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Can Bulls do it again?
15 March 2013

Can the Vodacom Bulls make Vodacom Super Rugby history for a second successive weekend in New Zealand when they face the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday morning?

That is what they will be aiming for against a hurt and dangerous seven-time champion side at AMI Stadium. Yes, it may sound funny, but the Crusaders are still without a win in 2013 (they have only played twice). The last time they lost their first two matches, was in 2005.

On the other hand, the Vodacom Bulls have won all three thus far this season and are one of only three unbeaten teams left in the competition.

On Saturday, the Vodacom Bulls will try to beat the Crusaders for the first time ever in New Zealand, but they will also aim to win back to back Vodacom Super Rugby matches in New Zealand for the first time ever.

In 1996, in the pre-franchise days and playing as Northern Transvaal, the team from Pretoria beat the Crusaders at the old Lancaster Park by 32-18. Since then, they’ve lost in Christchurch eight times, including twice in knock-out matches (2006 and 2012), and once in Timaru. The average score in these matches was 37-15 to the Cantabrians.

The closest the Vodacom Bulls ever came to upsetting the Crusaders in Christchurch, was in 2009, when they lost 13-16 despite scoring two tries to one.

Frans Ludeke, who made only one change to his team for Saturday’s match, said his team would like to emulate their first-ever win in New Zealand over the Blues last Sunday.

“We got the momentum we wanted on tour with the good win against the Blues,” said Ludeke.

“By naming the same side bar the injury, we hope to continue the way we finished against the Blues. We will need a good performance against a very good side.”

Vodacom Bulls captain Pierre Spies said: “We came close here in the past and now must try and get that rare win in Christchurch.”

The teams are:

Crusaders: Israel Dagg, Tom Marshall, Robbie Fruean, Ryan Crotty, Johnny McNicholl, Dan Carter, Andy Ellis, Kieran Read (captain), Matt Todd, George Whitelock, Dominic Bird, Samuel Whitelock, Owen Franks, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett. Replacements: Ben Funnell, Joe Moody, Tom Donnelly, Luke Whitelock, Willi Heinz, Tyler Bleyendaal, Adam Whitelock.

Vodacom Bulls: Zane Kirchner, Akona Ndungane, JJ Engelbrecht, Wynand Olivier, Jürgen Visser, Morné Steyn, Jano Vermaak, Pierre Spies (captain), Arno Botha, Deon Stegmann, Juandré Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Frik Kirsten, Willie Wepener, Morné Mellett. Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Werner Kruger, Grant Hattingh, Jacques Potgieter, Francois Hougaard, Louis Fouché, Jan Serfontein.

Head to head (since 1998)

Crusaders won 13, Vodacom Bulls 7

669 points for Crusaders, 468 for Vodacom Bulls

74 tries for Crusaders, 45 for Vodacom Bulls

Kick-off: SA Time: 08h35 (SA time)
Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Nick Briant (New Zealand), Kane McBride (New Zealand)
Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)

