Hard game for the Bulls especially with some of their recent injuries.
If they win it means all the rest of their games are in Pretoria.
I think the Sharks were the only team that could beat the Bulls at Pretoria or maybe the Stormers.
Any foreign team will not be able to put a pack on the field that is physical enough to beat the Bulls in Pretoria.
All that from the guy who got Lions/oz wrong by 34 points.
I think Bulls at home going to be very hard to beat if they get home final... My preference is reds getting cheifs in the semis as the kiwi teams are the aussies bunnies this years - Higly likely that cheetahs will play bulls and cruds v brumbies and cheifs v reds.
Eitherway REds redy to roll - just hopefully not with a final in pretoria......................
Too much is made about the jetlag at this stage of the competition, and if the teams have not, by this time, figured out what to do to minimise the effects, they will never know. It is now secret that (no 1) the worst is traveling back into the time zone, i.e. from west to east and (no 2) the jetlag only really hits you in the second week. Last year's shenanigans by the Sharks, at the sharp end of the competition illustrates that. They traveled to Aus to play the Reds, and beat them. Then the travelled from east to west to play the Stormers and nobody gave them a chance because of the jetlag, but they beat the Stormers. It was only when the travelled back east for the second time that it got them, and still it is not too sure whether it was the jetlag only. They had one hell of a time to get to the final, and it was always going to be a tall order to beat the Chiefs at home after playing the Bulls at Loftus the one weekend, the Reds in Queensland the next, the Stormers (who had a week rest) aty Newlands and then go beat the Chiefs in their own backyard.
I cannot really remember when last the Bulls lost their first game on tour. I also cannot remember when was the last tie they won their second game on tour. The same goes for most of our sides.
Ou Maaik, I have read your stuff for some time now and have noted something lately. You twist around what someone says and then uses your revised version to rubbish everybody's arguments. That is excluding your bum chums who always agrees with everything you say. I am not even going to search for the specific post now, but you have done exactly the same with something Mozart said in the last day or two. I have not said that it does not affect the teams in the first week. I have said that it is worse in the second week, and not as severe in the first week. Let me repeat what I have said for easy reference:
Too much is made about the jetlag at this stage of the competition, and if the teams have not, by this time, figured out what to do to minimise the effects, they will never know. It is now secret that (no 1) the worst is traveling back into the time zone, i.e. from west to east and (no 2) the jetlag only really hits you in the second week.
Because so much has been said and researched about jetlag, the medical profession has come up with ways and means to reduce the effects of jetlag. I am not even going to repeat everything, because it could become boring for those not really interested, but I will give you some links on the subject. I have checked up made use of it myself. www.nhs.uk/conditions/Jet-lag/Pages/Introduction.aspx
Something more on reducing the effects: www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Jet-lag/Pages/Prevention.aspx
There are many more examples of what sports people do to overcome it. F1 Racing drivers stay on their "home time" for as long as a week. The Singapore GP is driven at two weeks after the Italian GP at Monza, but the teams only arrive in Singapore on the Monday. It is no use arriving earlier because it is a night streetrace and they cannot begin setting up the track before the Monday. The drivers start testing on Thursday only. Now try and tell me there is something more demanding (mentally and physically) than driving a F1 car at night on a narrow street circuit at speeds of between 175 kph (average speed) and 309kph (top speed). That is 2 hours of intense physical and mental strain.
You see Mike, that is exactloy why I avoid arguing with you. You always twist everything around. I have never said that there is scientific evidence. I have even repeated what I have said, but you still keep on twisting what I have said. I have said that we have seen that the teams, meaning the SA teams, sre worse in the second week. I have also said that the nedical proffesion has come up with ways and means to reduce the effects of jetlag. So, you can start writing another thesis on the subject if you like. I never read past the second or third sentence and to be frank, I doubt if there are many who do that.
