This will be my last article about the downgraded North vs South clash we all looked forward to. At one stage i hoped that we came second in the Super14 to give us a chance of playing the Super 14 final at Newlands versus our arch-rivals the Stormers. Only time will tell whether the Bulls played a masterstroke or made the biggest cock-up this decade.
Coaches of Australian and New Zealand teams still in contention warned that the Bulls might use their unassailable position in the standings to hand a lifeline to the Stormers, who could miss the playoffs if they lose on Saturday.
The New South Wales Rugby Union, whose Waratahs must beat the Hurricanes on Friday to have any chance of making the semis, said it would complain to tournament organizers SANZAR if the Bulls named a weakened team but later withdrew that threat.
Even Australia coach Robbie Deans, who coached the Crusaders to five Super rugby titles, joined the debate, saying the Bulls were within their rights to name a weaker team but took a risk if they meddled too much with established lineups.
“They have earned the right to choose their own path,” Deans told The Australian newspaper. “When you sit that far ahead of everybody else, you are entitled to make your own selection choices as you do week-to-week. Personally, I think it’s probably not in their best interests, to be honest.”
Waratahs coach Chris Hickey, whose team could miss the playoffs if the Stormers beat the Bulls, said it was for the Bulls to decide on selection.
“That’s their issue,” Hickey said. “History will show that sometimes these things backfire on you anyhow.
“But, look, all we’re focused on is Friday. If we take care of what we need to there, we’ll be in the finals series.”
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke defended his selection which leaves top players such as Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez, Morne Steyn, Gurthro Steenkamp, Gary Botha, Wynand Olivier and Pierre Spies out of the starting side. Only Jacques-Louis Potgieter remains from the starting 15 which beat the Crusaders last week.
“This is not a B-team,” Ludeke said. “There are seven national players in this team and we have a lot of respect for our opponents. But we are here to run our own race and we are doing nobody favours.”
The Hurricanes have lost backrower Victor Vito to a calf injury but have regained All Blacks center Conrad Smith after an injury break. Coach Colin Cooper had no concerns that the Bulls’ selection might impinge on his team’s playoff hopes.
“It’s a tough competition. You have to do what you have to do,” he said. “Certainly there’s no need for us to worry about it or comment on that because we are just focused on the Waratahs.”
Off all the teams in the Super 14 this year the Stormers is the most capable off upsetting the Bulls, we should have taken the chance to dispatch them now.
That is my biggest concern, we play nice and they dont. But if we want to be the first SA side to retain the Cup we must do it our way. I am holding thumbs.
I’m happy with Ludeke saying its not a B-team. I’m just not sure whether bdb and Blouste share the sentiment. 😉
“Certainly there’s no need for us to worry about it or comment on that because we are just focused on the Waratahs.”
..
dont get me started again, superbul!! 😆
superbul @ 1
“I am holding thumbs”
..
while the whole bulls team is sitting with theirs up their asses!!
hope they have time to get it out before the semis though!! 😉
Momentum can be regained. What is the issue.
3
That last sentence was the said by the coach of the Huricanes.
super @ 6
oooooooooooooooooooh!! 😳
fender @ 2
If it’s not a B team, then it’s probably a C or even D team, because we all know it’s not the A team now dont we ? 🙄
superBul, how was your time in the bush ?
dWP @ 5
some teams have been a bit off their game after their bye this year.
thats the reason why most teams have had their bye when the competition reach the halfway stage …. quite obvious so they can regain momentum
problem with giving yourself a bye now, is that you may struggle in the first 10-20 minutes. in a semi, that 20 minutes might prove crucial.
unfortanely, its all maybes at the moment … guess we’ll have to wait and see!!
grootBYEsmile
i see you up there!!
Well I for one hope it does not make a difference and actually gives the Bulls that extra energy and allow the bodies to rest. Though momentem is a funny thing really. Sometimes you take your foot off the break for a bit and it comes off completely. So really hoping it is the other way round and this actually is a huge boost for the Bulls players.
If they lose in the semi and Stormers go to the final they will be kicking themselves for doing this. As Stormers will be battle hardened for sure. After last weeks game they played a very physical side in the Sharks and now a younsters that will want to prove themselves in the Bulls 2nd side. Stormers will be read for battle for sure. Just hope no injuries to their team.
Good luck to Bulls and Stormers for the semi. Real hope they both get through the semi, so we can see a great game at Orlando against these sides that we were expecting to see this weekend.
This Bulls are not some teams and have all the maturity and experience…They’ll be fine…
12 – momentem = momentum. Brain asleep..hehe.
blouste @ 13
ooooooooooooooh positive arent we?
15
or is it arrogant?
13 – Blouste, I feel they will be. Far, far too much experience in that team. It is not as if they are resting totally. They will train and do gym work. Just resting here so they don’t pick up injuries. I am a great believer of rest. Rest is as good as training.
Go Bulls. That is for the semi 😀 This week is a nothing game and it will be Stormers to win.
puma @ 17
yes graham henry
if you say so, graham henry 😉
Forgot. MORNING EVERYONE 😀
Helloooooooooooooooo
Hoe hang hulle?
puma @ 19
i’m still not greeting ANY shark supporters!! 😆
18 – Ash Huh???? hehehehe.
Well you can relax for this game you know your team in the semi. Just have to see who they play.
The biggies this week are: Saders/Brumbies – Tahs/Canes.
gbs @ 20
is te koud om te hang!!
23@ Asbak – Hehehe, sorry om van jou kak te hoor… hahaha
21 – Ash, You should be greeting all Sharks supporters with glee..hehehe. We done your team a big favour by whacking your lot……hehehe. You get to play the Bulls 2nd string side now and whooooooppeeeeee doooooooooo into the semi…..hehehehe
So you be nice okay???. 😆
puma @ 22
no. still cant relax. we still need to WIN this game and not is NOT a given!!
23 – Ash, Has your winter started there? Hope no rain for this Saturday. Then it wont matter too much. Only hope for the next week NO RAIN in beautiful Cape Town.
Here it is overcast once again. Our weather just not the same as normal this year. Normally just sun out.
puma @ 25
i’m fine with losing
i just hate being handed a rugby lesson while doing so!! 😀
26 – Ash, Agggggggggg :poop: Stormers are into the semi buddy. Have you got your semi tickets yet? If not go get them. They should be on sale already 😆
puma @ 27
yep. winter’s here. think it will be raining on saturday too!!
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