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Stephen Nell
Cape Town – The march of South Africa’s rugby giants to the Super 14 semi-finals gained crucial momentum at the weekend.
First the Bulls scored a 33-19 bonus point victory over the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday.
Then the Stormers upset the Blues 33-21 at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
Both teams showed plenty of character after unexpectedly stumbling the previous weekend.
The Bulls top the log with 33 points, while the Stormers are fourth on 28.
The Crusaders and Waratahs (both on 29) are second and third respectively, with points difference separating them.
For the Bulls and Stormers five games remain, with the last league game between them at Newlands on May 15 set to be one of the biggest north-south matches in a long time.
Not that they are looking beyond the next challenge from within the camps.
The Stormers take on the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday, while the Bulls have a tough match against the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.
“The key will be to front up with the same intensity that we did against the Blues,” Stormers coach Allister Coetzee said about the Chiefs game.
While the Chiefs have very skilful runners, the Stormers showed dominance in the set phases – especially the lineouts – against the Blues that they have the blueprint to beat New Zealand teams.
Prop JC Kritzinger will be available again after he missed the clash with the Blues with a hamstring injury.
More good news for the Stormers is that the injury with which scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage left the field proved to be no more than cramp. He and flanker Francois Louw were still a little stiff yesterday, but will be ready for the Chiefs game.
Bulls’ coach Frans Ludeke told JJ Harmse that the Reds proved how dangerous they are.
“Now that we have momentum back it’s important for us to finish the tour with a good performance,” said Ludeke.
“We are very happy about the additional day we have for preparation. It’s important to rest well and use that extra day to prepare the players for the match against the Reds.”
The Bulls’ record in the Reds’ back yard is not good. They lost 8-40 in Brisbane in 2008 and 19-20 in 2006.
On top of that, the Reds’ halfback pairing of Will Genia and Quade Cooper are producing masterful performances from week to week.
Cape Town – The march of South Africa’s rugby giants to the Super 14 semi-finals gained crucial momentum at the weekend.
First the Bulls scored a 33-19 bonus point victory over the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday.
Then the Stormers upset the Blues 33-21 at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
Both teams showed plenty of character after unexpectedly stumbling the previous weekend.
The Bulls top the log with 33 points, while the Stormers are fourth on 28.
The Crusaders and Waratahs (both on 29) are second and third respectively, with points difference separating them.
For the Bulls and Stormers five games remain, with the last league game between them at Newlands on May 15 set to be one of the biggest north-south matches in a long time.
Not that they are looking beyond the next challenge from within the camps.
The Stormers take on the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday, while the Bulls have a tough match against the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.
“The key will be to front up with the same intensity that we did against the Blues,” Stormers coach Allister Coetzee said about the Chiefs game.
While the Chiefs have very skilful runners, the Stormers showed dominance in the set phases – especially the lineouts – against the Blues that they have the blueprint to beat New Zealand teams.
Prop JC Kritzinger will be available again after he missed the clash with the Blues with a hamstring injury.
More good news for the Stormers is that the injury with which scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage left the field proved to be no more than cramp. He and flanker Francois Louw were still a little stiff yesterday, but will be ready for the Chiefs game.
Bulls’ coach Frans Ludeke told JJ Harmse that the Reds proved how dangerous they are.
“Now that we have momentum back it’s important for us to finish the tour with a good performance,” said Ludeke.
“We are very happy about the additional day we have for preparation. It’s important to rest well and use that extra day to prepare the players for the match against the Reds.”
The Bulls’ record in the Reds’ back yard is not good. They lost 8-40 in Brisbane in 2008 and 19-20 in 2006.
On top of that, the Reds’ halfback pairing of Will Genia and Quade Cooper are producing masterful performances from week to week.
