What a frustrating game to watch.

Proctor at FB when he's clearly not a FB (hes a good center though). Aso at center where he struggled.(he's a wing not a center). Savea just making up the numbers at wing. and West showing he not even close to good enough at this level but he was kept on to lose the game for the Canes by doing an idiotic chip kick . rather than take him off and replace him with Barrett. but its not West to blame. JGB should have started based on NPC form. I wonder though if the coaches even watched the NPC.

and also a clear Canes try disallowed due to inept reffing. But its idiotic selections that lost it. So I'm unsure what has happened to the Canes. the coaching team used to be good but this is a concern. Its bordering on 'lost the plot and haven't a clue' territory

@g-man

It was a clear try. It wasn't even debatable. And I hate bad reffing even if it benefits my side. and in this case there was no excuse. It was even worse than the welsh no try verse England decision.

@stargazer said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

@mencey Because he's still better than Garden-Bachop and BB hadn't played any preseason game. No doubt, BB will start next game.

On NPC form last year JGB was very good. After a no better than adequate 2016 NPC. He was a key player in the Canterbury thrashing

@g-man said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

@justanotherfan said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

Thanks for coming to Loftus. Unfortunately someone has to lose. Luckily it wasn't my team. Bulls are looking better this season.

Going to be there for the Lions game. Going to be a cracker.

Yeah. There are some great match ups. If Bulls can pull it off it would be great start for season.

@african-monkey He gave away two stupid penalties in the Blues 22 for shoulder charging players off the ball. Seems an easy target for niggle.

Seemed odd to me to play Proctor at fullback and Aso at centre.

Pretty frustrating game, as they often are in SA. We mixed some good in with some really dire shit, and only have ourselves to blame as that game was there for the taking against a pretty limited Bulls side.

Proctor at FB and Aso at centre looked wrong before the match, and so it proved. No idea what the logic was there but Aso was poor and Proctor wasn't able to get into the game.

West put in a very similar performance to what he did time and time again for the Blues - a mix of good and bad, and didn't provide a lot of direction. The sooner one of the Barretts is at 10 the better, as West is really an impact player at best.

Jules is just completely ineffectual these days isn't he? I wouldn't even start him TBH, and I've been a huge fan in the past.

The TJP no-try was just crazy. If they want fans to be invested in the game then they have to, at the very least, get the most basic stuff right. That kind of call brings the game into disrepute and makes you want to switch off, as why would you waste your time watching that level of incompetence?

Anyway, not a total disaster as it's our first proper hit out, but I really hope the coaches take the lessons on board and don't repeat the same mistakes, as we've thrown away easy points there.

The Savea brothers are some of the worst defenders in the game. Check out Ardie Savea's missed tackle in that video.

@Tim yup that cost us a try. I thought he must be injured to make such a poor attempt but he played on afterwards.

@g-man said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

Also Bulls should've been more ahead, but the TMO got it wrong and juding the Bulls players knocked, where by the TMO footage you could see the Canes player dislodging the ball.

They got both decisions wrong. For the Bulls try Rasta's on-field call was "try" meaning the TMO had to find clear evidence of a knock on to overturn. He then went ahead and overturned Rasta's call without clear evidence that it went forward.

Then for the Canes try Rasta's on-field decision was "no-try". Then despite clear evidence of a grounding he didn't overturn the decision.

Incompetence like that really takes away from the game.

Canes props to be their weakness this year? Only Eves and JTA (injured) seem up to it.

How was their lineout? Fifita is short, and Lousi may be too heavy to be an effective target.

Some really odd selections in that game. I've suspected that Plumtree was the real brains in the coaching team. Boyd was pretty poor with Wellington, wasn't he?

@no-quarter said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

Pretty frustrating game, as they often are in SA. We mixed some good in with some really dire shit, and only have ourselves to blame as that game was there for the taking against a pretty limited Bulls side.

Proctor at FB and Aso at centre looked wrong before the match, and so it proved. No idea what the logic was there but Aso was poor and Proctor wasn't able to get into the game.

West put in a very similar performance to what he did time and time again for the Blues - a mix of good and bad, and didn't provide a lot of direction. The sooner one of the Barretts is at 10 the better, as West is really an impact player at best.

Jules is just completely ineffectual these days isn't he? I wouldn't even start him TBH, and I've been a huge fan in the past.

The TJP no-try was just crazy. If they want fans to be invested in the game then they have to, at the very least, get the most basic stuff right. That kind of call brings the game into disrepute and makes you want to switch off, as why would you waste your time watching that level of incompetence?

Anyway, not a total disaster as it's our first proper hit out, but I really hope the coaches take the lessons on board and don't repeat the same mistakes, as we've thrown away easy points there.

I think that first paragraph sums it up nicely. They should have had that game but the ratio of shit to sublime was too much this time. Some shocking defensive misses as well as some awful passing. I see what they're trying to do, but damn that execution was poop. For the 86,000th time: Aso is not a farking 13.

As you say, Jules is gone. His drop in form is astonishing. Would select about 4 other guys ahead of him now.

