Reds rock defending chumps
RYAN VREDE reports on a very impressive 39-30 victory for the Reds over a Bulls side that won’t make the play-offs.
This match provided further evidence that the Reds are evolving into a complete side. Certainly they exhibited their ability to play wide, and do so effectively. In this regard it was established that flyhalf Quade Cooper is not only the Reds’ ringmaster, he is also doubles as the sideshow freak who pulls crowds. At times he appeared to have Bulls defenders under a spell, not least of all in scoring his team’s first try and creating their second. His unique and seemingly limitless repertoire of skills was a sight to behold.
However, they also mixed it in the tight with a side who have built their reputation on dominating that facet of play. Add to that an improving tactical kicking game, more precision in good field positions and better temperament than they’ve exhibited in recent seasons, and you have a formidable opponent.
They’ve beaten the best South Africa has to offer in the last fortnight, one of those away from home. Those dismissing their potential to win the tournament do so at their peril.
There were minor improvements in the Bulls’ play. Their physicality at the collisions in defence was a feature of the first half, and that, combined with a Morne Steyn’s goalkicking and a gifted try just before the break kept them in a contest where they had seen just 35% of possession to that point.
However, defensive errors are rarely unpunished at Super Rugby level and those errors can be decisive in the final analysis. That would ring true for the Bulls.
Senior Springboks Victor Matfield and Pierre Spies took a leaf out of the Wynand Olivier Book of Defence, staring at each other as Cooper dummied and simply strolled in on goal early in the match. The duo made many effective tackles in the course of the match, but the one they missed will stick in the memory.
There was more ordinary defence for the second, Radike Samo rounding off a scrappy move. Stephan Dippenaar was showed up for pace by Luke Morahan in the Reds’ third while the fullback rounded off another first phase move for his brace and the four-try bonus point. Getting unlocked from basic set plays is criminal at this level, and hints at deep-rooted structural deficiencies, as well as a low level of synergy and confidence of the players within that structure.
However, the Bulls got an undeserved lifeline when Rod Davies was left lamenting his complacency directly from the kick-off. Bjorn Basson snatched the ball out of the air for an instant rebuttal and Steyn converted to go with two earlier penalties to leave his side trailing 17-13 at the break.
The defending champions had offered little beyond predictable phase play on attack, showing no creativity or innovation and consequently failing to penetrate an aggressive and organised defensive unit. And when they conceded three tries in 15 minutes after the restart you wondered how they were going to respond beyond Steyn’s boot.
Danie Rossouw crashed over to offer some hope. He made a bigger impression in the 20 minutes he was on than Bakkies Botha has in the season to date. There is no argument that coach Frans Ludeke can offer for Botha’s retention in their next match.
Basson crossed for his second late in the match to add some respectability to the scoreline. But the reality is that the Bulls have lost the respect of their opponents. The scoreline flatters them as well. They would have taken 50 if the Reds had been more clinical with their chances, not been so charitable on defence and had Cooper’s excellence extended into this goalkicking.
Their problems transcend technical and structural issues and therefore aren’t remediable in the course of a season. They are a team whose key players are trying in vain to hold back the years and it is reflected in their woeful performances.
http://www.keo.co.za/2011/04/16/reds-vs-bulls-1140-ko-2/
