A controversial try gave the Northern Bulls a 43-10 triumph over the Western Stormers in an all-South Africa Super 14 clash on Saturday and an unexpected place in the semifinals.
Needing to win by at least 32 points and score a minimum of four tries, poor travellers Bulls were given little hope of walloping the resurgent Stormers and overtaking fellow South Africans, Coastal Sharks, on points difference.
But the Pretoria-based franchise overcame the loss for 10 minutes of prop Danie Thiart and lock and captain Victor Matfield to the sin-bin during the first half to pull off an amazing 33-point victory.
The Bulls will visit defending champions Canterbury Crusaders of New Zealand in the semifinals next weekend while the Wellington Hurricanes of New Zealand host the New South Wales Waratahs of Australia.
After leading 26-3 at half-time, the Bulls appeared in trouble when Stormers wing Jean de Villiers scored a try in the opening minute of the second half and flyhalf Peter Grant converted.
But Bulls flyhalf Morne Steyn kicked a penalty, and converted tries by prop Wessel Roux and wing Bryan Habana capped a remarkable finale in which the Brumbies crashed 33-3 at the Crusaders and the Sharks won 41-25 at home to Western Force of Australia on Friday.
Habana appeared to push opposite number Chumani Booi before winning a race to the ball, set up by a grubber kick from Matfield, the official man of the match in the southern hemisphere inter-provincial championship clash.
South African referee Mark Lawrence sought the assistance of the television match official and there was a long delay before a try was awarded and Steyn converted from the touchline.
”It is unbelievable. When the Brumbies lost there was renewed excitement in the camp and a belief that we could do it. Bodies were put on the line out there this evening,” boasted Matfield.
”What an amazing achievement and it is encouraging for South African rugby that we finished fourth and the Sharks fifth,” added the long-serving Springbok lock.
Habana (2), centres Wynand Olivier and JP Nel, Steyn and Roux crossed the line for the Bulls with Steyn converting five of the six tries and kicking a penalty.
Springbok De Villiers scored the sole try for the Stormers, which Grant converted to raise his Super 14 points tally to 102 after kicking a penalty which gave the Stormers a short-lived first-half advantage. — AFP
