Flat Waratahs lose to Bulls

This was a live match report. Full report to follow.

The Sydney match was shaping up to be this weekend’s most bruising encounter. The Bulls always pride themselves upon their grunt up front, with Victor Matfield calling the shots in a strong, big, and aggressive pack.

The Waratahs got the first points of the match with a penalty. Hougaard tried to level up the scores with a drop goal but hit the left post.

Bryan Habana came close to scoring a try but lost control of the ball and knocked on. Hougaard was next up as he got a penalty.

Hewat then levelled up the scores but Habana came back with a try. Hougaard missed the coversion.

The Bulls gave away a penalty so Hewat had a shot at goal but sent the ball wide to the right. On the 30 minute mark the Bulls gave away another penalty. Hewat knocked this one between the posts bringing the Tahs within 2.

With three minutes to go beforehalf time the Bulls gave another penalty and Hewat slotted it to put the Waratahs in front.

Bulls No.9 Fourie du Preez fired straight back and burst through two tackles and reached over the line to score the Bulls second try. Hougaard then sent the ball sailing between the posts as the siren sounded.

The Bulls penalty count is 8 to 1 and they are keeping the Waratahs in the game. The Waratahs have however had 60 % of the possesion and still not scored a try.

The half time score wasWaratahs9 Bulls 15

The Waratahs got the start they wanted in the second half with a penalty straight away. JP Nel then kicked the ball through for Habana who scored his second try and the Bulls pulled further way away. The conversion was good and the Bulls lead by 10.

The Bulls extended their lead with a penalty.

Habana then made a break with the balland the Waratahs defended but gave away a penalty. This time the ball shaved the posts and the scores stayed the same.

The Bulls kept the attack on but knocked the ball on 1m from the line. Three minutes later the Bulls Fourie du Preez broke free with the ball from a high kick and the (poor) Waratahs defence allowed du Preez to score his second try of the game.

Hougaard slotted the conversion. The Waratahs did manage to score a try in the 76th minute whenKurtley Beale broke through the Bulls line.

Hewat converted but really it’s a consolation try from a very flat Waratahs performance.

Full report to follow.

Full time scoreWaratahs19 Bulls 32

Scorers

Waratahs

Try- Beale
Penalty – Hewat (4)
Conversion – Hewat

Bulls
Tries – Habana (2), du Preez(2)
Penalty – Hougaard (2)
Conversion – Hougaard (3)

Teams:

Waratahs: 15 Peter Hewat, 14 Morgan Turinui, 13 Ben Jacobs, 12 Daniel Halangahu, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 David Lyons, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Will Caldwell, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Alastair Baxter, 2 Adam Freier, 1 Benn Robinson
Replacements: 16 Al Manning, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Ben Hand, 19 Beau Robinson, 20 Josh Valentine, 21 Sam Norton-Knight, 22 Sam Harris

Bulls: 15 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JP Nel, 12 Wayne Julies, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Derick Hougaard, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 Wikus van Heerden, 6 Danie Rossouw, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Danie Thiart, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp
Replacements: 16 Jaco Engels, 17 Ruan Vermeulen, 18 Anton Leonard, 19 Derick Ku’n, 20 Heinie Adams, 21 Morn’ Steyn, 22 Marius Delport

Referee: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Julian Pritchard (Australia)
Television match official: Geoff Acton (Australia)
Assessor: Ian Scotney (Australia), Dennis Immelman (South Africa)