The Vodacom Bulls beat the Chiefs 28-7 in a pre-season game in Brisbane on Tuesday, dedicating the win to the memory of Joost van der Westhuizen.
The encounter, played in very hot and humid conditions, produced four tries to one for the visitors - one of those a penalty try after a powerful maul. There was also a backline try that came off the back of a powerful scrum.
Although the Chiefs did not field any of their current All Blacks, they still have a strong selection that tested the Bulls at times.And the visitors cleared their bench in the final quarter, but still outscored their hosts. The Bulls got out the blocks in a hurry, taking a 14-0 lead after just 11 minutes.
First inside centre Burger Odendaal burst through on the back of a powerful Bulls scrum and then the visitors were awarded a penalty try after the Chiefs repeatedly collapsed a powerful Bulls maul. Captain Handré Pollard slotted both conversions.
The Chiefs eventually got on the board in a fast-paced game in the 15th minute, when scrumhalf Brad Weber found a gap in the Bulls' defence, sprinting down the sideline. Captain Steven Donald slotted the conversion - leaving the score at 14-7 to the visitors when the teams went for a water break after 20 minutes in the hot and humid conditions.
Fort the next 20 minutes defence dominate proceedings, as the teams went into the half-time break with the score still at 145-7 to the Bulls.
As they did in the first half, the Bulls got off to a flyer after the break - powerful centre Dries Swanepoel going over for the visitors' third try. Pollard's conversion made it 21-7. After the 60-minute mark water break the teams cleared their benches.
The Bulls' defence continued to hold firm, not that the Chiefs didn't have opportunities. In the 70th minute Toni Pulu made a great break and crossed the line, only to be called back for a forward pass. In fact the Bulls sealed an impressive win when Warrick Gelant raced across line for a try on the buzzer. Tian Schoeman added the conversion for a 28-7 margin.
The scorers:
For the Chiefs:
Try: Webber
Con: Donald
For the Bulls:
Tries: Odendaal, Penalty try, Swanepoel, Gelant
Cons: Pollard 3, Schoeman
Teams:
Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Solomon Alaimalo, 13 Tim Nanai-Williams, 12 Johnny Faauli, 11 Latu Vaeno, 10 Stephen Donald (captain), 9 Brad Weber, 8 Tom Sanders, 7 Mitchell Karpik, 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Matiaha Martin, 4 Mitchell Brown, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Brayden Mitchell, 1 Mitchell Graham.
Replacements - from: Hika Elliot, Sosefo Kautai, Atu Moli, Fin Hoeata, Liam Messam, Finlay Christie, James Lowe, Toni Pulu, Joe Ravouvou , Luteru Laulala, Kane Hames.
Bulls: 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Handré Pollard (captain), 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Nic de Jager, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Rudolph Snyman, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements - from: Edgar Marutlulle, Lizo Gqoboka, Jason Jenkins, Ruan Steenkamp, Piet van Zyl, Tian Schoeman, Warrick Gelant, John-Roy Jenkinson, Jacobie Adriaanse, Renaldo Bothma, Francois Brummer, JT Jackson.
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)
Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Jordan Way (Australia)
Net baie teleurgesteld dat ons nou nie eintlik weet of ons goed of average gespeel het nie.
Hoop daar was niks besering aan ons kant nie
Nietemin, die wen is positief en ek is baie bly daaroor. Of dit nou die beste span was of nie, dit sal help met veral die jonger spelers se selfvertoue.
Ek is nogal positief oor die seisoen. Bring daai stormers!!
Sal ook graag by die spandokter wil hoor hoe vorder die herstel van die volgende spelers
Strauss
Arno
Kirsten
Roelof
Jan
Met hierdie spelers reg het ons 'n stewige bank en kan so bietjie begin droom.
Sien daar speel 'n BB vyftiental more aand teen Sharks, kan ons ook weet hoe lyk die BB span ?