Vodacom Bulls
The Vodacom Bulls jumped from third to first in the South African Vodacom Super Rugby Conference after their bonus-point victory over the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Their fourth try was scored in injury time, but it was enough for the Vodacom Bulls to return to Pretoria with five points which saw them go to 28 log points halfway through the league phase of the competition. They won 34-0.
Kings (0) 0 / 34 (20) Bulls (Final Score)
The Southern Kings and Vodacom Bulls did battle in Super Rugby at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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There was no serious injury concern following the Vodacom Bulls win over the Toyota Cheetahs on the weekend, but a number of players picked up light strains, team doctor Org Strauss said on Monday.
Bulls (6) 26 / 20 (9) Cheetahs (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and Toyota Cheetahs did battle in Super Rugby at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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All five South African Vodacom Super Rugby franchises will be in action this weekend, with two mouth-watering derbies set for Cape Town and Pretoria on what amounts to a “Super Saturday”.
The Vodacom Bulls team to play the Toyota Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday has been bolstered by the return of two experienced campaigners, with Akona Ndungane and Flip van der Merwe back in the starting line-up.
Injury Updates from the various Super Rugby camps:
Brumbies (14) 23 / 20 (3) Bulls (Final Score)
The Brumbies and Vodacom Bulls did battle in Super Rugby at Canberra Stadium, Canberra at 10:40 SA Time (08:40 GMT, 19:40 Canberra Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Midfielder Jan Serfontein will make a first start in Vodacom Super Rugby when he takes the field for the Vodacom Bulls in their last overseas tour match against the Brumbies in Canberra.
Die Vodacom Bulls se beseringslysie op sy toer deur Australasië wil maar net nie ophou groei nie.
Reds (13) 23 / 18 (6) Bulls (Final Score)
The Reds and Vodacom Bulls did battle in Super Rugby at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 10:40 SA Time (08:40 GMT, 18:40 Brisbane Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Injuries and rotation played a major role in Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke’s call to name an almost new side for Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby clash against the Reds in Brisbane.
It can be hair-raising but Dan Carter says the Crusaders’ hectic game-plan is here to stay.
Wynand Olivier, Francois Hougaard and Akona Ndungane will all be returning home following injuries in the Vodacom Bulls defeat at the hands of the Crusaders on Saturday.
Crusaders (22) 41 / 19 (9) Bulls (Final Score)
The Crusaders and the Vodacom Bulls did battle in Super Rugby at AMI Stadium, Christchurch at 08:35 SA Time (06:35 GMT, 19:35 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Jürgen Visser, the utility back 
will start on the wing for the Vodacom Bulls in their Super Rugby clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.
Wyatt Crockett hasn’t been fooled by the Bulls’ unexpected flamboyance at Eden Park.
Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke made seven changes to his starting side to play the Blues in Auckland on Sunday in the first of their four match tour.
The starting team shows changes at wing, centre, scrumhalf, loose forward, prop and hooker from the one that had the bonus point win over the Western Force last weekend, with injuries and the return to fitness the main reasons for that.
The Vodacom Bulls named their touring squad to Australasia for matches against the Blues, Crusaders, Reds and Brumbies. All four opponents are previous winners of the Super Rugby title.
Bulls and Springbok flyhalf Morne Steyn has agreed to leave the Pretoria Super Rugby franchise and join Stade Francais.
(Update: See the Outcome of the Citing at the bottom of the page!)
When I first saw the headlines about this incident, I thought… “Hell, is’nt that what one is supposed to do, to hit the rucks hard and with the shoulders to get the driving force forward?” The next instinct was that Rugby is gradually going softer and softer and I suppose that would be the sentiment amongst most of us older folk who played the game when a few crucial punches in a match was not only needed, but required and when someone did not lie on the wrong side of a ruck, because he was certainly going to get some stud marks all over him.
Round 3 of Super Rugby of 2013 certainly delivered it’s share of surprises, frustration, disapointment, elation and joy.
Here’s having a disection of a number of the games:
Bulls (14) 36 / 26 (9) Force (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and Western Force did battle in Super Rugby at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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The 1st game up in a season of Super Rugby is never easy, but hell it was nice to sit in the Press Benches at Loftus Versfeld again watching Super Rugby!
Firstly, I have to complain bitterly about 2 things though…. the first being Pretoria Traffic Department’s abhorrent handling of the traffic around Loftus, before the match. Many people were still stuck in traffic after the match had started, not a first time occurence in Pretoria either.
Get yourselves sorted out Traffic Department, you are a blight on Pretoria!
Secondly I have to complain about 3G Internet coverage at Loftus! None of the Cell Networks allowed any workable Internet access for the scribes in the Press Boxes and with 45 000 supporters in the stands with their Cell Phones on, these Networks were all clearly overloaded. Note to myself, take this up with the Bulls… they in turn would have to take it up with their principle sponsors, Vodacom and the other Cell Networks, or else provide a working Wi-Fi Hotspot scenario for proper Internet Access.
For both the Vodacom Bulls and the DHL Stormers, this was not easy either! These 2 “Big Guns” went hammer and tongs with one another at Loftus Versveld on Friday evening 22 February 2013.
The Bulls won on the evening, by 25 / 17, bagging 4 Log Points and giving the Stormers no Log Points.
Bulls (9) 25 / 17 (0) Stormers (Final Score)
The Vodacon Bulls and DHL Stormers do battle in Super Rugby at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT).
This is the live match discussion Article.
The match is broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Going through the Internet, looking for interesting rugby titbits, I once again came accross Dewald Potgieter’s Blog, one which SuperSport publishes week by week in the active rugby season down south.
Dewald continues to surprise with his easy and well-written articles.
Interestingly, my wife was at the Christmas Function of the Blue Bulls end of last year, where Dewald Potgieter also acted as Master of Ceremonies… and the same sentiments eminated from her. Dewald is a very well-spoken and eloquent young man, take your time to read what he says.
Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke named an experienced outfit to face the Stormers on Friday at Loftus Versfeld in the opening match of the local 2013 Vodacom Super Rugby competition.
With an ace up their sleeve, the Sharks and Stormers will have their greatest chance yet to end their Super Rugby trophy drought this year.
new viral Bulls campaign, “Stand by Me”
The Vodacom Bulls sounded a stern warning ahead of their Super Rugby campaign as they demolished the Toyota Cheetahs 32-10 in their pre-season friendly at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
The teams for Saturday 9 February’s warm up match between the Vodacom Bulls and the Toyota Cheetahs in Polokwane, have been announced. Springboks will captain both sides, with Pierre Spies making a return for the Bulls, and Adriaan Strauss leading the Cheetahs charge.
Bulls (22) 38 / 32 (17) Lions (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and MTN Lions did battle in the Gauteng Rugby Cup at Orlando Stadium, Soweto at 15:00 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 on TV in SA.
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PUMA has designed a “vintage” commemorative and limited edition jersey to mark the 75th Anniversary celebrations of the Bulls.
Die baljagter-flank Deon Stegmann lei Saterdag die Vodacom Bulls in hul voorseisoense wedstryd teen die MTN Lions in die Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
The impact of record-breaking retired Springbok Victor Matfield as a coach is already being felt by the Bulls.