With compliments of thebulls.co.za we give you the preview for the semi-final clash between the Bulls and WP.

Everybody in the Vodacom Blue Bulls squad knows that if you want to win championships you need to win away from home and therefore no one is complaining about the fact that Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup semifinal against the Vodacom Western Province is going to be played at Newlands in Cape Town.

Playing away from home has the effect that the Blue Bulls need to alter their game plan a bit and history has shown that the home team tends to carry the ball more than the visitors and as a result of this the Bulls’ defence has to be perfect.

The Bulls’ defence goes hand in hand with their kicking patterns and with guys like Fourie du Preez, Morné Steyn and Zane Kirchner in the starting XV, Province’s back three is going to have their work cut out fielding whatever the visitors throw at them.

Apart from their kicking and defensive patterns the Bulls put in a massive effort during the last couple of days into their set pieces (scrums, lineouts and kick offs) and although it is an old cliché in rugby the Bulls still believe that if you limit your mistakes you chances of winning a semi-finals increases dramatically.

WHY PROVINCE HAS HAD SUCH A GOOD RUN

There is predominantly one reason why the Blue Bulls have such a high regard for this WP team: they have played together for the last 18 weeks and as a result of this they have built up a lot of momentum.

After the Stormers’ match against the Highlanders they realized that they are out of the Super 14 tournament and started building for the Currie Cup.

They did this very successfully and wit a bit of luck they could have finished on top of the Currie Cup log. Coach Allister Coetzee did not use a lot of players and the core of their team stayed together for the last four months and that makes them a very dangerous unit.

KEY PLAYERS

Joe Pietersen: Pietersen has been responsible for the WP’s goal kicking ever since Willem de Waal injured himself. He has gone from strength to strength during the last eight weeks in this department but Saturday will be the first time that he will be under enormous pressure. Saturday’s match will reveal whether he has the temperament to match his talent.

Juan de Jong: De Jong is mostly used as a ball carrier to set up phase from scrums and lineouts. The fact that he rarely loses the ball in contact makes him a massive threat and he is one of the few players who have the ability to beat an opponent with his feat. He has a shrewd sidestep and it is not without reason that he is nominated as one of the Absa Currie Cup Players of the Year.

The front row of Brok Harris, Tiaan Liebenberg and Wicus Blaauw: The Bulls have a score to settle with the WP’s scrum. The last time the two team met Province had a slight advantage in this department, but the Bulls pride themselves on their forward play and they can’t stand being dominated up front. Expect the Bulls to fight fire with fire in the set scrums.

Luke Watson: Love him or hate him, Watson will always be a factor in any team he plays and his abilities as a rugby player are held in high regard by the Blue Bulls’ coaches. At number 8 he will have ample opportunity to carry the ball but he will also try to slow down the Bulls’ possession as often as possible. As captain he motivates his team mates persistently and he will try to be in the Bulls’ faces for 80 minutes.

RECENT RESULTS

2009:

Blue Bulls won 30-22 (Loftus)
WP won 25-19 (Newlands)

2008:

WP won 26-17 (Newlands)
Blue Bulls won 37-6 (Loftus)

2007:
Blue Bulls won 26-17 (Newlands)
Blue Bulls won 35-10 (Loftus)

2006:
WP won 15-10 (Loftus)
WP won 23-12 (Newlands)
Blue Bulls won Currie Cup semifinal 45-30 (Loftus)

2005:
Blue Bulls won 18-10 (Newlands)
Blue Bulls won 39-3 (Loftus)

ALLISTER COETZEE’S POINT OF VIEW

“Playing the Bulls at Newlands is a dream come true for us, although a semi-final is something new to this WP team.

“Facing the Bulls at Newlands in a play-off match is something we planned and dreamt about.

“It’s not about how much experience you have, but about the hunger of the opposition and that’s the side that will come out on top.

“The Bulls are rated as probably the best franchise in the world.

“We respect them, but we don’t fear them. For us it is a great challenge and if we beat them we would have beaten the best team in the world.”

