Blues Bulls after Crusaders rampage – Rugby news
It is generally tough for any South African team whenever they are visiting New Zealand in any form of contest in the game of Rugby.
Particularly in Super Rugby, none of the South African team has been able to engrave their dominance over the Island. However, one cannot live in past and should thrive to change any unfavourable results to their favour with hard work and diligence.
Same was expected when Blues Bulls started their tour of the Australasian with a game at Westpac Stadium, Wellington. Expectations increased when they were able to overcome the challenge of the season strugglers Hurricanes. But soon experienced what now
can be termed as routine for any rugby team visiting from South Africa, an agonizing defeat. What had happened on field will be reminded to the players and talked about in different niche meetings.
Blues Bulls were clueless that what has struck them at AMI stadium and a day earlier would not dreamt a damage of such extent. Going scoreless for full length of the game and even more disappointing is the fact that they fail to run and complete 5 – 6 phases.
Such is the extent of the demoralizing damage Crusaders have embarked upon the Bulls who will be taking on the Reds in Brisbane.
Victor Matfield, whose recent remarks regarding his halfback pair has brought a lot of controversy is aware of the extent of the damage and demanded an extra effort from the team during the training sessions. Bulls earlier to their Crusaders defeat ended
up on the losing side in their encounters against the Highlanders and Stormers.
Defending champions are although relatively better placed at the 8th position with 4 wins and 21 points in their seven matches do however need to restart from the scratch. Particularly as they suffer, a lot in ball handling and territory gaining against
the Crusaders. Matfield was commentless on the poor ball handling by team and in fact replied by terming the ball greasy.
He said, “The ball was very greasy, but the Crusaders could keep it for phases, so we should have done the same.”
In any perspective Bulls have been made to think that they are ordinary and they must get out this massive defeat out of their system if they are to remain in hunch to make it to the play offs. For this they need to work on both their defense and attack
and avoid themselves from any off field distraction particularly during their stay in Australia in which they will play their matches against the Reds and Western Force.
Talking about his strategy in remaining games Matfield said, “We've got two more, we have to work hard and we have to get back on track.”
Whatever Blue Bulls might plan they are running out of the time to practice the plan to achieve the perfection to improve their game. It is the performance on field that matters and that is the one that counts.
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