Why didn't they have BB at 10 when he came on? Surely you want him to get his hands on the pill in that situation. But I actually like having West in the team. I reckon he's a step up from Boychild and a good impact player.

@rancid-schnitzel BB came on for Proctor; not sure whether it was due to injury or to him being invisible and having no impact whatsoever. Although West can play fullback, I think BB at fullback and keeping West at 10 was a better option than BB at 10 and moving West to fullback. As Goosen had already been replaced by Lam (I can't recall him touching the ball at all), and they only had Booth left on the bench, there were no other options.

Mind you, when Blade Thomson went off injured, they brought on Booth. Not sure why they subbed Evans so early as he was one of the few players playing really well.

@Stargazer I thought BB came on for Jules? Regardless, I don't agree with keeping West at 10. The AB 10 and world player of the year two years running should have been given the reigns to close out the game. As it was, a poorly executed chip from West cost us the match.

Agree with @Tim, I also suspect Plumtree was the brains. Boyd managed to get the Lions relegated before his success in Super rugby with Plumtrre next to him.

@no-quarter said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

@Stargazer I thought BB came on for Jules? Regardless, I don't agree with keeping West at 10. The AB 10 and world player of the year two years running should have been given the reigns to close out the game. As it was, a poorly executed chip from West cost us the match.

Agree with @Tim, I also suspect Plumtree was the brains. Boyd managed to get the Lions relegated before his success in Super rugby with Plumtrre next to him.

Sorry, yes, you're right, but that doesn't change the fact that they didn't have any other options. It was either West or BB at 10 and the other at 15.

I also find it an odd thing to say that West's charged down kick cost the Canes the match. Ardie also made a mistake that led to a try; the fact that he made his mistake earlier than West, doesn't make West's mistake more costly.

@tim what the hell was West upto in that 1st try

@taniwharugby said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

@tim what the hell was West upto in that 1st try

Yeah bloody hell. Proctor had that covered.

@rancid-schnitzel more that Savea had effectively made the tackle, that West needed to drift out and just be in the space, if Savea falls off at that point its on him.

@winger said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

@stargazer said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

@mencey Because he's still better than Garden-Bachop and BB hadn't played any preseason game. No doubt, BB will start next game.

On NPC form last year JGB was very good. After a no better than adequate 2016 NPC. He was a key player in the Canterbury thrashing

Yes, that's for sure. But his NPC form was not confirmed by the Maori tour where he was very poor against the French Barbarians. I hope this not just an off day for him.

@tim said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

Some really odd selections in that game. I've suspected that Plumtree was the real brains in the coaching team. Boyd was pretty poor with Wellington, wasn't he?

Isn’t Plumtree still the assistant coach?

What on earth was with the kicking? Anytime they created space or made a break, the Canes kicked the fucking ball away, man it was frustrating to watch. Shields ends up in massive open ground with an overlap, so puts in a kick...kinda makes you wonder what would've happened all those times he's dropped it.

@unite said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

@tim said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

Some really odd selections in that game. I've suspected that Plumtree was the real brains in the coaching team. Boyd was pretty poor with Wellington, wasn't he?

Isn’t Plumtree still the assistant coach?

Yup. Forwards coach according to Wikipedia

@canefan said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

@unite said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

@tim said in Bulls v Hurricanes:

Some really odd selections in that game. I've suspected that Plumtree was the real brains in the coaching team. Boyd was pretty poor with Wellington, wasn't he?

Isn’t Plumtree still the assistant coach?

Yup. Forwards coach according to Wikipedia

Weird, I was certain he was leaving/had left. But google tells me the opposite, that he'll likely take over from Boyd soon. I must be getting old..

@No-Quarter I think he was framed as a contender for the landers gig? And def gets mentions about offshore opportunities. But awesome to see him take over next season.

Finally got around to watching this.

Disappointing result and some very disappointing performances but there is enough there that a few tweaks to the starting 15 should sort things out.

I actually thought Rasta was really good, just a shame the video ref was kak.

JSav is done by the looks, we need the Barrett boys in and starting ASAP. That replacement hooker had an absolute nightmare start, seemed to me about where the game turned. Was Ardie injured or just tired?

The Hurricanes just could not cope with the Snyman - De Jager combination in midfield. The latter tore holes at will in the Canes defense which was incredibly static and missed too many tackles.
I rate Gareth Evans but he is not an 8. Blade Thomson was rather good when he came in. The only ones who played to their reputation were TJP and BB when he came in. Laumape had some good runs but his defensive positioning is not convincing at times. Fifita started well with a barnstorming run than quickly faded. Lousi was strong throughout but was pinched for a stupid retaliation.
The scrum was solid till Smith was concussed. Eves was dominated by his opposite prop and then demolished when he switched to tighthead. The Canes need JTA back very quickly.

Sorry : "then quickly faded".

I'm just thinking of our champion season, started with a worse loss than this - Canes dead cert for the title then!

@cgrant that guy Procter might have been a bit handier on defence at centre than Aso...