Midfielders dominate Premier League transfer spending due to record prices

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The All Blacks secured a comfortable victory over the Bulls with a score of 50–19 at Loftus Versfeld, marking their third win against a South African United Rugby Championship side before their anticipated first Test match against the Springboks.

Although Stravino Jacobs managed to provide one of the few bright spots for the Bulls with a fine finish in the corner, the overall performance indicated that the URC teams have found it difficult to manage the fast-paced and skillful offloading game employed by the visiting New Zealand squad.

The Springboks, meanwhile, have maintained a distance, observing and analyzing the All Blacks' likely strategy for the upcoming Test series.

О величайшей соперничестве в регби

The match commenced amidst an electrifying atmosphere, enhanced by the spectacular light show provided by the Bulls' lighting partners, Afrison. Thirty-one thousand spectators in Pretoria shared the excitement of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry with spine-tingling anthems.

The initial ten minutes were highly intense, with both teams narrowly missing scoring opportunities. The All Blacks scored first when wing Josh Moorby broke free into open space and grounded the ball in the corner; however, Beauden Barrett, playing at fullback, missed the subsequent conversion attempt.

Loftus erupted when Hanro Liebenberg, a new recruit for the Bulls, and All Blacks lock Fabian Holland charged down the openside touchline toward the try line, with Liebenberg ultimately winning the race. This try was disallowed due to a knock-on that occurred earlier in the sequence. Subsequently, the All Blacks continued their offensive push, and Moorby scored again in the same precise corner area.

Barrett successfully converted the second try, giving New Zealand a 12–0 advantage after twenty minutes.

At the half-hour mark, Bulls prop Francois Klopper received a yellow card for deliberately committing an offside infringement. From the ensuing penalty, the New Zealand team chose to execute a scrum near the Bulls' line, which proved to be their strongest scrummaging display of the tour. They secured another penalty, and captain Codie Taylor capitalized with a quick tap, bulldozing over for his inaugural try.

The Bulls featured notable players such as Liebenberg, who returned to South Africa after time spent in the UK, and loose forward Jeandre Rudolph. However, Taylor dominated for the visitors, and when the hooker scored his second try just as halftime arrived, the contest was effectively decided, leading to a 24–0 scoreline in favor of the All Blacks.

After the interval, the Bulls managed to score first when lock Ruan Vermaak powered over following a powerful drive. Yet, the All Blacks responded almost immediately via right wing Leroy Carter. The visitors' offloading game became fully operational, characterized by swift handling and smooth passing, which allowed outside centre Rieko Ioane to score their sixth try.

Despite the significant deficit—the Sharks had previously lost 54–0, and New Zealand led 36–7—the tenacious Rudolph refused to yield. A brilliant run from midfield created an opportunity for wing Stravino Jacobs to sprint into the corner, securing a much-needed second try for the Bulls.

Carter's second try extended the All Blacks' lead to 43–12. Following this, Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee scored the third try for his side, bringing the score to 43–19, offering a degree of respectability to the Bulls' standing.

Wallace Sititi ensured the All Blacks' comprehensive victory by scoring a late try, pushing the total score to 50 points.

Scorers Summary:

• Bulls: Tries scored by Ruan Vermaak, Stravino Jacobs, and Marcell Coetzee. Conversions provided by Curwin Bosch (2).
• All Blacks: Tries scored by Josh Moorby (2), Codie Taylor (2), Leroy Carter (2), Rieko Ioane, and Wallace Sititi. Conversions provided by Beauden Barrett (5).

Kaizer Chiefs head coach, Fernando Da Cruz, commented on his decision to switch to a three-defender formation in the match against Mamelodi Sundowns. He admitted that the team had to find a way to counter one of the most established teams in the country.

On Saturday, Chiefs drew 1-1 at FNB Stadium. Langevelde Phili scored, and Cassius Mailula equalized for the visitors. Thanks to this result, Chiefs maintained their leading position in the Betway Premiership table after three matches, securing two wins and one draw in the opening games.

Tactical Decisions

Da Cruz opted for a 5-3-2 formation, with Thabo Mlolisane making his debut for Chiefs. The team's priority was defensive solidity against Sundowns, known for its ability to dominate possession. The French coach noted that the system was partly influenced by injuries in his squad, as well as the need to restrict the areas Sundowns could utilize.

Despite the cautious approach, Da Cruz emphasized that the scheme was not designed solely for defense. He wanted Chiefs to retain the ability to attack when opportunities arose, although he acknowledged that the team struggled to execute this part of the plan in the first 45 minutes.

He added that within this system, the team was prepared for attacks, but they were not very good at ball possession in the first half, while the situation improved in the second half. The tactical setup helped neutralize Sundowns' attack, allowing them to register only two shots on goal, one of which resulted in a goal.

The draw provided Da Cruz with another opportunity to assess his squad against one of the country's most experienced teams, while Chiefs maintained an undefeated start to the campaign. However, when asked how close Chiefs could compete with Sundowns on equal terms, Da Cruz called for patience.

The coach pointed out the differences in the developmental stages of the two projects: Sundowns enjoy years of stability, whereas Chiefs are still adapting to the new technical approach. He concluded: "Ultimately, we cannot compare two teams because on one side you have Sundowns, a team that has played together for the last six or seven years, and we are just starting. So give us time, and we will improve step by step."