@African-Monkey Haha, no, you're not dreaming. A deserved win, too.
Not a great game, due to the wet weather making the field - and the ball - slippery. The first half deserved a draw, but the Blues were better than the Bulls in the second half.
My stand-outs were Sotutu, Robinson and Black, who has been a much needed improvement on Perofeta at 10.
Crucial win for the boys there. First time we've won 2 of our first 4 games since 2013 so it keeps us in the hunt to maybe do something this year especially with both wins coming away from home.
We'll do well to get anything next week however against a strong Stormers side.
@Stargazer How did Plummer and Perofeta look in their new positions?
Not the prettiest game, but in those conditions, I'm happy enough to come away with any type of win. I actually can't remember the last time we won over there.
Parsons looks like he'll be out for a while, so I'm guessing Tolai will be flown over for the Stormers game.
@African-Monkey Perofeta definitely better at 15 than at 10. Had a few nice touches, so I'd give him a pass mark. The Blues' midfield was quite anonymous in this game.
@African-Monkey said in Bulls v Blues:
@Stargazer How did Plummer and Perofeta look in their new positions?
Perofeta wasn't bad, but Plummer looked lost on defense at 12. He let in a few big linebreaks in the first half.
I guess Plummer was only used to give Faiane a rest and to have fresh legs in altitude as well as us having no backup 12s. I'd expect Faiane to come back next week. Glad Perofeta played well too. I think he'd go better at the back in a 2nd playmaker type role as I don't think he's the man to be guiding us around the paddock from 10 at this stage.
@Dice 2012 was the last time we won there 29-23. Gareth Anscombe scored all our points on debut and I remember Morne Steyn having a shocker with the boot that day too.
They did lose veteran hooker James Parsons late in the piece to what looked a serious shoulder injury and he now looks a doubtful starter for next week's visit to the Stormers who have opened the season with four straight victories..
@African-Monkey Yeah, TJ needed a rest after playing every minute in the first 3 games.
Perofeta definitely looks much better at fullback.
That's right, I forgot all about that win in 2012. Should've been easy to remember considering it was Anscombe's debut and he scored all the points.
@African-Monkey said in Bulls v Blues:
Crucial win for the boys there. First time we've won 2 of our first 4 games since 2013 so it keeps us in the hunt to maybe do something this year especially with both wins coming away from home.
We'll do well to get anything next week however against a strong Stormers side.
Yeah - that might have been the most crucial game of the season for the Blues.
Stormers next week, followed by the Canes in Wellington - could have been looking at 1-5 and confidence shot.
I think the task for the Blues is to keep picking up enough points and retaining confidence to still be in the play-off hunt when Beauden turns up.
Really pleased wtih that win. Once again, we did enough to win, but just weren't clinical or effective. Opened the door to them over and over again, but they just weren't quite good enough to get over the line. A better team would have.
That said, any win there is a good win. Mentally really stuck at it.
The refereeing was interesting. Really not sure how a shoulder to the head isn't a red any more - the judiciary may have a good look at that.
Anyway, Perofeta looks much better at 15, Black seems to be the number one 10 for me, and I can't see why Ruru gets so much gametime. Lots to work on, but a win is a win is a win.
I thought Narawa went very well in his first start in the wet - promising signs there.
Caroll actually had some impact which was pleasing.
As others have said Perofeta went very well at 15, Robinson was outstanding, Black did well at 10 and Ruru is a nightmare to watch. Parsons off the ball tackle was so dumb.
Was a must win so nice to see Blues season isn't dead just yet.
Was nice to win one of these close ones.
Ref was wildly inconsistent, sometimes in our favour, sometimes not. Again, nice to get past a bit of a home town referee.
Conditions were awful, made Duffies try and Perofetas high takes even more impressive.
Robinson was great again.
@Kirwan said in Bulls v Blues:
Was nice to win one of these close ones.
Ref was wildly inconsistent, sometimes in our favour, sometimes not. Again, nice to get past a bit of a home town referee.
Conditions were awful, made Duffies try and Perofetas high takes even more impressive.
Robinson was great again.
I was sure he's would spill that bullet offload, tricky to take a full speed in the wet
@Machpants said in Bulls v Blues:
@Kirwan said in Bulls v Blues:
Was nice to win one of these close ones.
Ref was wildly inconsistent, sometimes in our favour, sometimes not. Again, nice to get past a bit of a home town referee.
Conditions were awful, made Duffies try and Perofetas high takes even more impressive.
