The finals of the 2010 Super 14 finals are upon us and only two teams are left standing. It’s going to be another all South African final, with the Bulls set to take on the Stormers at Orlando stadium. Let’s have a look at what got them there.

Bulls VS Crusaders:The Crusaders came within seconds of beating the Bulls during their last encounter at Loftus, but were nowhere close to beating them during this encounter at Orlando Stadium.

For the Bulls, it’s their 3rd Super rugby final in four years. The first ever rugby match played at Orlando Stadium, in Soweto, was a raging success, and I’m sure this weeks final will be even more so.

The Bulls opened the try scoring account in just the 3rd minute, when Pierre Spies broke through the Crusaders line from 10 metres out, beaten his man and brushing off the defence to cross the chalk for the Bulls’ first try.

Not to be outdone, All Black captain, Richie McCaw hit back with a try of his own just 7 minutes later, when the Crusaders drove over the Bulls’ line from a ruck, just 5 metres out.

The game went back and forth at moments from there on out, but the Bulls kept adding to the scoreboard at every opportunity, and with the trusty kicking of Morne Steyn, the Crusaders were punished at every wrong step.

The Crusaders scored a late consolation try, when Sam Whitelock crossed over in the 79th minute, to allow the score to look closer than te actual game was by the end of it.

My two cents worth:

  • Dan Carter has been pretty dull most of the season, and I think the All Blacks are really going to suffer in this year’s Tri Nations if he doesn’t find form soon.
  • Colin Slade gained 117m with ball in hand on the night, the most by any player on the field.
  • Pierre Spies is the definition of machine. He is the kind of player that will be making waves for years to come, with his outright pace and strong running. He managed to break the Crusaders line twice on the night.

  • Fourie du Preez had some real glimpses of brilliance on the night, showing why he is the best player in the world.

Bulls VS Crusaders 2010 Super 14 Semi Final Highlights: [WRNrugbynews]

 

 Scorecard:

Bulls: 39

Tries:Pierre Spies 3m; Zane Kirchner 15m; Fourie du Preez 63m

Conversions: 3/3 (100%) Morne Steyn 3/3 (100%)

Penalties: 6/7 (86%) Morne Steyn 6/7 (86%)

Drop goals: 0/2 (0%) Morne Steyn 0/2 (0%)

Crusaders: 24

Tries: Richie McCaw 11m; Sean Maitland 45m; Sam Whitelock 79m

Conversions: 3/3 (100%) Daniel Carter 3/3 (100%)

Penalties: 1/3 (33%) Daniel Carter 1/3 (33%)

Stormers VS Waratahs:The Stormers booked their ticket to their first ever Super 14 final when the took apart what can only be described as a flat Waratahs team, during the second semi final on Saturday.

The Waratahs made their intensions clear from the kick off, when they won back their own kick, and continued to hold their own in the opening exchanges, trying their best to gain the upper hand for the first quarter.

For the Waratahs though, they didn’t use that ascendancy to put any substantial points on the board, and their discipline let them down throughout, allowing the Stormers to continue clocking up points on the board.

The moment of the match came in the 25th minute, when deserved Springbok tourist, Juan De Jongh broke the Waratahs’ line, taking Kurtley Beale for an absolute nil, beating out the Waratahs cover defense, and crossing over for the only try of the match.

My two cents worth:

  • The Stormers loose trio absolutely outshone their Aussie counterparts. With Schalk Burger leading by example and once again making the most tackles on the night, with 21.
  • Drew Mitchell gained the most metres with ball in and. Making 116m on the night.
  • I’ve been saying it all season long, Peter Grant is not the answer at #10, once again missing the most tackles for the Stormers, with 5 missed on the night.
  • Lachlan Turner was disappointing for the Waratahs, giving away 5 penalties and missing 4 tackles.
  • How good was Juan de Jongh’s footwork? He made the Waratahs’ defence look like little girls.
  • Brock Harris had better do some serious soul searching before next week’s final. You can’t give away 5 scrum penalties against the Bulls.
  • The Stormers defence was once again impressive, managing to keep the Waratahs try-less on the night.
  • How utterly crap was Berrick Barnes. I don’t see him being selected for the Wallabies after that kak performance.

Stormers VS Waratahs 2010 Super 14 Semi Final Highlights: [WRNrugbynews]

Scorecard:

Stormers: 25

Tries:Juan De Jongh 25m

Conversions: 1/1 (100%) Peter Grant 1/1 (100%)

Penalties: 6/7 (86%) Peter Grant 6/7 (86%)

Drop goals: 0/2 (0%) Joe Pietersen 0/2 (0%)

Waratahs: 6

Penalties: 1/3 (33%)Berrick Barnes 1/3 (33%)

Drop goals: 1/2 (50%) Berrick Barnes 1/2 (50%)