The Vodacom Bulls scored three second half tries in Polokwane, including one in the last play of the match, to beat the Emirates Lions 28-24 in their Vodacom Super Rugby warm-up match in the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Vodacom Bulls winger Jamba Ulengo pulled off a masterful dive at the end of a pulsating pre-season game to give his team a last-gasp 28-24 win over the Emirates Lions at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday.
Ulengo scored barely 30 seconds after the Lions' Ruan Combrinck had crossed the line for a second time for a score that looked like it sent the result in favour of Johan Ackermann's team, and provided a sensational ending to a game that lived up to its hype.
With time up on the clock, the kickoff was taken, won back by the Bulls and sent wide where midfielder Burger Odendaal broke inside and flat-footed the defence, catching a head of steam as he headed towards the tryline.
A magnificent try-saving tackle from Elton Jantjies stopped Odendaal a metre from the line.
However, the heroics were to be for nothing as the Bulls went close, and Ulengo dived at the line to score a try that sparked celebrations from his teammates.
With such a pulsating end to the game it was hard to remember that this is simply a pre-season outing, and not a game that means anything in the larger scheme of things.
But while it ended well, both sides will have more than enough to work on with a fortnight left before the season starts.
While the Lions looked a lot like the more settled outfit, they found the going tough in the second half as the Bulls starved them of possession. They struggled to keep their hands on the ball, while their opposition seemed to grow in confidence.
A marked difference was when Odendaal came on for the Bulls, and linking up with Tian Schoeman he gave the Bulls more purpose and direction, whereas they suffered in the first half from some remarkably poor passing.
The Lions suffered their fair share of handling errors as well, but must be complimented on the superb counter-attack that always looked dangerous, and while it may not always have brought results, certainly showed their intent this season.
The workrate of players like Warren Whiteley, Lionel Mapoe, Franco Mostert and others was exceptional as they covered the field with ease, but the player who stood out the most for the Lions was Warwick Tecklenburg, who seemed to be everywhere.
The Bulls will be happy with their backline, who looked dangerous, but when it comes to the No 10 jersey, on this performance Schoeman shaded an indifferent Francois Brummer.
It was the Lions who fired early as they scored first and shaded the first half easily.
Whiteley scored their first try from the back of the scrum, picking up from a wheeling set-piece to power his way over from close range.
But it was Combrinck's inside jink that beat Adriaan Strauss and the missed tackle saw the winger run through to put his side 12-0 up.
The Bulls struck back on the brink of halftime through Bok midfielder Jesse Kriel who came back inside and went over despite having three defenders on his back.
The Lions started the second half excellently, crafting a counter attack from inside their own 22 to send it wide to Combrinck, who stormed down the wing before sending the ball inside to former Bull Rohan Janse van Rensburg to score.
At 19-7 the Lions were threatening to run away with it, but a host of changes swung the ball back in the Bulls' favour as they started to protect it for long periods of time.
Still though, at least four attacks were snubbed either by poor passing or knock-ons close to the line, but the momentum was clearly going their way.
The first blow was struck by Grant Hattingh, who went over from close range with Pierre Schoeman on his shoulder.
Ten minutes from time the Bulls crafted a beautiful move, with Tian Schoeman popping the perfect inside pass to Jade Stighling to scythe his way through the defence. Stughling made it close but passed to Odendaal to complete an excellent try.
But if that was a good try, the Lions equalled it minutes later with a pearler, with the ball quickly passing between seven pairs of hands to outstrip the Bulls defence, leaving Combrinck in space. The winger didn't disappoint as he went over in the corner to give the Lions the lead with seconds left on the clock.
The conversion was taken seconds before the hooter, and the restart was allowed. Ulengo then claimed the win for the Bulls that they will celebrate, with the few thousand fans in the Limpopo capital being well-entertained.
Match report credit: SuperSport.com and Brenden Nel
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls 28 (7). Tries: Jesse Kriel, Grant Hattingh, Burger Odendaal, Jamba Ulengo. Conversions: Francois Brummer (2), Tian Schoeman (2)
Emirates Lions 24 (12). Tries: Warren Whiteley, Ruan Combrinck (2), Rohan Janse van Rensburg. Conversions: Elton Jantjies (2).
Wat sê julle moungatte nou?!
Hoop net almal kom mooi deur sonder ernstige beserings.
Lekker slaap vanaand Nollis.
As iemand voor die game hier geskryf het ons moenie moan oor die beserings nie ons gaan wen teen die Leeus, dan kan so persoon nou kom en vinger wys.
Maar al die lofsangers was ook maar heeltemal tjoepstil, so trek maar die vingers terug.
Ons sal eers na die eerste twee games werklik kan sien waar ons staan.
In die vorige draad het ek so bietjie tong in die kies 'n paar vrae gevra, sal egter graag wil weet
1. hoe ons skrums was
2. hoe het Brommer en Tiaan gedoen
3. Ons lostrio
4. Of daar enige groot beserings was.
Geluk bulle en nollis
ek het vermoede dat Tiaan en Odendaal beter aanvalskombinasie gaan wees as Serfontein. Maar Serfontein se defense was nog altyd beter.
