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Vodacom Bulls clinch Gauteng Rugby Cup
02 February 2013

Orlando Stadium once again proved to be a happy hunting ground for the Vodacom Bulls who lifted the inaugural Gauteng Rugby Cup after beating the MTN Lions 38 – 32 this afternoon.

An action-packed day in the heart of Soweto in blistering heat was peppered with moments of nostalgia and reminiscing, sheer excitement and anticipation as the three times Vodacom Super Rugby champions made a welcome return to Orlando Stadium. Celebration was the order of the day as the Blue Bulls Rugby Union (BBRU) officially kicked off its 75th Anniversary by paying tribute to its past and present players while extending gratitude and appreciation to their loyal fans.

Despite missing several stalwarts due to injury, the Vodacom Bulls showed no signs of rustiness in their opening pre-season match. Deon Stegmann’s team dished out a good performance against their old foes, who went into this encounter on the back of two impressive victories against Russia and the Toyota Cheetahs respectively.

The Vodacom Bulls started off well and led 22-17 at halftime, but the MTN Lions came back strongly in the second half to cut the deficit. The lead exchange hands before the Vodacom Bulls took charge of proceedings thanks to a Jurgen Visser try late on. The match concluded with the visitors snatching a late try but failed to convert, resulting in the Vodacom Bulls being crowned the 2013 Gauteng Rugby Cup champions. The Gauteng Rugby Cup forms part of the Gauteng Sports Challenge, hosted by the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation in conjunction with Ultimate Sporting Concepts.

Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke was pleased the result but says they have to finetune their work in defence and lineouts ahead of their next match.

“It’s not ideal to start the season missing so many of our key players due to injury, but I’m pleased with the performances of my players today. They stepped up, showed hunger and desire which will likely give me some good headaches in terms of selections for our opening Vodacom Super Rugby match on 22 February.”

Vodacom Bulls flanker and captain for the Gauteng Rugby Cup Deon Stegmann says the team is fitter, stronger and more determined than ever.

“It’s always an amazing experience for the team to play in Soweto. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves here in 2010 and managed to give our fans exactly what they wanted today. Although we missed several of our more experienced players, this result sets the tone for what we plan to achieve in 2013.”

Fans were treated to pre-match entertainment catering for the entire family, the Vodacom Bulls Babes strutting their stuff on the pitch and a curtain-raiser featuring the Police Rugby Club against the Roodepoort Rugby Club.

Blue Bulls Company CEO Barend Van Graan was all smiles after Saturday’s festivities at Orlando Stadium.

“Once again we’ve been absolutely blown away by the support of the Soweto community. It’s no secret we love playing at Orlando Stadium, perhaps best reflected on the scoreboard. A victory was the perfect way to officially launch our 75th Anniversary celebrations.”

The Vodacom Bulls will travel to Polokwane for their second and final pre-season match against the Toyota Cheetahs at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on 9 February. Kickoff is at 5pm. Tickets are on sale at Computicket outlets countrywide, via telephonic bookings at 0861 915 8000 or by booking online at www.computicket.com. Tickets cost R60 (behind the poles), R80 for an Open Stand ticket or R100 for a Grand Stand ticket. There are also R20 tickets for learners for seats behind the poles. Parking tickets cost R20 and can also be purchased from Computicket. For more information, go to www.thebulls.co.za.

The scorers:

Vodcom Bulls:Tries: Jan Serfontein, Jurgen Visser 2, Grant Hattingh. Conversions: Tiaan Schoeman (2), Handre Pollard. Penalties: Schoeman (3), Pollard.

MTN Lions: Tries: Franco Mostert, Jaco Kriel (2), Anthony Volmink. Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (3). Penalty: Boshoff. Drop goal: Boshoff.

