Springbok fly-half Morne Steyn bagged 20 points as Northern Bulls defeated Western Stormers 25-17 at Orlando Stadium Saturday to win a third Super 14 title in four seasons.
Trailing 16-0 during the first half of only the second all-South African final, Stormers clawed back within six points midway through the second half only for Steyn to kick three penalties.
A late Ricky Januarie try gave the scoreline a flattering look as the Bulls always appeared likely winners of the southern hemisphere championship climax watched by a sell-out 36,500 crowd.
Bulls started favourites at their adopted home ground in the black township of Soweto with Pretoria fortress Loftus Versfeld being readied for the FIFA World Cup that kicks off next month.
The defending champions made one change from the team that finished 15 points ahead of Canterbury Crusaders in a semi-final last weekend with Gerhard van den Heever returning to the right wing after serving a two-match ban.
But the scorer of eight Super 14 tries this season lasted just 10 minutes before an injury forced him to retire and be replaced by veteran former Springbok Jaco van der Westhuyzen.
Appearing in their first Super final, Stormers kept faith with the starting line-up from the 19-point triumph over New South Wales Waratahs at Newlands in Cape Town seven days ago.
Bulls shrugged off the Van den Heever blow to lead 16-3 at half-time with the usual suspect contributing most of the points as top 2010 Super 14 scorer Steyn kicked three penalties and converted a Francois Hougaard try.
Guest of honour President Jacob Zuma said he wanted to see tries and his wish came true on 24 minutes as scrum-half Fourie du Preez set up Hougaard from a ruck and the wing rounded fullback Joe Pietersen to dot down.
Stormers pack was struggling to assert itself, regularly being turned over, but they got on the scoreboard nine minutes before half-time when fly-half Peter Grant succeeded with his first penalty attempt.
A more even but scrappy second half came to life on 54 minutes when 2007 Rugby Player of the Year Bryan Habana intercepted a pass just inside Bulls territory and raced unchallenged to the line for a try Grant converted.
Steyn widened the Bulls lead to nine points with his fourth penalty, but failed for the first time in the match when another attempt from near the touchline just missed the target.
Not that it affected his confidence as two more penalty chances presented themselves in the closing stages and Steyn struck both between the posts to give the Bulls a 25-10 advantage.
With time ticking away on a cool, overcast evening, Stormers got a second try through Januarie and Grant converted.
Eljayel
Guest
Have I missed something? Is the Super 14 over?
Rusty
Roar Guru
Looks like he should be playing for the Highlanders!
Aidso
Roar Rookie
Great Super 14, im a huge stormers fan, but the bulls are too good. Stormers were never in the game, like the waratahs in the semi's, could have been any ref on any day, the bulls were always gonna win the super 14 this year it was obvious from the start. Fourie Du Preez still making the IRB's awarding Richie McCaw player of the year a complete joke. Bring on the trinations.
True Tah
Guest
Have to say Francois Hougaard has the worst haircut in the Super 14, I know hes from the Cape, but he looked like he just stepped out of Boksburg.
Katipo
Guest
I respect spectator generated noise. IMO the vuvus are less annoying than the interruptive rock music played by the stadium office staff at Australian & NZ matches. That rock music drowns out the roar of the crowd and should be banned I tell you! Congratulations to the Blue Balls.
Coach Ed.
Roar Rookie
hear hear Johno - by the way does anyone know how Wilkinson spells his first name : Jonny, Johny ??? Every rightup seems to be different. I have found 14 articles on him where the score is 8 - 6 in favour of Jonny
Coach Ed.
Roar Rookie
Hear Hear Jock
Draeken
Guest
To those talking about the vuvuzelas. Yes they are annoying on TV. Having listened to them on TV I agree they are a constant drone. However having been at the stadium yesterday I'm going to say don't knock it till you've tried it. At the stadium and in the streets around it they have a completely different effect. It really builds the vibe for the match from what I experienced. But even if you still can't take them then don't worry, as they won't be present at Loftus ever. They are banned at Rugby matches in this country. Its not Bulls fans trait as ISO said, after all they've only been at the last two matches, and there were just as many Stormers fans as Bulls fans blowing the vuvus.
Tragic
Guest
how annoying were those horns? That sort of stuff is seriously weird.
brian
Guest
well seeing they're only allowed to pick three players of colour, they'll have to look towards south africa, won't they ?
