The Bulls have never won in Auckland in Super Rugby… Will all of that change this weekend?
This year the Bulls said from the start that their main goal is to defend their Super Rugby title and from the outset they looked serious about it…their campaign was not by any means flawless ,yet they remained unbeaten after round 7.
This is JJ Harmse’s take on the weekends clash.
JJ Harmse
Pretoria – The Bulls are facing their toughest test to date this year when they take on the Blues in a Super 14 match at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
The Blues have their backs to the wall in this year’s Super 14 and will be desperate.
The second week of a tour is always the toughest and the Bulls have had to travel over five time zones following their visit to Perth.
However, it appears as if the challenges are spurring on the champions.
The more difficult it gets, the more determined the team is to hold onto the Super 14 crown.
That the Bulls are sometimes their own worst enemy is also true. They have had to come from behind at half-time on five occasions this year. It will be particularly important to get off to a better start against the Blues in Auckland.
The Bulls will have to pressurise them from the start as confidence and good rugby are as synonymous with the Blues as tattoos.
“We are focused on starting well. It will be important to force our way of playing. We have to get them in a stranglehold from the start and keep the pressure on. This one will only be won by an 80-minute effort,” said Bulls captain Victor Matfield.
The Blues have an All Black front row, but their outside backs are particularly dangerous.
Rene Ranger, Isaia Toeava, Joe Rokocoko and Rudi Wulf are all equally dangerous.
An unchanged starting fifteen points to the Bulls’ intention of maintaining their momentum and rhythm, and build on their winning culture.
The experience of the forwards, the form of players such as Pierre Spies and Zane Kirchner, and a maturity about the task ahead is contributing to the team’s success.
However, a victory will only be achieved if they can suppress the Blues’ x-factor.
The teams:
Bulls:
15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Gerhard van der Heever, 13. Jaco Pretorius, 12. Wynand Olivier, 11. Francois Hougaard, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Fourie du Preez, 8. Pierre Spies, 7. Dewald Potgieter, 6. Deon Stegmann, 5. Victor Matfield (captain), 4. Danie Rossouw, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Gary Botha, 1. Gurthrö Steenkamp
Substitutes: 16. Bandise Maku, 17. Bees Roux, 18. Flip van der Merwe, 19. Derick Kuün/Jaco Engels, 20. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 21. Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 22. Pedrie Wannenburg
Blues:
15. Isaia Toeava, 14. Joe Rokocoko, 13. Rene Ranger, 12. Benson Stanley, 11. Rudi Wulf, 10. Stephen Brett, 9. Alby Mathewson, 8. Viliami Ma’afu, 7. Serge Lilo, 6. Jerome Kaino, 5. Anthony Boric, 4. Kurtis Haiu, 3. John Afoa, 2. Keven Mealamu (captain), 1. Tony Woodcock.
Substitutes: 16. Tom McCartney, 17. Charlie Faumuina, 18. Filo Paulo, 19. Peter Saili, 20. Chris Smylie, 21. Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22. Paul Williams.
Referee: Craig Joubert
Scrumdown @ 28
Good on you for sticking with your team…
At least you realize that your team succsess came from the guys coming from the North 😆
Scrumdown @ 28
Seriously, respect my man…
And yes, your teams fortune will change again.
One tends to forget your hard times easily….we also had them !!!
For your sake, I hope it’s sooner than later !!!
Blouste
Actually not. If you look at that team there was a lot of homegrown talent, but Doc Luyt knew where the shortcomings were and adressed them.
TVL club Rugby was tremendously strong in htose days, with even junior league clubs having 4 senior sides and 2 under 20 sides.
Now it’s a struggle for most junior clubs to put out 3 senior sides and an under 19 and under 21 side.
The saying was always that if RAU (UJ) are strong TVL (Lions) is strong. Look at what UJ managed this year in the Varsity Cup. Maybe the old saying had some truth to it.
As far as this year is concerned I’d love to see the Bulls go all the way. In fact I’d love to see them win the S14 undefeated.
I really admire the type of Rugby they’re playing at the moment, and there are many aspects of their structures that really impress me. (Development of Rugby (world wide)is soemthing very close to my heart.)
