The Bulls have an outstanding kicking game, and more importantly an outstanding chasing game. With the small Sharks wings and fullback that worked well. But there wasn't much else, except, ironically the lineout. Lose the best lineout player in rugby history and Jeandre Kruger emerges. That last lineout where he beat Skeate was pure talent.
Nonetheless it has to be concerning that the two fatties, Kruger and Greyling were heavily worked in the scrums. How Kaplan penalized Jannie in that one scrum beats me. That Spies was again a non factor. And that the backline absent a few Hougaard probes, was toothless.
The Sharks by contrast looked asleep in the second half until young Jordaan ignited them. But perhaps having a real scrumhalf in the form of McLeod was even more key. I think JP may have a future at 13....he made mistakes, but forced the outside gap a few times, something we haven't seen of a Bok 13 in a while. Young Coetzee also impressed....an alert player, so much more effective than the lumbering Potgieter. And Lambie is just a great talent.
But I can't say this is a very encouraging start by our better teams. No top NZ or OZ team will lose the aerial war as the Sharks did tonight. And there was really nothing new under the sun or the lights.