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Comments
23
Ons het diepte in byna al die posisies gewys. Ek is net bekommerd oor die skrums, te veel strafskoppe afgestaan en die lynstane. As ons volgens ons vorige jare se planne speel en die twee aspekte is so vrot soos gister het ons probleme.
Die jong manne het wel druk op die ou manne geplaas en dis altyd gesond vir die span.
Posted by Kaap'se bul on 03 February 2013 17:17
22
Ai tog, maar julle mense is darem maar negatief oor die jongelinge..........wat doen 'n losskakel? Seer sekerlik moet hy die bal tussen die pale kan deurskop, maar ook tog die calls kan maak vanuit die backline!! As Schoeman dan dan nie so goed was nie, wie dink julle het die calls gemaak vir die driee wat gedruk is in die eerste helfte.Nie Pollard wat op die bench gesit het nie!!!! Hierdie is maar slegs 'n opwarmings game, gun elkeen om sy talent uit te leef. Sien tog die positiewe ook! Schoeman......jy is goed! Jonk , miskien jou eerste game saam van die groot name onder die jonges, MAAR dit is waar ALMAL van hulle ook maar begin het. Mag jy saterdag WEER uitdraf , hetsy op die bench of die beginspan!
Posted by bloutante on 03 February 2013 15:29
21
Dink nie ons moet te veel lees in opwarmingswedstryde nie. dit gee wel selfvertroue maar dis baie lang seisoen wat voorle. wat ek wel gister kon optel is baie energieke jong klomp wat honger lyk. paar jong manne het hand opgesteek soos bv serfontein en jean cooke. Daar is nog harde werk soos bv balbehou by afbreekpunte, lynstaneenverdediging. ek was baie bly om jan te sien beweeg en sy off load met die een arm is fantasties.maar ons sal moet dink hoe ons iemand soos mapoe in die spel gaan benut.

dan was daar ook lewe met ulrich beyers later by. hoewel visser niks verkeerd gedoen het nie sal ek graag meer van byers wil sien en wat hy bring op hierdie vlak.
Posted by bloukaap2 on 03 February 2013 13:10
20
Dis n jammerte dat die game teen die cheathas nie uitgesaai word nie dit sou lekker gewees het om te kon kyk.Ek sien regtig uit na die jaar en ek dink die bulle gaan verras die jaar.Hoop almal her n wonderlike dag
HOU BY DIE BLOU
Posted by kzn bul on 03 February 2013 11:09
19
was lekker om die blou op die veld te sien --lynstane gesukkel maar bongi het gesukkel met die ingooi-hatting was lus vir rugby jan uit stekend--gaan sekker jan en pollard verloor vir die junior boke daai 2 gaan nog diep spore trap so ook arno algeheel goed vir eerste wedstryd--heng dis lekker om Victor in daai afrigtings box te sien
Posted by louisk on 03 February 2013 07:39
18
Dit was 'n goeie dag vir die BULLE, ek het niks minder as dit verwag nie. Jan Serfontein is absoluut briljant en so ook die ander jonges. Asseblief Frans, die spelers wat die meeste verdien hoef nie altyd eerste te speel nie.

Simply the Best.... GEE DIT HORINGS BULLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Jimmy on 03 February 2013 02:19
17
Serfontein is gereed vir S15 rugby en klaar!!Speel hom asb!! Frans Venter is goed maar Rocky is beter!! Arno ook goed gelyk! Lynstane het bietjie gesukkel, maar met Chillyboy en kruger daar sal dit beter gaan. Ons 1st time verdediging het nie goed gelyk nie.

