Steyn kicks Bulls to title - Super 14 - Fox Sports

Morne Steyn kicks the Bulls to third Super 14 title in Soweto

May 30, 2010

Springbok fly-half Morne Steyn bagged 20 points as the Bulls defeated the Stormers at Orlando Stadium in Soweto 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 within six points midway through the second half only for Steyn to kick three penalties to hand the Bulls a 25-17 win.

It took his tally this season to 263 points - 42 more than the previous record held by All Blacks and Canterbury Crusaders fly-half Dan Carter - and missed just one of eight shots at goal on a cool, overcast evening.

A late Ricky Januarie try gave the scoreline a flattering look as the Bulls always appeared likely winners of the Super 14 climax watched by a sell-out 36,500 crowd.

Winning captain Victor Matfield praised the blue-clad Bulls supporters, many of whom have adopted the South Africa World Cup 'weapon' of a plastic vuvuzela trumpet and blew it every time Stormers fly-half Peter Grant kicked at goal.

"It was a special day for our country and great to hear the vuvuzelas blaring although we had to work hard at hearing our line-out calls,'' lock legend Matfield said.

"We have been slow to get into a game at times this season, but not this evening. We were focused and fired up and it was great to build an early 16-point advantage.''

Stormers skipper and loose forward Schalk Burger had no excuses: "I am disappointed of course, particularly with some of our breakdown play. We allowed the Bulls a head start and simply were not good enough.''

The Bulls burst to a 16-3 lead at half-time with the usual suspect contributing most of the points as Steyn kicked three penalties and converted a Francois Hougaard try.

Guest-of-honour President Jacob Zuma said he wanted 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 under the crossbar.

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 when another attempt from near the touchline went just wide of the left post.

Not that it affected his confidence as two more penalty chances presented as the Bulls sealed the title.