Jacques-Louis Potgieter
Vodacom Blue Bulls pivot Jacques-Louis Potgieter is confident his team has the right game plan to win playoffs as they prepare for their Absa Currie Cup semifinal against DHL Western Province at Newlands on Saturday.
Potgieter believes the momentum the Bulls have built up, coupled with their game plan will be enough to get his side over the semifinal hurdle against their old rivals.
The Bulls will head down to Cape Town as massive underdogs this weekend, having lost both their league games against Province this year and having very little to counter the Cape side’s expansive game when the teams have met.
But the turnaround came precisely after the Bulls lost their game against Province at Loftus Versfeld and despite a stutter against the Sharks, the Bulls have been steadily building after a poor start to the season to find themselves sneaking into the semifinals and now believe they can go the whole way.
SuperSport
The game plan, so maligned across the country, is the difference, especially with the pressure that playoff games bring. Potgieter believes his team can apply the pressure, impose their game plan and keep on knocking over the points to the extent that they cause a massive upset against the form team of the competition.
“I think we started to believe in the game we want to play,” Potgieter explained.
“The game we’re good at, you can play anywhere, whether it’s windy, raining or dry. That suits us as a team, so if the heavens open, then it will be fine. We can still play our type of game that we’re focusing on and what we’ve put together in training – whatever the weather may bring.”
While the forwards are a key aspect, Potgieter reckons it’s the outside backs that will make the difference and help him play the game plan he wants to impose. By making the right decisions out wide, Potgieter believes the Bulls can capitalise and score points when it is necessary.
“Luckily I’ve played in a few semis and finals in my career. The sort of stuff we’re working really suits our team,” he adds.
“One big thing which people often forget is that it is the outside guys who can make the inside a lot easier. Guys like Akona, Bjorn and Ulrich – if they chat a lot and give you some options then the option-making becomes a little bit easier.
“I’m relying on the guys on my outside to chat a lot. William is a good guy in terms of communication. I’m positive that they will make the right decisions at the right time in the game.”
But he is realistic in saying the forward battle will be where the game will be won or lost, especially with Province boasting a powerful loose trio at the moment.
“The team with the most points on the scoreboard will win,” he says with a laugh. “Up front is definitely where it will be won. They have a good pack of forwards and three good loosies.
“If the battle up front falls in our favour we will have a good game, but yes, it’s those tighties in the front, on set-pieces especially. It will be a game of set-pieces. If the guys up front can come to the party I think we can have a good chance of having a good game.”
Games against the old enemy are always full of emotion, so there’s no need to hype it up this week. The Bulls know what they need to do, and know they need to overcome their underdog tag.
“There is no need for anyone to put more emotion into the game than there already is. It’s special playing at Newlands. There is always a nice crowd there.
“Bulls v WP is always a big game. I can remember when I was a little kid, when the teams faced each other, it’s something people watched.
“We shouldn’t put too much emotion into it this week, the emotion will come in those 80 minutes.”
If the Bulls can put Potgieter’s belief into practice, they will go in with a good chance. But winning at Newlands isn’t easy, and the last time they played there they were on the wrong end of a 40-point loss.
Belief and momentum, and an accurate game plan will be crucial to not repeating that this weekend.
I thought Pat Howard was a prop. 😯
shooter wrote:
I cant imagine JW being welcome anywhere 😆
Just kidding. These PW centres ….
31 @ shooter:
Pat howard was an Australian Flyhalf in the 90’s 😀
29 @ MacroBlouBul:
he’s done well wherever they’ve selected him…
it’s not about getting selected over jdj… who’s been terrific… but they have to rest jdj sometime… and he may also get injured… pat at 13 and damian at 12 would be excellent to see… and it’s also about letting the guy know that he’s valued and wanted…let him earn his way into the team like he has been doing… but to summarily dismiss him after he put in a really excellent performance is just not right… imo…to drop him after the game he had last weekend… for EW after the game he had last weekend… is hard to accept…
sure EW may have been great at school and may have a great future… but if he was overwhelmed last saturday… how is he going to handle coming on against the bulls in a semi…?
@ ufo:
Maybe he is carrying a niggling injury? I am a Howard fan too
36 @ MacroBlouBul:
that’s a possibility… but haven’t seen anything to that effect…
apologies macro… expressing my frustrations to you… not at you… 😳
gotta run… catch up laters…!!
cheers
There is nothing on the official WP site that Pat is carrying an injury.. they only mentioned that Taute is injured.
I have nothing against EW.. he was untouchable last year at school level and will most likely play for the Stormers next year and might soon be a Bok.. but he was injured for most of the year and has hardly played even at age group level this season so Howard has all the reason in the world to be disgruntled.
Pat Howard isn’t injured. As Robzim has mentioned EW was perhaps picked as cover for Kolbe but as ufo has mentioned, Viljoen really seemed to be overwhelmed last week. I really feel for Howard.
Hopefully EW will surprise us WP fans – one can only hope I guess !!!
@ charlesm:
Indeed, he might surprise everyone. Robzim’s theory makes most sense.
Thormeulen hurts his ribs and recovers in one week…
Taute injured his ribs two weeks ago and still isn’t available.
@ Jeraldjay: Thor is a different kind of “African beast” (or something like that according to Read) JJ !!
One can’t really blame Taute (or AC for not picking him) because:
1) An injury to rib cartilage is quite painful
&
2) At inside centre there will be a lot of tackles to be made
42 @ charlesm:
Would like to know the stats on who makes more tackles, inside centre or 8th man…
But I haven’t seen anyone quite like Vermeulen on a rugby field so he cannot be compared to anyone.
Fully agree with comments re Pat Howard and Stephen Coetzee that they should be on the bench.
AC had picked his run-on 15 much earlier this week but deliberated about his bench – deliberated too long by all accounts and then got his mind in a twist.
This weekend is make or break in the Currie Cup – not a time for experimenting.
Hope it doesn’t blow up in his face.
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