Bulls book final spot
The Bulls beat the Crusaders 39-24 in their Super 14 semi on Saturday, meaning the home side return to Soweto next week to defend their title.
Last Updated: 22/05/10 9:59pm
The Bulls beat the Crusaders 39-24 in their Super 14 semi-final on Saturday, which means the home side will return to Soweto next week to defend their title.
The scene at Orlando Stadium was set for an epic semi-final between two quality outfits, but only one team pitched up as the Bulls outmuscled their Kiwi visitors to book their second Super 14 final in as many years.
If the Crusaders thought playing away from the daunting Loftus Versfeld would favour their chances, they were horribly mistaken as the hosts - cheered on by a sea of blue jerseys - dug deep and produced the goods to once again deny the New Zealanders a shot at an eighth Super Rugby title.
The weekend off taken by the Bulls in Round 14 proved to be a wise call by coach Frans Ludeke as his charges looked more battle-hardened than ever before - piling on unrelenting pressure towards the Crusaders, who ultimately had no answer for the home side's assault.
A 13-point half-time lead (23-10) proved too much for the men in red and black to catch, though credit to Richie McCaw and his troops for making a fist of it after the break.
Both sides scored three tries apiece but the kicking of fly-half Morne Steyn, who contributed 24 points for the hosts, proved the difference. And in truth the South Africans never looked like losing control of the game from the moment Pierre Spies' try gave them a third-minute lead.
Superiority
The Bulls finished the regular season top of the table, with their opponents in fourth, and were quick to assert their superiority. Spies capitalised on some quick turnover ball to touch down under the posts. Steyn added the conversion to put the Crusaders on the back foot.
The Bok number ten slotted over a penalty as the Bulls moved 10-0 in front, but New Zealand captain Richie McCaw dragged the visitors back into the game, emerging from a maul with the ball to cross the whitewash with Dan Carter adding the extras.
Within three minutes, though, the Bulls had their second try, full-back Zane Kirchner kicking ahead to dot down after the visitors had failed to deal with his high ball.
Steyn's accuracy with the boot continued as he slotted over the conversion and a second penalty to put the home side 20-7 in front after 19 minutes.
Carter slotted over a penalty of his own but hooked a long-range attempt to the left of the posts before Steyn kicked his third penalty of the half from almost 60 metres to restore the Bulls' 13-point advantage.
The Springbok playmaker missed for the first time on the stroke of half-time, though, and Sean Maitland scored the Crusaders' second try of the match following a well-executed scrum move. Carter's conversion closing the gap to six points.
Steyn added another penalty to take the Bulls' advantage beyond a converted try, missing a monster drop goal attempt three minutes later.
Carter missed with another penalty attempt and, in the 63rd minute, scrum-half Fourie du Preez broke around the blindside and went over in the corner to all but seal the victory for the Bulls.
Steyn added the conversion and two more penalties to take the score to 39-17.
Lock Sam Whitelock touched down for the Crusaders' third try in the 79th minute, and Carter added the conversion, but the Bulls had already wrapped up their place in the final.
