Bulls run Province ragged

Have you ever seen a half like that? Have you ever seen the Blue Bulls play like that?

The Blue Bulls changed colour – blue became purple, a purple patch, a royal performance, men playing with regal confidence.

On 54 minutes Western Province were leading 24-15, and the Blue Bulls had not scored a single try. Just 13 minutes later Western Province were losing 44-27, and the Blue Bulls had scored five tries. It was bizarre, but somehow glorious to see the snap and decisive urgency of the Blue Bulls – not longer a stodgy mob but now free spirits, enjoying what they were doing. It was brilliant rugby.

Western Province had the better of the scrums but there were only seven of those things. The Blue Bulls dominated every other aspect of rugby football, including handling and especially tackling.

The innocuous Western Province attempts at tackling started in the first half but then the Blue Bulls were diffident. But the Western Province's harmless attempts became catastrophic in the second half. And it was not just the doing of the tackle but also what happened after the tackle. The home side blew their opponents away, winning several turnovers to none. From start to finish they smashed into collisions.

But it was not just their forward; there were also the running lines of all the players – their positioning amongst the backs, their creation of overlaps and their support and short passing when the forwards went on the stampede. It would be hard to praise the Blue Bulls performance in the second half enough. Perhaps their reticence in the first half was a process of feeling out. That done they knew they could do whatever they liked.

In that first half Tiaan Schoeman kicked five penalty goals and hit the upright with the sixth. But then the penalty count was 10-6 against Western Province. That is far too prodigal.

It was a lovely night in Pretoria and a big crowd as the union halved prices in honour of Women's Month. Werner Kruger ran on first to celebrate his 100th Currie Cup match. To that he can add over 100 Super rugby matches, just the third player to do the double century – after Stefan Terblanché and Jacques Botes.

The Blue Bulls kicked off, which did not trouble Western Province – certainly not the way it troubled them in the second half. They got into the Blue Bulls half, Dean Greyling was penalised and Demetri Catrakelis goaled. 3-0 after 3 minutes. The Blue Bulls were winning the tackle contest and Dillyn Leyds was penalised for holding on. Schoeman goaled. 3-3 after 8 minutes which became 6-3 to Blue Bulls, 6-6 and then 9-6 and 12-6 to the Blue Bulls after 25 minutes.

There was also some running that presaged what would happen in the second half was Warrick Galant and Jamba Ulengo dismissed attempts to tackle them.

Completely against the run of play, Western Province scored a try. They were attacking and Francois Hougaard passed back to Schoeman in his in-goal. The flyhalf kicked and Nizaam Carr charged the kick down. The ball flew off Carr towards the Blue Bulls goal-line where Seabelo Senatla did well to catch it as Burger Odendaal tackled him, but Senatla managed to score the try. Catrakelis converted and Western Province led 13-12. There were two more penalty goals, one by Catrakelis and then one by Schoeman and half-time came at 16-15.

The Blue Bulls loose forwards, especially Roelf Smit, had been performing wonders but they lost two of them to injury – Smit and Hanro Liebenberg.

Western Province increased their lead early in the second half. Schoeman and Dries Swanepoel attacked down the right and then Blue Bulls went left where Burger Odendaal passed to his left. Leyds anticipated, came rushing in from his wing at an acute angle, intercepted the ball and raced 80 metres down the field for a try under the posts and an ugly dance of short-lived triumph. 23-15 after 45 minutes. Catrakelis goaled a penalty. 26-15 after 49 minutes. Then Western Province started to unravel.

Schoeman kicked off, Lappies Labuschagne got up to knock the ball back to Jacques du Plessis, now playing flank. Du Plessis gave to Odendaal who ran 30 metres, with only a swerve to change his line slightly, to score at the posts. 26-22 after 50 minutes.

After Catrakelis had goaled another penalty, the Blue Bulls kicked off and Western Province knocked on into the grateful arms of the Blue Bulls and the next thing Ulengo was over for a try. 29-27 to Western Province after 55 minutes.

From the kick-off the Blue Bulls attacked up the left and then went wide right where Travis Ismaiel had an overlap. He raced some 50 metres past unconvincing tacklers to score. 32-29 to Blue Bulls after 58 minutes.

Western Province kicked off, James Kirsten went up for the ball and Leyds attacked him in the air. The referee reviewed the incident and sent Leyds to the sin bin. The Blue Bulls kicked the ball into touch where Kirsten won the line-out. The Blue Bulls went right for a bit and then came left where Francois Hougaard aimed carefully and sent Gelant speeding through a gap. He gave to Ulengo who scored. 39-29 after 61 minutes.

The outcome decided, things tapered off after this. But in the tapering, the Blue Bulls forced a maul turnover, Western Province were freekicked at the scrum on the Blue Bulls 10-metre line and Schoeman kicked a high up-and-under. Western Province knocked the ball back, Jaco Visagie got it and the next thing the Bulls were racing down the left where Ulengo have to Gelant who scored right in the corner. 44-19 after 64 minutes.

Leyds came back, no more tries were scored and Louis Fouché goaled a penalty. The Bulls ran with enthusiasm but eventually the match was over and everybody in blue smiled proudly.

Man of the Match: There were several to choose from but our choice is Francois Hougaard whose performance was an excellent example of decision making, putting pressure on opposition and the speedy mechanics of scrumhalf play. He was excellent.

Moment of the Match: Every Blue Bulls try was so special – all selfmade, not off opponents' errors but we choose Burger Odendaal's try. His pass had just given away a try and a minute later he ran with utter determination for one of his own.

Villain of the Match: Not quite a villain but that dance and that air tackle by Dillyn Leyds had nothing to recommend it.

Scorers:

For the Blue Bulls:

Tries: Odendaal, Ulengo 2, Ismaiel, Gelant

Cons: Schoeman 2

Pens: Schoeman 5, Fouché

For Western Province:

Tries: Senatla, Leyds

Cons: Catrakilis 2

Pens: Catrakilis 5

Yellow card: Dillyn Leyds (WP, 60 – foul play; taking out a player in the air)

Teams:

Blue Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Roelof Smit, 6 Pieter Labuschagne (captain), 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Dean Greyling.

Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 18 Rudolph Snyman, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Dan Kriel.

Western Province: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr (captain), 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oliver Kebble.

Replacements: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Chris van Zyl, 19 Chris Cloete, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Huw Jones.

Referee: Craig Joubert

Assistant referees: Jaco Pretorius, Ricus van der Hoven

TMO: Vos Willie