Jukskei derby not for faint-hearted
MATFIELD: OUR BEST COMPARE WELL WITH KIWIS
The Bulls and Lions lauded for their thrilling display in the Super Rugby Jukskei derby at Loftus on Saturday night.
Loftus fans go home happy after a feast of great rugby.
Social media was overflowing with praise for the Hurricanes and the Crusaders after their enthralling match in Wellington on Saturday morning, but the Bulls and Lions showed that evening at Loftus Versfeld that South African sides can also put on a show.
Both Victor Matfield and Johan Ackermann were wagging their metaphorical fingers at all the prophets of doom.
The Bulls edged out the Lions 35-33 in a scintillating match in which seven tries were scored, several of them dazzling efforts using the width of the field and featuring superb offloading skills and vision.
“I saw the Hurricanes play the Crusaders this morning and I thought ‘what a great game’. But people must have enjoyed this game too, there was a lot of width and ball-in-hand rugby. New players are standing up in South African rugby and I’m sure the senior guys will start hitting their best form too towards the end of Super Rugby,” Bulls captain Matfield said after the win which returned his side to the top of the South African Conference.
“I think we have a different physicality when it comes to the rucks and scrums here in South Africa, whereas it’s more of a free-for-all when they play each other in New Zealand. They have a different mindset over there, the defences aren’t so tight. I still believe the best South African players compare to theirs and especially when you put them in a Springbok jersey,” Lions coach Ackermann said.
The Bulls started the game in exhilarating fashion and coach Frans Ludeke said he was delighted with the first half, which ended with the home side 25-13 up.
“The first half was almost perfect and we had those attacking shapes Victor’s been chasing, we were accurate and really put them on the back foot. Getting momentum on the gain-line really helped and Victor has worked really hard on keeping the players on their feet and making good decisions,” Ludeke said.
But the Lions totally dominated the third quarter to snatch a 26-25 lead in the 54th minute.
Ackermann bemoaned mistakes but was pleased with their overall performance.
“All I ask is for them to play with their hearts and they did. I’m willing to lose if the passion and commitment are there,” he said.