Regtig jammer oor Pollard se besering, maar hopelik kan Tiaan sy geleentheid aangryp.
Ek het nogal goeie gevoel oor Grant Hattingh vanjaar.
Ek weet eerlik nie wat die Bulle nog enigsins in Werner Kruger het nie?
Klink vir my dit kon net sowel ‘n storie van “coming up short” gewees het. Drie woorde wat my amper die horries gee. “Bulls go down in Durban” het my daai tyd amper in ‘n gestig laat beland.
Vriend en vyand verras som die prentjie eintlik mooi op.
Blouland ons gaan ‘n paar sterk gums nodig hê om hier deur te kom, miskien met ‘n poks of een of ander tipe wonderwerk. Ek twyfel of ons regtig die crucial spelers het wat ons al die pad kan vat, sommige beserings was ‘n skop in ‘n plek wat mens dadelik grond toe vat.
Die skepping van ‘n wenkultuur is ‘n voorvereiste vir totale dominansie so hopelik kan die Bulle hierop voortbou. Loftus, ek het al gehoor van feite fabriseer om ‘n skynsel van positiwiteit aan die wêreld voor te hou maar wragtig jou verduideliking hoekom jy dink dat jy mag moan en kerm vat die koek.
Dit was ‘n goeie dag vir die Bulle.
“When the whistle has blown, and the game is on,
and your voice is the only thing we hear,
no I won' be afraid, no I won't be afraid,
just as long as you stand, stand by me.
So won't you, won't you stand by me,
oh stand by me, stand by me, stand by me, stand by me.
EVERY TRY, THAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR,
WE'RE FIGHTING FOR YOU,
FOR YOUR GLORY,
TOGETHER YOU AND ME.
Raise your flag, raise your voice
oh give us a cheer,
just as long as you stand, stand by me.
So Bulle Bulle stand by me, oh stand by me, stand by me,
stand by me, stand by me, BULLE !!!
HOU BY DIE BLOU MY VOLK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jessie
gelant
jan
odendaal
basson
schoeman
paige
arnu
hanro
nick
hatting
rg
marcel
adriaan
trevor
Callie
lizo
nicolas
roelof
piet
brummer
obi
Dink daai agterlyn sal beter doen as met jan en jessie op senter
Like the nr. 10 position and the tight phases. By the look of things Schoeman will be the going forward 10.
Hope the medical report will go our way in the next fort night. Especially our front rowers.
In the midfield I am of the opinion that Serfontein is the better starting nr. 12 while Odendaal is the man to bring in after half time.
Also seems that Jade Stiglingh is knocking on the door as a serious contender on the wing at 14.
Was pleasing to read about Nic de Jager's performance.
Ek dink Galant gaan 'n waste wees op enige ander plek as heelagter. Dis 'n tawwe een veral omdat dit Jesse Kriel mag benadeel id toekoms, en omdat ons al soveel belowende ouens verkoor het agv soelers wat uit posisie gespeel word. Maar ons sal of vir Galant op heelagter moet speel of as reserwe moet kies. Daarby is Ulengo ongelooflike finisher.
Ek hou vd idee om Serfontein en Odendaal af te wissel na gelang van teen wie ons speel. Jan organiseer verdediging vir my beter veral omdat Schoeman se kanaal dalk ons kwesbare plek kan wees op defense. Odendaal is baie effektief op binnesenter veral omdat hy meer as een verdediger besig hou. Om hulle af te wissel kan ook beserings verminder vanjaar. Amper soos Bakkies en Danie.
Probably the best news of the entire weekend for the Bulls, other than the win, was the fact they left without injuries. Given it followed a week where they lost Pollard, Lappies Labuschagne and Lizo Gqoboka (just for the game), it was good news for them.
Trevor Nyakane left the field hobbling, but Marais confirmed it was precautionary
Cape Town - Springbok Sevens player Francois Hougaard will join Aviva Premiership side Worcester Warriors in England on a short term contract, SA Rugby confirmed on Monday.
The Springbok scrumhalf is currently on a one-year contract with the Springbok Sevens side. He will return to the squad in May, in time to be considered for selection for the last two World Series tournaments of the season, in Paris (14 and 15 May) and a week later at Twickenham in London.
The move effectively means that Hougaard will not represent the Bulls in Super Rugby this season.
Wat n gerondneukery, maar dis wat jy kry as jy n klomp amateurs het in jou bestuur.
Malherbe of ander sterk vaskop
een van Leeus hakers, verkieslik Marx of Coetzee wat kan skrum
Willemse en Lood
een van Leeus se fetcher flanke
nog 'n goeie losskakel
Ons het net nie genoeg gehalte diepte en ervaring op die bank om al die pad te gaan nie. Belangrikste is om nuwe spelpatroon te vestig, en veral weer 'n sterk skrum te ontwikkel hierdie jaar.
Sterkte Nollis en Bulle!
Kriel
ulengo
serfontuin
odendaal
basson
gelant
paige
Francois ek sou ook vir Jessie op 15 kies.
Baie teleurstellend van Hougaard. Lyk my die Xander mannetjie is met vakansie of het hy net nog nooit sy werk behoorlik gedoen nie