Ziggy
Guest
ISO - My comments on Fourie are based on general play over the year. I'm not talking about Fourie du Preez who, like Jimmy, I think is an exceptional half and easily the best player in the world in any position. The comment on Crusaders is valid - remember the original remark was about reputation built over many years and you cannot seriously argue that the Crusaders are not far and away the best team to date in the competition?
johno
Guest
Everybody is complaining about this. Super Sport's outside broadcast standards have slipped considerably in the last season. They have this horrible little habit of giving you a close up when you want to see the full picture, especially at rolling mall time.
jiggles
Guest
Honestly, how good where the Bulls!! They completely shut down the Stormers in every facet of play. I think the score line flatters the Stormers and does not show how really one-sided this game was. That was truly a great performance and master class by du Preez and Steyn in the halves, but was really set up by a dominant and brutal team effort from the pack. I also think it bodes well for the Springboks this Tr-Nations. The South Africans, if allowed to play their type of rugby, will dominate both Australia and New Zealand I think. Despite the optimism surrounding the wallabies team, If we get suckered into playing like South Africa against South Africa we will be bashed into submission with another disappointing campaign as a result. I feel the only way Australia and the All Blacks can beat the South Africans is to keep the continuity going and try and avoid slow ball at the ruck. Look for the offloads in every tackle, and if a ruck happens make sure the support is there fast, and fast ball from the half to keep things rolling. I think the Reds showed the only real way to beat the South African game this year, hopefully this tactic will transfer to the national side.
johno
Guest
Ag shame did you okies not get what you wanted, stop whining. There were iffy decisions both ways. The decision that went against Spies when Bekker drove him back was incorrect. Bekker never even attempted to release the tackler. The light westerly breezes wer exactly that when they had to play the A team. It was time to shut up and put up, and they couldn't. They had a lot to say this week, but couldn't walk the walk.
ISO
Guest
Ziggy, Fourie a liability - or potential one to give benefit of doubt??? Your comment on Crusaders???? They may play a brilliant test, but clearly not brilliant enough to take even a semi in the S14. Fourie is mostly, and was outstanding today! Sure you were watching the right game? Or is it a case of believing what suits the good ol' paradigm?
ISO
Guest
Jock, You're right... it's absolutely rediculous!!! Legislation is underway to ban the v's. They "cheapen" the game entirely, never mind the din being unbearable! It's more a Bulls' fan's trait of recent - and it's unfortunately more the fans that cloud the team's name and performance... I noted that stacks of fans were so busy with these clap-trap-thingies, some blowing two at a time, they hardly watched their own team! You have the sympathies of many. Hurry up legislation!
Jock
Guest
This was the worst game of super 14 rugby to be viewed on tv - given that we pay for the right to view and millions watched the game - why the hell did the management of the stadium/ or the local TV channels that sell the program site all of the microphones close to the idiots with the horns - and yes it is a tradition - a stupid one - the noise not only drowned out the game - but drowned out the commentary - and no doubt gave a million viewers a headache My plea is to the other franchises to never allow the bulls to win again - at least that way we can watch the damn final in the manner rugby should be watched - leave that noise for the soccer clowns
ISO
Guest
Mampara, I respect your opinions - sincerely. Without going into war, the footage demonstrated zero try by Januarie, Louw or anybody. We scanned & scanned footage in the studio - sorry, but IMO a no-try should have been upheld - as much as the Stormers deserved it looking at their determination! Not sure about the All Blacks and 2010 Tri-nations... They're unpredictable and seemingly on a downward spiral - but personally, I'm wary of them, although the heart is with the South Africans - and there's little reason (paradoxically), why they shouldn't take the tri's. S.A. is losing players currently to other parts of the world as per the media - some of those players critical ones IMO. Media is one thing however, albeit that there's mostly fire at the end of the smoke trail - I'd rather wait. We've sufficient depth perhaps except for the centre players. As for the technical comments, they are at large and difficult to dispute. But let's not go back there and rather celebrate the victory! Thanks for a sobering remark / reply!
ISO
Guest
Tah, I seriously don't think the opportunitiy was presented for the Lions or any other team for that matter to play in Soweto. The semi-final and final was played at Soweto so that the turf for the massive stadiums could be preserved for FIFA. You have a point though Tah, a move to playing in Soweto would have been proactive if played there anyway previously. Hope this helps.
Jimmy
Guest
If the Lions had played their games in Soweto it would have set rugby back for decades among the African kids!