Bulls’ bacon saved as Cheetahs stray in second stanza
A WONDERFUL flowing backline move finished off by Jesse Kriel in the 74th minute and some questionable decisionmaking late in the game saved the Bulls from yet another indignity this season.
The Bulls are accustomed to awkward Super Rugby moments but a losing double against the Cheetahs ranks as one of the worst.
While it was only their third win in eight matches, it allows them an easier break for their bye before confronting the New Zealand threats and the Lions next month.
The Cheetahs have mastered the art of the immaculate first half but they were let down by another insipid second-half showing. While they left a fair few points, they were deserved first-stanza leaders.
Paul Schoeman’s seventhminute try from a rolling maul was an indication of their improved physicality and they mixed well with the Bulls in the collisions.
Interestingly, they chose to run from almost everywhere, probably in recognition of the counter-attacking threat posed by Warrick Gelant.
With one foray that Gelant had, he tore the Cheetahs defence to shreds but there weren’t any support runners to complement his work.
That was symptomatic of the lack of creativity the Bulls displayed, clearly missing Handré Pollard’s influence at flyhalf. Tian Schoeman’s no slouch but he’s not in Pollard’s class.
Based on this performance, it’s going to be a painfully long period without their star pivot even though he improved in the second half.
While Schoeman’s normally unflappable from the kicking tee, him missing an easy penalty in the 15th minute upset the already irritable crowd.
Jacques Potgieter’s 55thminute try brought the Bulls back into the game. It was a turning point seeing the Bulls have been able to raise their game in the second stanza.
The Cheetahs have been the opposite, with last week’s capitulation against the Chiefs being the glaring example.
Their Achilles heel has been to think the game can be wrapped up in 40 minutes but a stout defensive performance is a prerequisite.
The Bulls with their soapy hands in the red zone were the perfect team for them to get their defence patterns going.
There wasn’t much of a threat coming from the Bulls in an attacking sense, which made the Cheetahs breathe easier.
They were also aided by some profligacy at the breakdown where the Bulls’ lack of a genuine opensider with their specialists all injured continues to hurt them.
However, there was nothing they could do to prevent the flowing move that led to Kriel’s try. It was the first time in the game their backs were let loose and they’re a dangerous bunch.
Having taken in their chastening experiences, the Cheetahs went for the win and only some frenzied tackling from the hosts and weird choice by Raymond Rhule to go for the line with no support saved the Bulls’ bacon.
Flyhalf Elton Jantjies kicked the only penalty of the game to help the Lions escape with a 2421 home win over the Jaguares in a tight Super Rugby match at Ellis Park on Friday night.