WP’s SEASON IN 2009
Beat the Sharks 29-15
Lost to the Vodacom Blue Bulls 22-30
Beat the Cheetahs 19-13
Beat the Leopards 48-7
Lost to Griquas 32-33
Beat Boland 38-7
Beat the Lions 25-20
Beat the Sharks 21-9
Beat the Vodacom Blue Bulls 25-19
Lost to the Cheetahs 31-33
Beat the Leopards 37-7
Beat Griquas 43-3
Beat Boland 50-7
Lost to the Lions 25-27

MEDIA – IT IS UP TO BAKKIES AND STEGGIES

“It might be a trite cliché, but it is still true – play-off games are all about creating and absorbing pressure. In fact, there are many other cliché’s about play-off games that are also true. For example, you have to use every chance you get, because playoff games are do-or-die affairs – there are no second chances. But luckily for the Blue Bulls, they are the one team in South Africa that knows everything about this subject. The core of his team played in many semis and finals in both the Currie Cup and the Super 14.

“On paper, the Bulls outclass their opponents almost man by man. The only aspect of the game in which WP could give the Blue Bulls trouble is the scrum. But the Blue Bulls should be able to overcome this obstacle. Their pack is in any way a totally different outfit than the pack that was humiliated with a push-over scrum in Cape Town early in September.

“The Blue Bulls have game breakers and stars like Fourie du Preez, Morné Steyn, Victor Matfield and Pierre Spies in their midst. But the two most important players in the Blue Bulls team on Saturday are going to be Bakkies Botha and Deon Stegmann. If these two men could neutralize the WP pack in the loose and at the breakdowns, the contest will be over. If not, WP will be in with a 50-50 chance.” – Koos Venter (Rekord)

MEDIA – THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE FINAL

“Not a single resident in the Mother City needs to be reminded of the strength that the Blue Bulls will be bringing to Newlands for the semifinal – unless of course they weren’t watching Super 14 or Tri Nations rugby this year.

“This does, however, not mean that Luke Watson’s men will be taking it sitting down. In fact, they will be fighting for pride, respect and what can be seen as a shot at rectifying the natural order which dictates that at least four Province players have to be in the Bok squad before the team starts winning silverware.

“But in all fairness, stranger things have happened. Rassie Erasmus also happened to be the man who was responsible for a couple of blue-tears in 2005. Allowing the Streeptruie to dictate proceedings will be a fatal move.

“Several relatively young Blue Bulls are on the verge of gaining legendary status and it would be a shame if they stumble two hurdles short of the ultimate prize.

“Talent and experience is abundant in the Pretoria squad, while history has been in favour of the home side when crunch matches were played in the Western Cape.

“Pity this was not the final match of the season.” – Michael Mentz (The Citizen)

MEDIA – BULLS BY 10

”These games are never easy to call and they often do go down to the wire – with no more than a single score in the final result. They are often also classics, brutal confrontations in which tempers tend to become frayed. On paper the Bulls certainly have a championship team. But there is something special about this Province side. Maybe it is that hunger that they are talking about. And play-offs are often won or lost on inches won by the team that wants it more. We feel the Bulls not only have the class and experience, but they will find the hunger that will secure them a narrow win – by about 10 points.” – Jan de Koning rugby365.co.za

THE TEAMS

Vodacom Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Francois Hougaard, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana; 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp. Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Pedrie Wannenburg, 20 Heini Adams, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Gerhard van den Heever.

Vodacom Western Province: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Paul Bosch, 11 Frikkie Welsh, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenhage, 8 Luke Watson (captain), 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Anton van Zyl, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw. Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JC Kritzinger, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Schalk Burger, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Matt To’omua, 22 Sireli Naqelevuki.

Date: Saturday, October 17
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Expected weather: Sunny and mild, with virtually no chance of rain. High 21°C, low 14°C. Wind 33km/h S
Referee: Mark Lawrence
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Michael Cupido