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Comments
38
Dis hartseer BULLE, maar ek stem saam kzn bul, hulle moet nie dat die game hulle toer laat ontspoor nie. Chilliboy se ingooie is baie stadig en onakuraat, ons verdediging was met tye swak, ons het meeste van die tyd pakgekry met losballe op die grond. Ek sal wel opkom vir Morne Steyn wat in n sukkelende game met swak stadige bal, n paar baie goeie lynskoppe gehad het en goed pale toe geskop het. Die Crusaders was baie beter as ons maar ek moet by sê weereens tipiese All Black spel, speel negatief deur al ons balle stadig te maak en doen dit heeltyd op die edge van n strafskop of geelkaart. Ek het opgemerk dat die Crusaders mekaar n high five gegee het na een van die strafskoppe teen hulle, so met ander woorde hulle voel missoin accomplished.
Posted by BillyO on 16 March 2013 10:34
37
Die bulle was met een woord pateties swak. Hulle het nie geglo hulle kon wen nie. Skielik twyfel ek in die res van die toer. Hoop ek is verkeerd.
Posted by Bluedog on 16 March 2013 10:21
36
BULLE VAT DIE EEN AS N LEASSON LEARND
VERGEET VAN DIE GAME EN KONSENTREER OP DIE REDS
HOU BY DIE BLOU
Posted by kzn bul on 16 March 2013 10:18
35
Sorrie span en Wynie, dit was toe "a bridge too far"...nou moet julle gaan regmaak in Kangaroeland.
Posted by Bloutong on 16 March 2013 10:18
34
speller, nie speller nie! Nog 'n drie...eina! Geen voordeellyn dominasie nie, geen balbesit, geen wen!
Posted by Bloutong on 16 March 2013 10:16
33
Chris Pollock is die Crusaders se 16e speller, maar die Bulls se koppe hang...
Posted by Bloutong on 16 March 2013 10:15
32
Presies waarvoor ek bang was die Crusaders is net te goed. Vir die Bulle is ons weereens voorspelbaar. Ons moet die een op die chin vat ek n wen teen die Reds en die Brumbies is non-negotiable. Ons was ook baie swak by die afbreekpunte
Posted by Nitronic on 16 March 2013 10:04
31
DIE BULLS IS OORDONDER
Ons is n rugby les geleer deur die Crusaders
Ons skrums was swak JJ IS NIE N BUITE SENTER NIE HY WORD TIME AND TIME AGAIN GEKLOP SY VERDEDIGING IS BAIE SWAK ZANEwas vir my die beste Bulls speler op die veld
ons het nie die bal gehad om iets te doen nie en ons moes ons game plan afgedwing het inplaas van die crusaders NEE WAT SO GOED AS WAT ONS LAAS WEEK WAS SO SWAK WAS ONS VANDAG
Ek moet ook by se dat die ref ook baie foute gemaak het
Posted by kzn bul on 16 March 2013 10:00
30
Die bulle is nie in die game nie. Crusaders oorheers en sonder besit kan jy nie speel nie. Die bulle kan terug kom in die 2de helfte maar ek twyfel sterk. Hulle sal moet besit kry.
Posted by Bluedog on 16 March 2013 09:24
29
GOEIE MORE ALLE VERBETE BLOU BUL ONDERSTEUNERS BROEDERS EN SUSTERS!!!!!!!!!

GEE DIT HORINGS BULLE EN LA’T DIE BYLE HYL!!!!!!!
Posted by Jimmy on 16 March 2013 08:07
28
More Almal
Dis nie meer lank nie dan speel ons geliefde BULLE
Ek hoop regtig ons bou voort op wat ons verlede sondag beruik het
STERKTE BULLE ONS STAAN BANK VAS AGTER JULLE
HOU BY DIE BLOU
Posted by kzn bul on 16 March 2013 07:55
27
Sjoe, Lam-paw-paw strikes again!
Posted by Ligblou Baron on 16 March 2013 07:34
26
GO BULLE GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Posted by Jimmy on 16 March 2013 01:27
25
Gooi mielies, gooi mielies, just sing it with your soul. Gooi mielies, gooi mielies, that's how we rock an' roll...... Gooi Mielies - Bill Flynn.
Posted by Jimmy on 16 March 2013 01:26
24
Where the sailors are swaying through the light domes shining from the sky then you’ll meet me there under the moonshine, in a lover’s heaven, we’ll keep our promises at last… Dance With Me – Alphaville
Posted by Jimmy on 16 March 2013 01:24
23
Oh, I can't explain every time it's the same oh I feel that it's real take my heart. I've been lonely too long oh, I can't be so strong take the chance for romance, take my heart…. Cheri Cheri Lady - Modern Talking
Posted by Jimmy on 16 March 2013 01:22
22
I'm a party freak and I really mean a freak every day of the week I can't live my life without jammin' that is why my life is so slammin' I take you up to a place where you never been… Slave To The Music – Twenty 4 Seven
Posted by Jimmy on 16 March 2013 01:20
21
Suddenly I feel a shadow hanging over me. Love is true; it cuts in two, between pleasure and pain between sunshine and rain and between me and you… They Say It’s Gonna Rain – Hazel Dean
Posted by Jimmy on 16 March 2013 01:19
20
I get up in the evening and I ain't got nothing to say, I come home in the morning I go to bed feeling the same way. I ain't nothing but tired man I'm just tired and bored with myself… Dancing in the Dark – Bruce Springsteen
Posted by Jimmy on 16 March 2013 01:17
19
Looking for you, you were looking for me. Always reaching for you, you were too blind to see. Oh love of my heart, why leave me alone? I’m falling apart, no good on my own…. Oh Lamour – Erasure
Posted by Jimmy on 16 March 2013 01:16
18
When I'm with you baby I go out of my head I just can’t get enough I just can’t get enough. All the things you do to me and everything you said I just can’t get enough…. I Just Can’t Get Enough – Depeche Mode
Posted by Jimmy on 16 March 2013 01:14
17
You spin me right round baby right round like a record baby right round round round, you spin me right round baby right round like a record baby right round round round…You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) – Dead or Alive
Posted by Jimmy on 16 March 2013 01:11
16
So I look back upon my life forever with a sense of shame. I've always been the one to blame for everything I long to do, no matter when or where or who has one thing in common, too… It’s a Sin – Pet shop Boys
Posted by Jimmy on 16 March 2013 01:08
15
So 'n paar 80's vir die laatnag..
Posted by Jimmy on 16 March 2013 01:07
14
Oh yeah the Crusaders havent won yet and neither have the Waratahs so what ? The Cheetahs did it - so can we !
Posted by BullsRbest on 15 March 2013 13:42
13
If the Cheetahs can do two on the trot why can't we - they are hungry and looking so good and now our boys can also go out there and make South Africa proud. I know we can do it with ease if we get that rampant charging hungry pack going we are there :))) Like Hougie says "the guys are looking sharp" I love it !! GO BULLS !!!!
Posted by BullsRbest on 15 March 2013 13:41
12
My hart sê die BULLE kan my kop sê die Crusaders met Ellis, Carter, Crotti, Fruen en Dagg in die agterlyn gaan moeilik gekeer word. My hart juig oor die wen teen die Blues my kop sê die Crusaders gaan ons nie met dieselfde min respek behandel nie en opdaag vir hierdie game en dat hulle flat-out gaan speel vir 80 min. Ons kan dieselfde doen en wen. My hart sê ons moes die Blues verder gewen het, my kop sê hulle span was onervare.

