Vodacom Blue Bulls make it three in a row, strong first half saw then past Hino Valke
Tony Jantjies scored a brace of tries and kicked six conversions as the Vodacom Blue Bulls completed a fine 42-15 (half-time 35-10) win over the Hino Valke in their provincial tournament match at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Friday.
Flyhalf Jantjies was in top form on his recall to the team as he ended with a personal tally of 22 points while the Blue Bulls were full value for their win as they ran in six tries to two.
The Blue Bulls, after a wretched start to the competition, came into the match after winning their last two games, and their good form continued as they completely outgunned a game Valke outfit who have now won just three of their nine games this season.
The Blue Bulls improved their record to four wins from 10 games.
The Valke actually opened the scoring when right wing Coert Cronje went over for a converted try after seven minutes.
But the Bulls struck back two minutes later when Jantjies scored his first try which he converted himself. Valke flyhalf Karlo Aspeling nailed a penalty before Jantjies grabbed his second try, after 15 minutes, as the Blue Bulls took a 14-10 lead.
The home team were starting to build up some momentum and they scored two tries in as many minutes after inside centre Dan Kriel gathered a chip ahead to score before scrumhalf Andre Warner was put into space by flank Ruan Steenkamp with Jantjies converting both tries.
Loosehead prop Nqobisizwe Mxoli then showed some fancy footwork to sidestep his way over for a converted try just before the break as the Bulls went to half-time holding a commanding 35-10 lead.
It took the home team 15 minutes of the second half to add to their tally before replacement scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl sniped around a ruck to score in the corner with Jantjies slotting the difficult conversion.
The Valke had the final say in the match though as inside centre Andrew van Wyk scored a consolation try in the 73rd minute.
Scorers
Vodacom Blue Bulls – Tries: Tony Jantjies (2), Dan Kriel, Andre Warner; Nqobisizwe Mxoli, Ivan van Zyl; Conversions: Jantjies (6).
Hino Valke – Tries: Coert Cronje, Andrew van Wyk; Conversion: Karlo Aspeling; Penalty: Aspeling.
- Earlier the Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-19 edged out the Toyota Free State 18-16 in the opening weekend of the A-Division Under-19 competition. They had a 15-10 lead at the break.
Scorers:
Blue Bulls 18 (15). Tries: Dylan van der Walt, Jordan Holgate. Conversions: Lourens Steenkamp. Penalties: Steenkamp (2).
Free State 16 (10). Try: Christiaan Schutte. Conversion: Schutte. Penalties: Schutte (3).
Dit is regtig jammer, want laasweek was hy baie goed toe hy opgekom het die 2de helfte. Het vanaand 8 maklike punte gemis en toe die Bokke nog voor was en op die aanval, met 7 minute oor, toe skop hy die bal doelloos weg. Dit het ons die game gekos. Daarna het die Engelse gaan score en gewen. Brummer se groot probleem, ook Schoeman s'n - geen consistency nie, soos daardie bekende advertensie ons vertel.
Nollis sal nou al vir Libbok moet inbring, om saam met Schoeman ervaring op te bou vir die toekoms.
Die groter probleem is natuurlik dat die SA 'A' span eintlik 'n kombinasie is van 'n B' en die 'C' span. Die SA 'A' span het goed gedoen en uitgehou vir 60 minute, maar het toe geen impak van die bank gehad nie. Dink net watter verskil spelers soos Bismark, Willemse, Flip, JDP, Steyn, Goosen, Wiaan en selfs Spies soos hy nou speel, kon gemaak het vir of die Bokke of die 'A' span. Dan is daar nog die politiek wat veroorsaak dat die beste spelers nie in die 'A' span is hier nie.
Daar is geen manier dat Zas 'n beter heelagter is as SP nie, of Oupa beter is as Lappies, Kirsten, Schoeman (Cheetahs), ander Du Preez broer, Tecklenburg, Roelof nie. En dan is daar nog spelers soos Rohan wat 'n baie beter senter is as Ellende.
Wat die Bokke betref. Kan nie glo AC het nou nog nie vir Jaco gekies as flank nie. Verloor ons môre, is dit te laat om kwaad te wees en spelers te drop.
Nollis, vir Jessie en die Bokke se onthalwe, kies hom asseblief weer in sy beste posisie, en dit is heelagter. Meyer se plan vir Jessie was 'n tydelike oplossing, maar dit gaan nie nou meer werk nie. Mapoe gaan nie gedrop word op 13 nie. Bokke en Bulle kort 'n groot vinnige heelagter wat die lyn kan breek. Gelant is goed, maar Jessie is beter as hy bly speel op heelagter. Galant kan ook in 'n goeie vleuel ontwikkel.
Behalwe Libbok en Schoeman, dink ek iemand soos SP en self die 0/20 Junior Bok, JT Jackson kan as losskakels oorweeg ontwikkel word. Jackson is ook lekker groot en het 'n goeie skopvoet aan hom, dalk 'n Dan Carter tipe speler op 10/12.
Dink nie met die sterk Euro en die politieke inmenging dat ons ooit weer die sterk Bulle en Bokke van 2007-2010 gaan sien nie, maar mens kan aanhou hoop.
Omtrent al die spanne in die Suidelike Halfrond se spelers word getref deur dieselfde plaag, so as die Bulle nie weer 'n Super Beker wen nie, is dit wragtig nie die Euro, Pound of Yen se skuld nie. Dan is dit ons eie skuld want ons laat onbevoegde mense kontrakte beding en ons betaal nie al die rande wat ons het vir die beste coach nie.
Doe so voort Blou Bulle!!!!!!!!!!!!
Goed op superugby vlak maar nie opgewasse op toetsvlak nie.
Op 'n ander noot hoor ek dat Edgar Marutlulle 'n ander span soek...watch nou vir Xander hy sal hom seker teken