eksteen/JP du Plessis, 23 Jaco van Tonder.
Bulls: 15 SP Marais, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Pieter Labuschagne, 5 Rudolph Snyman, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Werner Kruger, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Roelof Smit, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Francois Brummer, 23 Dan Kriel.
Referee: Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Archie Sehlako (South Africa)
TMO: Christie du Preez (South Africa)