My hart sê my kop se moer!

Go BULLE! GO GO GO!!!

Posted by bloubefoeterd on 15 March 2013 13:31
11
Doris.
Posted by Bully Beef on 15 March 2013 13:24
10
Who's there?
Posted by koedu on 15 March 2013 13:03
9
klop
Posted by Richie Bloumasjien on 15 March 2013 12:58
8
Cheetas lop Waratahs 27-26, kom BULLE gaan klop Crusaders in Christchurch.
Posted by Richie Bloumasjien on 15 March 2013 12:58
7
Ons kan die Saders wen, maar dan moet ons nie so voorspelbaar wees nie, dink dis waar ons die Stormers en Blues gevang het.

Wonder wat Heyneke gaan doen noudat albei sy nr 5 slotte oppad oorsee is? Juandre moet dalk oorweeg om eerder te bly aangesien hy ons eerste keuse nr 5 gaan wees as Bekker waai!!!
Posted by Bullebakkies on 15 March 2013 12:55
6
My Superbru is in sy maai.
Posted by Jimmy on 15 March 2013 12:45
5
Ek wil net se geluk aan die cheethas met hul wen teen die warathas hul 2de in n ry op toer.Dit kan gedoen word bulle ek weet die Crusaders is in n ander liga maar al wat ek vra is gee jul alles
Posted by kzn bul on 15 March 2013 12:25
4
Ek glo verseker die ouens het die potensiaal om te wen. Indien hulle kan voortbou op hulle spel teen die blues dan staan hulle verseker 'n goeie kans.

die 2de week van toer is egter wanneer vlugflouheid inskop en die bulle het nog nooit 'n goeie 2de week gehad nie.

Ek dink as ons Saterdag kan deurkom is daar geen rede hoekom ons nie al 4 kan wen nie. Ons kry die Brumbies as hulle terugkom van 'n moeilike SA toer.
Posted by Old Blue Eyes on 15 March 2013 11:11
3
Gaan harde wedstryd wees, maar BULLE kan dit doen.
Posted by sblou on 15 March 2013 10:57
2
BULLE ek glo julle kan die een wen hou net kop verdedig goed moenie te veel strafskoppe afstaan nie en morne hou net aan soos jy nou speel
STERKTE BULLE
HOU BY DIE BLOU
Posted by kzn bul on 15 March 2013 10:47
1
Dit gaan moeilik wees maar die Bulle kan verseker.
Posted by Jimmy on 15 March 2013 10:33
VIDEO
Highlights of the Super Rugby match between the Vodacom Bulls and Hurricanes from Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
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