MAAR, goeie wen teen leeus se 1Ste span!!!!!
Posted by Bullebakkies on 02 February 2013 22:27
16
Wratag pragtag! Ons toekoms lyk rooskleurig met hierdie jonges. Nie die sterkste Lions span nie,volgende week wag n taaie juan Smith lyk weer na die bielie van ouds maar ons agterlyn behoort hulle oor te wees. Die game teen die stormers op Loftus mis ek vir niks. Ons skuld hulle n goeie stamp!
GO BULLS!!!!!!
Posted by bloubefoeterd on 02 February 2013 22:00
15
Wow wat n game. Al die tekens van n nuwe span met jong spelers was daar maar hulle kon dit tog deurhaak. Jan , Ismael en stegman het mooi uit gestaan. Weldone boys
Posted by blouest on 02 February 2013 20:06
14
Wat my pla is dat ek nie glo jan of handre in die span gaan wees. Ek dink jan sal dalk op die bank wees. Hoop maar ek is verkeerd Kom FL en kie kies die beste span!!!!!! Go Bulle
Posted by BB1 on 02 February 2013 19:28
13
Gaan julle vir die die video opsit van die hoogte punte?
Daar is baie om te se, maar dit gaan nie help om met mense te redeneer wat in hoofletters skree en nie kan spel nie.
Die rede hoekom Serfontein nie verlede jaar gespeel het nie word bestuur genoem.
Onthou wat met Gaffie en Hoesselin gebeur het...
Dis ook waaroor rotasie gaan, om jou spelers te rus en te beskerm.
Posted by Soutpansberg on 02 February 2013 19:27
12
@11 OMG!!!!!! I dont know who ever is responsible for giving fouche a senior contract clearly dont know that a flyhalf needs to be a GREAT KICKER wich he is not. He may have had the most points but he cost us a lot of games along with our bat defence fouche wont stay long SO DEAL WITH IT and i said nothing about schoeman ill borrow u my glasses thene u can read my post properly.For u to react like this to a simple question that i asked u just shows the level of ur maturety
Posted by kzn bul on 02 February 2013 19:09
11
@kzn bul
OMG!!! i'm not even going to waste my time with you if there is nothing solid about Fouche and Schoeman then why do they have Bulls senior contracts?
I've never even rated Fouche at all but last year he was the highest points scorer in the currie cup.
Fouche is here to stay deal with it!!
Posted by Muzi on 02 February 2013 18:41
10
@9 WHAT DO U MEAN FOUCHE IS A SOLID KICKER ? HAVE U SEEN HIM PLAY CURRIE CUP RUGBY FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS? THERE IS NOTHING SOLID ABOUT HIM.POLLHARD SHOWED US IN THE LAST 20MIN THAT HE IS HERE TO PUSH FOR STEYNS PLACE AND SHOULD BE OUR NR 2 FLYHALF
HOU BY DIE BLOU
Posted by kzn bul on 02 February 2013 18:27
9
It's early days but a lot of good came out from this match against the lions.
Very impressed with the Bulls youngsters why didn't some of these young players get more game time last year in the currie cup?!?!?
IMHO our super rugby season will be determined by how well Frans Ludeke can rotate his squad because it's clear the youngsters are hungry to play give them a chance!!
What we saw in Orlando is clear Jan Serfontein is the best centre at the Bulls he has to start!
The Bulls have a star in the making Serfontein is ready he seems to have so much time and space brilliant young player.
That off-load to Grant Hattingh was great no Bulls centre can offer what Jan brings to the team he's a match winner.
Handre Pollard did well when he came on what impressed me most was his massive hit on Alwyn Hollenbach that kid has a calm head no doubt he's a class act.
Tiaan Schoeman and Louis Fouche are solid kickers but IMHO they are not that special at all Handre has massive potential.
Juan Schoeman battled in the scrums ,we struggled a bit in the line outs Victor will sort that out.
Jurgen Visser,Sampie Mastriet,Arno Botha,Paul Willemse,Grant Hattingh and Jean Cook had good games.
Well Done Bulls!!!!!




Posted by Muzi on 02 February 2013 18:09
8
Franco mostert is 'n bul.

Jan serfontein puik. hy is gereed vir die groter dinge. mastriet sal ook nie teleurstel nie. tiaan schoeman se opsies gied. overall goeie opwarmingsgame vir afrigters. lynstane was enigste aspek waaroor ek nie so lekker voel nie.
Posted by bloukaap2 on 02 February 2013 17:57
7
Ook hallo van my kant, die eerste keer hierdie jaar.

