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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
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
