Bulls Run Roughshod Over Disappointing Waratahs
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Saturday, 10 March 2007
NSWRU Media Unit
The HSBC Waratahs have stumbled their way to a 32-19 defeat at the hands of the Bulls of South Africa at Aussie Stadium.
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide - Lote Tuqiri runs into a Bulls brick wall
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide - Lote Tuqiri runs into a Bulls brick wall
Bryan Habana in full flight for the Bulls
Bryan Habana in full flight for the Bulls
Kurtley Beale scored the only Waratahs try on a tough night out against the Bulls
Kurtley Beale scored the only Waratahs try on a tough night out against the Bulls
The home side almost literally threw the match away, conceding 28 turnovers including 15 handling errors in a match where they enjoyed almost two-thirds of possession.
The Bulls on the other hand made the most of every opportunity that came their way, inventing tries almost at will.
Winger Bryan Habana and scrumhalf Fourie du Preez each scored twice, the speedy winger's tries coming off kicks in behind the defensive line while man of the match du Preez's five pointers came through more conventional means.
The match started promisingly for the Waratahs in front of a small but enthusiastic crowd of 21,854 spectators, Peter Hewat kicking them into the lead with a penalty on six minutes.
However the early signs soon turned bad for the home side with Habana going close to scoring soon after, the speedster running almost the length of the field before knocking on just short of the line.
He would make no mistake 16 minutes in when, after Hougaard had kicked the Bulls level with a penalty goal, Habana chased down a du Preez grubber to score out wide for a 8-3 lead.
Hewat's boot kept the Waratahs in the hunt and even put them back into the lead shortly before the break, however briefly, with a pair of penalty goals.
Du Preez would eventually show the home side the way to the tryline on half time, the number 9 scooting from the base of the scrum to score 10 metres in from touch on the right hand side.
Hougaard's conversion put the Bulls into the break ahead 15-9.
A Hewat penalty goal one minute after half time would temporarily ease the Waratahs ills, but when Habana went in for his second two minutes later the writing was truly on the wall.
Securing the ball from a Waratahs mistake the Bulls flung it wide and, with the line in sight, put a kick in behind the defence for a speeding Habana to score.
Hougaard was again on song with the kick and the Waratahs were in trouble at 22-12.
The lead was extended to 13 when Hougaard nailed a penalty from in front, and when du Preez scored his second try 14 minutes from full time it was all over for the home side.
Kurtley Beale eased the pain in the lead up to full time, taking advantage of some tiring ruck defence to cross for his sides' only try of the night.
However 32-19 was as close as the Waratahs would come, du Preez a worthy man of the match on a night where the visitors thoroughly deserved their victory.
The Waratahs get another chance at redemption in front of their home crowd next Saturday night when they take on the Stormers, who went down to the Brumbies in Canberra on Friday night, while the Bulls have a date with the Crusaders in Christchurch next week.
HSBC WARATAHS - 19
Tries: Kurtley Beale
Conversions: Peter Hewat 1/1
Penalty Goals: Peter Hewat 4/5
Dropped Goals: Kurtley Beale 0/1
BULLS - 32
Tries: Bryan Habana 2, Fourie du Preez 2
Conversions: Derick Hougaard 3/4
Penalty Goals: Derick Hougaard 2/2
Dropped Goals: Derick Hougaard 0/3
At Aussie Stadium, Sydney
Crowd: 21,854
Referee: Kelvin Deaker (NZ)
Man of the Match: Fourie du Preez (Bulls)