Scrumdown @ 33
I know bud, was just pulling your socks… 😆
2 – Loosehead.. LOL.
Blouste
I realise that. My point is that since I played club Rugby in the 80’s, the number of active players is dwindling constantly.
A couple of years ago I was at a Bosberaad where SARU did a presentation on player numbers. The figures were frightening with schoolboy playing numbers across the country falling by ±20% per year.
The reasons are varied and many, but the net result was that clubs and Unions need to do more development at grass roots level in order to bring more schoolboys into the game.
I think that the Unions that have grasped that concept and done something about it will reap the benefits in the next few years. Those that don’t will continue the downward spiral.
28 – Scrumdown, Superb post. You stick with your team mate, they will turn it around.
When I first read you went to a English school that never allowed soccer, thought which one?…hahaha. Only to see you actually come here from the UK. Well that is a huge surprise then, even more so than thinking you were talking about Joburg English Schools. I grew up in Joburg All the Primary Schools for some reason only had soccer and no rugby, but once you went to High School there was no soccer but only Rugby. Strange that to this day never understand why the High Schools never had soccer.
Anyhow great post there by you.
Spoke to Rob on SW about that youngster you told me about. Justin Botha. He said he will look out for him. Sharky said he is now getting well over that accident. Good news to hear that. Do you think he is in the same class of Pat Lambie? If he is we need him to get well quick. How old is he?
Scrumdown @ 36
My son of 5, well now 6 plays rugby in Johannesburg (Supersport let’s play initiative) and we have to pay a monthly fee. (mini rugby)
Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind paying the fee but surely this type of thing can be subsudized by SARU, especially if that is such a concern for them !!!
Well thats how I’ve got it in any case…
Blouste,
OK, I know very little about junior or schools rugby so here goes…..
I take it that Bloustetjie is not at school then yet? To what extent are the schools in your area encouraging mini-rugby?
I think the Bulls can win this one. Pleased take the 3 points on offer though, don’t want another near heart attack….hehehe.
Have picked Bulls on bru. So they better win. 😀
40 – typo 🙄 meant – please
Puma
Think he’s 21 now. Very talented. Whether he’s as good as Lambie or not I’m not sure.
I went to Binley Park Comprehensive School in Coventry. It was closed in the early 1990’s due to not enough kids.
39 @ fender
His was in grade 0 then, and no their school only start playing rugby once they are in the higher grades I believe…
Where as I know of other schools that have mini-rugby teams from grade ) and onwards…
There by them it was an extra-mural activity… (for the age group anyway)
In the Pretoria area, “Bulletjie-rugby” is BIG for the youngsters around 5 – 7 years old.
We breed them young and big!
#44 GBS
Yes, and that explains why you have to import all the small, fast and clever guys from the Cape when they’re 18!
Cheers everyone. Enjoy the long weekend and and be careful on the roads.
Groente
Cheers Ventertjie…you be careful on the roads hey 😉
😆
46 – Fender Cheers and good luck to Stormers tomorrow.
Ok
Cheers all.
Enjoy your long weekend.
Chat soon.
GO BUUUUUUUUUUUUUULLLLLSSSSSSS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
42 – Scrumdown, Sorry answer this post so late. Thanks for that info on Justin Botha.
13
Scrumdown deep in our hearts most of the Bulls have neighborly love, we feel for the tragedy happening on the other side of the Jukskei. But please forgive us, we feel fokkol for the stupidity of Manie and all his jokers. Hell to be down for more than 10 years and with all the big sponsors right on your doorstep……
Good advice for you dont go to our ex friends site for motivational s, you might just go cooky’s like them. Stay here and enjoy the winning culture and all its fun and celebrations.
And to add stay by your team, they will give you joy again and then that will be so much more pleasant.
Well If it is going to be done, why not this weekend!!!
Somewhat rashly, I put Bulls by 10…
I know, I know……On reflection a bit enthuastic!! 🙁
53 – Blue Bird, Well you never know. Think it will be a tough game but feel Bulls will come out tops. Going to be close by 5 or 7. Think you have the win right though. 😉
Very early start on Sat at 6.30am our time. You a hour behind us.
Puma, well that is seriously early….I think I might miss that match!!
Bulls by 12 !!!
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