Robinson was great again.
I was sure he's would spill that bullet offload, tricky to take a full speed in the wet
hell yeah, Duffie threw that full noise at Perofeta. Great hands by both of them
that last try of the Bulls, the 9 has gone to pick it up between the 8s legs, who has then pretty much pulled it from his grasp, surely that is accidental offside or a forward 'pass'...
How was Hendricks not penalised for batting the cross field kick to Telea forward into touch?
@taniwharugby said in Bulls v Blues:
that last try of the Bulls, the 9 has gone to pick it up between the 8s legs, who has then pretty much pulled it from his grasp, surely that is accidental offside or a forward 'pass'...
It doesn't look too bad to me, but if there was a problem with it, it might've ended with a penalty try anyway. With Sotutu in the bin, we were scrumming with 7 men then.
@antipodean said in Bulls v Blues:
How was Hendricks not penalised for batting the cross field kick to Telea forward into touch?
That was a shocker. He was the last defender too, so another YC IMO.
Boobo'd the thread.
Great win for the blues, fought hard.
Had to laugh at Ruru taking the kick off when three 10's have been selected. Then Plummer taking that kick at goal...isn't he the worst goalkicker?
When you listen to Nkumane you can really begin to understand those SA home ref stats.
@Bones said in Bulls v Blues:
Then Plummer taking that kick at goal...isn't he the worst goalkicker?
Nope
3/4 before that long range attempt. Kicked mid 70’s for Auckland last year. Seems to have recovered his technique
Perofeta is 5/12. Plummer seems to share the blame for his shitness
I'm not sure if its just a perception thing but it feels like Tuipulotu is talking to the refs a lot more as captain this year. Seems more comfortable in the role.
Being in the leadership team hasn't hurt Robinson's game either - he really lead from the front on the weekend.
Meanwhile former captain Parsons gave away a completely needless penalty late in the game. Glad he is not captain anymore.
@KiwiMurph said in Bulls v Blues:
I'm not sure if its just a perception thing but it feels like Tuipulotu is talking to the refs a lot more as captain this year. Seems more comfortable in the role.
Being in the leadership team hasn't hurt Robinson's game either - he really lead from the front on the weekend.
Meanwhile former captain Parsons gave away a completely needless penalty late in the game. Glad he is not captain anymore.
Patrick seems way more forceful with it as well. I like it. As long as he doesn’t err on the Ali Williams side, he cost us games getting refs offside with us.
@Kirwan said in Bulls v Blues:
@KiwiMurph said in Bulls v Blues:
I'm not sure if its just a perception thing but it feels like Tuipulotu is talking to the refs a lot more as captain this year. Seems more comfortable in the role.
Being in the leadership team hasn't hurt Robinson's game either - he really lead from the front on the weekend.
Meanwhile former captain Parsons gave away a completely needless penalty late in the game. Glad he is not captain anymore.
Patrick seems way more forceful with it as well. I like it. As long as he doesn’t err on the Ali Williams side, he cost us games getting refs offside with us.
Not only that, the reputation takes a long long time to shake. Agree that Pat T seems much better this year
reflecting back, that was a massive win for us. Away, at altitude, with a late yellow card. Big effort by the boys, great result
@nzzp said in Bulls v Blues:
Not only that, the reputation takes a long long time to shake. Agree that Pat T seems much better this year
Since midway through last year IMO
Which is when the ABs adjusted his nutrition plan
@Duluth said in Bulls v Blues:
Which is when the ABs adjusted his nutrition plan
joke in here about stopping beer and chips. Except it's not funny because it's true.
Mmm. Craft beer.
edit: I meant random internet person like me. Not Pat T. Pro athletes no doubt eat well
@nzzp said in Bulls v Blues:
joke in here about stopping beer and chips. Except it's not funny because it's true.
Well I guess I might as well point out that it's not true. He was scoring well on all the fitness tests but was gassing on game day.
The main problem was he wasn't eating enough on match day. The opposite of what most people would guess..
I think Hansen said they upped his carbs as well
@Duluth said in Bulls v Blues:
@nzzp ahh, my mistake
my bad, wrote it terribly. I have no words left today. I'm done.
@African-Monkey said in Bulls v Blues:
Glad Perofeta played well too. I think he'd go better at the back in a 2nd playmaker type role as I don't think he's the man to be guiding us around the paddock from 10 at this stage.
He’s a specialist fullback. I hope all talk of Perofeta as a ten has ended