As for Mozart's remark, you are doing exactly what I am accusing you of and then you go and even help me indicate exactly what I am saying. I do not see anywhere that Mozart has said that flanks do not have a role to play in line-outs. If you are too think to understand that he is saying that line-out play is not one of the core functions of flankers, then so be it. For the record, me and Mozart are not exactly bossom buddies, in case you were thinking of accusing me of defending him.
Dont be surprised if the semi's dont contain 1 Aussie team. Lets remember that there was massive incentive for the Aussie teams this year. Lions were coming to town. Last chance to make an impression and get picked for the squad. A once in a career opportunity for most players. Guys need to play out of their skins.
With this in mind, Aussie teams have been really good this year. Lions have come and gone. What is the incentive to play for now? Where is the motivation to get back on the horse coming from now? Lions tour has come and gone and the Aussies were run off their feet in the last test. Its going to be tough for those key players minds to be where they need to be leading into the most important weeks of the Super rugby comp.
It will be a massive test of Jake White's ability to get those players heads back in the game so soon and performing for a "lesser" cause. Papers will be slamming their 3rd test performance this week and that wont do much good.
@ Windpomp - It is now secret that (no 1) the worst is traveling back into the time zone, i.e. from west to east and (no 2) the jetlag only really hits you in the second week
I have not said that it does not affect the teams in the first week. I have said that it is worse in the second week, and not as severe in the first week.
Mike then qoutes scientific evidence that shows ou windpomp is talking rubbish. Game set and match to Mike.
Mike it may be some comfort to you that I have had oaks arguing with me that altitude at loftus plays no role.
The simple facts are that any side travelling from down under to play the bulle at loftus are at a considerable disadvantage due to the double whammy of travel and altitude.
So yes if the bulle top the log they have a reasonably good chance of winning the final
The Sharks proved what I said at the begining of the year - the bulle are the third best SA side - barring injuries and departures.
Oh the might of SA rugby - we could have had 4 of the top 7 teams? The kiwis must be in awe of us not that they will admit it.Takw even the Cheetahs on Saturday. Man they left behind so many tries it could have been a huge win. Nice to see Naka now schooling Sir John who should be defrocked! Bwahahahahahahhahahaha
But this blog is not about jetlag it asks the question - can the Bulls beat the Stormers at Nuweland? I suppose they can, the Stormers are quite a depleated bunch with a string of injuries. It will however not be easy and the Bulls will HAVE to up their game if they are to walk away victorious. If they play anything as kak as they did at home (nogal) against the Sharks the Stormers will hurt them. Difference being that Joe can kick better than Lambottom. Fact, live with it!
The odds must be on the bulle. Lets be realistic here Fred.
However if ou Allistair had to beef up the side our chances would rise to possibly even 50/50. I do hope Maaaikei is not going to come with another no chance story although our cnaces of winning if this advice is not taken must be low - say 30%
First it is vital in the pack that the formidable and classy Tiaan Liebenberg reappears. Next play a loose trio of Fourie, Armand (8) and Elstadt. A pack of Kitshoff, Liebenberg, Harris, Etzebeth, Steenkamp, and those three lossies shuold give the bulle somthing to think about.
Lets not also forget about the Newlands factors. Sides get weak knees when coming here.
Hopefully Jean will be back. Its a big pity Grant is still out as Jantjes is far to shaky for my liking. However play Jean and Allende at center and Van den Heever on the wing. Aplon as a super sub when gaps open up later in the game.
I feel complelled to give Allisatair this advice. It is problematic though as if the Stormers beat the bulle and the bulle dont top the log we will not have the Super 15 winner. However ou Allistair is unlikely to take my advice although the way the beefed up Sharks starting 8 pummelled the wee bulle could make even Allistair take note.(Once Bissie, Jannie, Alberts and Deysel came ofF the sharks were on the back foot in the forwards. Chances are though that all this passed ou Allistair by - We shall see)
Come to think of it hopefully Muncher also took note. Maybe Beeno is right yet again - Hahahahahahahahaha
One of my biggest regrets ever rugbywise is that the 940 kg power pack of Kitshoff, Liebenberg, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Bekker, Burger, Vermuelen and Elstadt was never seen. What the sharks starting 8 did to the wee bulle was mild compared to the slaughter that would have happened. Mercy prevailed!
