Rugby: Goddard whistles up a gospel

Bulls 19
Hurricanes 14

Referee Matt Goddard gave the bewildering laws in rugby new meaning last night as he whistled a discipline ditty at the CakeTin.

The Gospel according to Goddard will divert most of the plaudits about the Bulls' opening win on the road which has kept them as the leaders and only unbeaten side in this year's Super 14.

This was a victory for the Bulls determination and concentration after they were forced to play the bulk of the second half with 14 men when flanker Deon Stegmann was sent off for his second offence.

Referees making the headlines is not a good look for rugby but with five yellow cards and a red, Goddard's rulings will be top billing.

It was his show for most of the first half. No one would know why, because speaking to referees on match days, seems to be forbidden but it seemed the Australian official took to Westpac Stadium with some pre-determined venom about his breakdown rulings.

He put four players in the sinbin when three of those rulings seemed very harsh. Ma'a Nonu, Stegmann and Scott Waldrom looked as though there was little they could do to roll clear of rucks though Pedrie Wannenburg was blatantly off side in trying to slow the Hurricanes ball down and had little reason to dispute his time on the naughty chair.

The rulings gave the crowd some topic to discuss at the interval when there had been little else about the match to stretch the conversation. If anything the chatter would have escalated after the interval when Goddard went into overdrive.

The only bright first half moment was a try to Tamati Ellison, playing at fullback last night because Corey Jane had not recovered from injury.

After several rucks moved the ball to various parts of the field, Ellison joined an attack close to the breakdown and swept easily past Bulls stand-in captain Fourie du Preez to reach the line. The conversion from Piri Weepu gave the Hurricanes the lead after 12 minutes but that was the only time they were ahead in the first half. They had to watch that advantage whittled away by the intervention of referee Goddard and the accurate goalkicking of Morne Steyn.

The Hurricanes' frustration showed in halftime comments from coach Colin Cooper as he lamented how his side had allowed the visitors stay in touch through their high error rate. That had helped the tough physical style of the visitors.

Goddard did not let up after the break.

Scott Waldrom was sent to the cooler after a ruck while Jason Eaton got a rest for rucking.

One ruling was spot on though when Stegmann picked up Conrad Smith and drove him dangerously into the turf and for that second infringement, became an automatic departure. It also left the Bulls facing the bulk of the second half with a man down.

After their long haul travel from South Africa and late arrival this week, it seemed fatigue would hit the Bulls. Instead they increased their venom to close out the match despite a last-minute Hurricanes' try.

Hurricanes 14 (T Ellison, J Eaton, tries; P Weepu 2 con)
Bulls 19 ( JP Nel, try; M Steyn 4 pen, con) HT: 9-7