It has long been the recipe for global domination for the Springboks. Now, a remorseless forward pack and reliable boot has sealed the claims of South Africa's leading Super franchise, the Pretoria Bulls, to be regarded as the leading provincial side in the world. That was the stated aim of Heyneke Meyer, the former coach, when he joined the Pretoria-based union in 2002. With three titles in four years in the world's leading club competition, it is difficult to argue against them having that status now.
They defended their title by methods far different to the ones they employed 12 months ago in beating the New Zealand side, the Waikato Chiefs, in the previous final. Their brutal forwards initially outmuscled their compatriots, the Cape Town Stormers, up front, laying the platform for Morne Steyn, the South Africa fly-half, to kick them to victory with six penalties. The Stormers went into the match boasting the best offence thanks to their free-running backs, as well as the defence that had been penetrated the least times. But the Bulls proved once again they are as capable at either end as any team in this competition.
If the brilliant Stormers backline had any doubts over the size of the task facing them, they would have lasted little more than a minute. They had their hands on the ball for the first minute from kick-off, but in that time all they managed was a brisk retreat as they were forcibly repelled in every tackle. When Gio Aplon, their impish Springbok Sevens star who plays on the right wing, took his first tackle, he was sent backwards almost as quickly as he can run forwards.
For much of the time, the speedy little backs from Cape Town resembled pygmies trying to tie together the shoe laces of giants as they tried to fell their opposite numbers. Despite the disparity, they battled manfully. All their effort did not take long to show its effects. There were two blood replacements within the first 10 minutes and, ironically, the first to exit was Andries Bekker, the second-row forward and the biggest man in rugby.
Bekker, who was hailed "the best No 5 lock in the world" by Victor Matfield, his Springbok teammate and direct opponent in the final, cut his lip. By the time he returned, 15 minutes later, his Stormers side were trailing to two clinically taken Steyn penalties. Schalk Burger, the visiting captain, had a try ruled out after 18 minutes for a double movement, which was quickly followed by another double-blow.
Juan de Jongh, the centre who scored arguably the try of the Super 14 season in last week's semi-final win over the New South Wales Waratahs, was the next to go. The dangerous inside-centre's departure with a leg injury was not just a blow for his Stormers side's quickly fading title hopes. It also means Peter de Villiers, the Springboks coach, may have to find a replacement for him for the forthcoming Test match in Wales.
To exacerbate the woe, the Bulls went over for the opening try moments after De Jongh limped off, as Francois Hougaard, the winger, burst through from a neat pass by Fourie du Preez to touch down under the posts. The 16-3 scoreline at half time looked comfortable, but the Bulls players obviously knew they were in a battle. One of the broadcasting innovations which has been rolled out in this season's Super 14 has been catching a word with one of the players as they walk off at half time.
This time Wynand Olivier, the Bulls centre, had drawn the short-straw. "It's fast. Hard going," was the best he could manage as he panted into the microphone. Bryan Habana, the winger who won two titles with the Bulls before moving to Cape Town at the start of this year, gave his new side hope with a second-half interception try. Ricky Januarie, the replacement scrum-half, added a second try for the Stormers before the end, but the Bulls were not to be denied.
* Compiled by Paul Radley