Asb keurders, kies vir Jan sommer al komende Saterdag. Plaas hom tussen twee ervare manne, Morne en WO op buitesenter. Sal die volgende agterlyn kies: Hougies, Morne, Basson, Jan, WO, Mapoe, Zane. Jano, Pollard en JJ op die bank.

Hoop ook die wedstrydplan vir die S15 is dieselfde as vandag s'n, balbesit rugby met hier en daar 'n lugskoppie, maar net as dit werklik nodig is.

Die sukses van ons seisoen is gebou op die volgende boustene:

1. Speel in die blou trui, nie pienk pajamas nie. Ons het 'n blou identiteit waaroor die spelers en ondersteuners passievol is, moenie ons verdeel met verkeerde besluite oor truie nie.

2. Spies moet van voor lei. Gebruik om reg, in spasie.

3. Ons voorry/vaste vyf moet nou hardebaarde word en begin domineer.

4. Hougie en Morne en Zane moet die game reglees en goed skop, veral Morne se doelskoppe. Ons wedstrydplan moet dus balbesit rugby wees, met goeie en akkurate skopwerk wanneer nodig.

5. Die jongmanne moet nou inkom, hulle is honger en bring gesonde kompetisie en passie met hulle saam: Arno en Jan in die beginspan, Willemse en Pollard van die bank. Visser, Mastriet en Ulrich het ook beindruk.

Sterkte vir die seisoen aan die Bulle, ook aan alle bulle ondersteuners. Bekers by dosyne !
Posted by bendiebul on 02 February 2013 17:37
6
Jan Serfontein kies homself,daars geen manier dat hy nie in die beginspan kan wees nie,hoop die afrigters sien dit ook so.Hy moes eintlik al laasjaar gespeel het.Die lynstane was bietjie van n aborsie maar andersins is dit n goeie wen.Geluk bulle die wyn proe weer soet hie in die suidkaap.Sien rerig uit na die jaar se rugby.
Posted by SUIDKAAPBUL on 02 February 2013 17:10
5
WEL GEDAAN BULLE DIE EERSTE BEKER IS GEWEN
WIL OOK NET DANKIE SE VIR DIE LIONS HULLE HET ONS REGTIG GETOETS EN OOK MOOI GESPEEL EK VOORSPEL DIE EINDE VAN FOUCHE SE TYD BY DIE BULLS
Posted by kzn bul on 02 February 2013 17:02
4
@3 ek glo nie ons A Span sou beter gedoen het nie ; )
Posted by Nitronic on 02 February 2013 16:57
3
Wel gedaan Bulle wonder net wat sou gebeur het as ons ons A span gespeel het dink ons sou so 80 teen 20 gewen het , paar jong manne wat regtig mooi speel is Mastriet,Hatting, Pollard, Serfontein ens die manne gaan nog diep spore trap, Veral Pollard lyk na die man om oor te neem by Morne steyn wanneer hy Frankryk toe gaan ek glo nie Schoeman en Fouche staan n kans
Posted by Corneluis on 02 February 2013 16:54
2
Ek is bly die BULLS het gewen geluk manne wat n game by serfontein en pollard was baie goed in die laaste 20min hy is n moet as morne se nr2. Al wat my bekoomer her is die scrums en lynstane maar vir ons 1ste game uitstekend baie goed gedoen nou vir volgende week
Posted by kzn bul on 02 February 2013 16:49
1
Nie sleg sover nie, maar die voorspelers moet in die agterlyn uit bly. Serfontein is n moet in die begin span, eks jammer maar Wynand offer net n crash ball opsie.
Posted by Nitronic on 02 February 2013 16:23
VIDEO
Highlights of the Super Rugby match between the Vodacom Bulls and Hurricanes from Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
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