Chiefs bash fierce Bulls

 

The match was a tightly contested affair, as you'd expect from two of the form teams in the competition and neither team was ever allowed to open up much of a lead.

 

The Bulls must be complimented on their outstanding set-piece that was very accurate throughout the match and demonstrated how efficient they are during the structured phases of the game.

 

The first half was dominated by the visitors, who had the majority of the territory and only some good defending from the Chiefs stopped the pink wave of Bulls from sweeping the match away from them.

 

Things changed dramatically in the second half as the Bulls started to run out of puff and the Chiefs found their feet in the game.

 

The Chiefs forwards came into their own and put a lot of pressure on the Bulls, who never gave up, but simply couldn't find the strength for one final assault on the line.

 

Both defences were tested close to their lines early on, but held firm with the Bulls thwarting the Chiefs pick and go efforts from 5m, and the Bulls rolling maul was effectively stopped just a few yards short of the Chiefs tryline.

 

Both Morne Steyn and Aaron Cruden were both on target with their early shots at goal, and then on the 20 minute mark Steyn landed his 24th career drop-goal to give the Bulls a 6-3 lead.

 

The Chiefs struck back almost immediately with a cross-kick from Cruden that Akona Ndungane fumbled. Andrew Horrell was fastest to react and controlled the ball with a neat grubber kick before diving over the line for the first try of the match.

 

Just before half-time the Bulls broke through the stingy Chiefs defence after building through countless phases, and then quick ball out wide to Bjorn Basson on the left wing. Basson fended off a weak tackle from Lelia Masaga and score a great try in the corner.

 

Steyn landed a top notch kick from the touchline to give the Bulls a 16-8 lead at the break.

 

The second half started off with some more fine defence and few scoring opportunities, but Steyn and Cruden were both able to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

 

The Chiefs camped themselves in the Bulls half, and from a five metre scrum on the far right hand side an excellent set move put wing Asaeli Tikoirotuma in for a try. Cruden had looped around behind his centres and then gave an inside ball to Tikoirotuma on the angle to complete the move.

 

The Bulls were able to hit back through another Steyn penalty to give the Pretoria side a narrow 22-21 advantage going into the final 20 minutes.

 

The Chiefs burst into life again after a great pass to Sonny Bill Williams in the middle of the park, and the big centre burst through the tackle of Werner Kruger and then off-loaded to Sam Cane on his shoulder. Cane dashed through in open space to slide in under the posts for a brilliant try.

 

With that lead the Chiefs were able to put all their defensive structures in place and some fantastic tackling gave the Bulls no chance of a late comeback.

 

Man of the match: For the Bulls Wilhelm Steenkamp were very good up front and Francois Hougaard delivered a typically feisty performance to make life tough for the Chiefs. Fullback Andrew Horrell had a great game for the Chiefs adding value on attack and defence, while Aaron Cruden controlled things brilliantly from flyhalf. However, the star man was Sonny Bill Williams, who created the third try and was great with ball in hand through the match and kept the defence guessing.

 

 

Tries: Horrell, Tikoirotuma, Cane

Cons: Cruden 2

Pens: Cruden 3

 

Try: Basson

Con: Steyn

Pens: Steyn 4

DG: Steyn

 

 

Chiefs: 15 Andrew Horrell, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Jackson Willison, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Kane Thompson, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke (captain), 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Toby Smith.

Replacements: 16 Mahonri Schwalger, 17 Arizona Taumalolo, 18 Michael Fitzgerald, 19 Sam Cane, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 Maritino Nemani.

 

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 CJ Stander, 6 Dewald Potgieter, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling. 

Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Rayno Gerber, 18 Juandré Kruger, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 JJ Engelbrecht.

 

Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa) 

Assistant referees: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri (New Zealand)

TMO: Nick Briant (New Zealand)