JJ Harmse

Pretoria – The Bulls have won their last 12 home games in the Super 14 and on top of that their record for last year’s 15 games read as follows: won 12, lost 3.

It is a remarkable record. However, captain Victor Matfield believes it should serve as motivation rather than weigh the Bulls down in their strive for success in this year’s Super 14.

And, he adds, the new applications of the laws at the breakdown gives this year’s competition a new flavour and offers fresh challenges.

The Bulls captain leads a vastly experienced team in Friday’s opener against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, with all 22 players having had experience of playing at that level.

“We all strive to improve. It is a fact that 2009 was a remarkable season, but the work ethic at the Bulls does not allow you to rest on your laurels,” said Matfield.

“We want to be the team with the best lineouts, we want the best scrum in the competition, and we want to play more positive rugby from broken play. I can continue, but what it boils down to is that we will never be satisfied.”

The vastly experienced Matfield, who will be playing his 96th Super rugby game, still has a clear message for his players.

“We simply have to adapt to the new applications of the laws. In 2008 we paid the price for not embracing the ELVs. When we embraced the laws last year, we were champions. There is a clear message in that in how we should approach the breakdowns.”

Matfield believes the emphasis on advantage for the attacking team can give 2010’s competition another dimension.

“It is clear that it is aimed at creating more phase play and to ensure more tries are scored. You’d swear the Brumbies wrote the laws. But the fact remains that we have to adapt immediately,” he said.

“I expect a few matches to be decided by penalties as a result of the application of the laws.”

Fortunately the Bulls have the accurate boot of flyhalf Morné Steyn if the Cheetahs transgress.

Coach Frans Ludeke picked all his first-choice players, but not five forwards on the bench as had been expected.

“We picked Derick Kuün, who is a utility forward and will help us adapt to the situation in the game. At the back Stephan Dippenaar gets a tick before John Mametsa as he is also capable of playing outside centre.”

The Bulls team (total of Super 14 games in brackets):

Zane Kirchner (26), Gerhard van den Heever (4), Jaco Pretorius (49), Wynand Olivier (57), Francois Hougaard (4), Morné Steyn (59), Fourie du Preez (85), Pierre Spies (43), Pedrie Wannenburg (99), Deon Stegmann (25), Victor Matfield (capt, 95), Danie Rossouw (89), Werner Kruger (28), Gary Botha (49), Gurthrö Steenkamp (52).

Substitutes: Bandise Maku (8), Bees Roux (17), Flip van der Merwe (6), Derick Kuün (42), Heini Adams (29), Jacques-Louis Potgieter (18), Stephan Dippenaar (2).