Nortje explains the call behind Le Roux’s baffling kick
VIDEO: A costly lapse in judgment proved decisive at the death, as Willie le Roux’s decision to attempt a crossfield kick snuffed out the Bulls’ final attacking opportunity against the Stormers in their United Rugby Championship north-south derby at the DHL Stadium last Saturday.
With the try line in sight and momentum on their side, the veteran fullback’s kick drifted harmlessly into touch, abruptly ending the contest and encapsulating a moment where one wrong call on attack brought a promising move – and the game itself – to a frustrating close.
If you spend any time on social media, chances are you’ll see Le Roux’s name trending, and not for the right reasons. For whatever reason, he has always been an easy target for criticism. A dropped ball here, a mistimed kick there, and suddenly he’s written off as “finished.”
On Saturday, against the Stormers, Le Roux took a huge chance. If it worked, it could’ve handed the Bulls their first victory in seven outings.
However, on that occasion, it went pear-shaped very quickly.
Let’s take you back to the last minute of that game.
The Bulls were still in it. Pollard had set it up. The Bulls had one last chance. And Le Roux, finding himself in midfield, pulled the trigger, sending the ball sky high into the corner. It had worked countless times in the past.
The problem is that there was no miracle waiting at the end of that kick, just the touchline.
Try as he might, there was no way winger Stravino Jacobs would be able to gather the ball.
Let’s be honest. The only thing the Bulls should have done was keep the ball alive while they attempted to drive ever closer to the tryline.
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And Le Roux’s kick? Well, it bordered on bizarre. Especially for a player with his vast Test experience.
After the match, coach Johan Ackermann rued the fine margins as his side was in the contest until the end.
He believes the Bulls did enough to win the match and pointed to missed scoring chances that could easily have changed the outcome.
A combination of individual errors, missed chances, and a powerful Stormers maul proved decisive.
On Tuesday, captain Ruan Nortje faced reporters ahead of their upcoming Champions Cup battle against the Bristol Bears this weekend.
We took him back to that last minute and asked if there had been a discussion – a plan somehow to grab a last-gasp try in the dying seconds.
“I wouldn’t say there was a certain way we said we wanted to do things in that position,” Nortje explained.
“For us, our drivers had to take control there.
“And then we back each player. If Willie thought that [kick] was on, we back him all the way.
“And we still back him. If that ball bounced right and we scored under the poles, Willie would be the most amazing player.
“At the end of the day, it’s just about the bounce of the ball.
“We will always back the decisions players make.”
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