Mike the bulle will NOT struggle against a Stormers pack containg scurra, steenkamp, Deon and carr. Half the pack are lightweights with deon being the only lightwieight i would pick. He has to bring in Tiaan, Armand and Elstadt to ahve a chance of getting on top in the forwards. Jean and Allende as I said must be the center combo and van den Heever on the wing. Then we have a reasonable chance.
I agree that this is not a good one to win as it would finish off the SA and bulle tittle hopes. Bit of a dillema for a Stormers supporter. Bit like the Sharks on Saturday with that last kick by Viljoen. However the pakyers will no doubt be going for a win.To finish 7th on the log would be a credible performance given the 18 injuries suffered this year.
I feel however that the bulle have been riding an unbelievable streak of luck in the Super 15. They have three titles but two were burgled via refs. It should at this stage be one to each of Sharks, Stormers and bulle. This year they would defintely have been third on the SA Conference table behind the Stormers and Sharks but for injuries and departures and are now in a position to win the title!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean that so distorts things its unbelievable really.
The consequence of all this is delusional postings by guys like Owen Meany who speak of the bulle legends and bulle legends in the making. Bwahahahahahahahhahahaha hilarious really.
Bluebok the last try by Habana was only as a consequence of a well documented error by the ref.
Craig Joubert did a rugby world cup final on the Stormers and blew the Stormers loose trio out of the game and coached the bulle loosies as Schalk Burger so famously observed - a shocker by Craig.
So that makes it 1 each as I saidaaprt from ref error and explodes the myth about bulle holding their nerve. What happens to the bulle on tour. Nerves get to them? hahahahahahahha - they become the blue calves!
So only one title deserved Bluebok. Now the opportunity to win another by default! Incredible!!!!!!
Beeno the realist putting things in their correct perspective.
I have always said it and I will always maintain this: If you put yourself in a position where a mistake by a referee/umpire can cost you the game, then you deserve what is coming to you. The Sharks and in particular Frans Steyn, back in 2007, did exactly that. They got a dubios try, IIRC, and then the next thing they got a penalty, and as was said millions of times since that day, all they needed to do was to kick the bloody ball out. They idn't and they got the shit end of the stick. For that they deserved what they got in the end.
the key for the bulls title hopes lie in winning this weekends game against the stormers, given this is a dead rubber match, the stormers should really return the favour the bulls did them in 2010 when the bulls picked a 2nd string bulls outfit which helped the stormers secure a semifinals at home, stormers can field a weak team against the bulls so that the bulls can lock up the No1 over all leader spot.
hard to pick past the stormers at home, but if anyone can do it it will be the bulls who have yet to lose a game to any saffa team.
stormers by 11
IMO the following will happen this weekend,,,,
crusaders will beat the hurricanes and lock up 4th spot.
chiefs will beat blues and finish either 2nd or first, but im picking 1st cos i think stormers will beat bulls.
brumbies to run riot over the force.
i get a feeling the waratahs will beat the reds, but the outcome is irellevant, cos the reds will remain 5th over all.
the leaderboard by the time the finals come round could look like this,,,
1 chiefs
2 brumbies
3 bulls
4 crusaders
5 reds
6 cheetahs
the real key is the bulls stormers match, if bulls win it, they will be 60/40 favourites to win it against all opposition, with the crusaders and chiefs being their toughest finals opponents.
If Pietersen isn't healthy the Bulls chances of winning go way up unless Jantjies has found his kicking books he misplaced from last year.
Should be a cracker of a game - don't see the Stormers taking this one off - they could fall two or three spots on the log if they lose and probably will take pride in finishing 7th just outside the playoffs.
