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Auckland - It reeks of a South African stitch-up – the Bulls are set to field a second string team against the Stormers for the top of the table final round clash in Cape Town this weekend.
The Bulls can't be headed for the crucial No 1 position heading into the semi-finals.
According to Rugby Heaven correspondent Duncan Johnstone, the second-placed Stormers are vulnerable to the chasing pack but a win against the Bulls would almost certainly give them second place and the other home semi-final.
The Bulls signalled their intentions with their opening training session of the week as the players going through their drills were very much the second-stringers.
At least 13 regular Bulls starting XV players are expected to be rested this weekend.
These include captain Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez, Morné Steyn, Zane Kirchner, Francois Hougaard, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Gary Botha, Werner Kruger, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Wynand Olivier and Pierre Spies.
The Bulls will also be without Gerhard van den Heever after he was suspended for a dangerous tackle.
There's sense in the Bulls resting their stars ahead of the playoffs but it would also do rugby in the republic a big favour to have both the semi-finals there.
It could mean a long trip for New Zealand's semi-finals hopefuls the Hurricanes and Crusaders.
The difficulties in these assignments were exposed last season when the Crusaders lost their semi-final to the Bulls at Loftus (36-23) and the Chiefs were crushed in the final (61-17).
NZ bookies are only taking a pick the score bet on the Bulls v Stormers game at present.
The Bulls can't be headed for the crucial No 1 position heading into the semi-finals.
According to Rugby Heaven correspondent Duncan Johnstone, the second-placed Stormers are vulnerable to the chasing pack but a win against the Bulls would almost certainly give them second place and the other home semi-final.
The Bulls signalled their intentions with their opening training session of the week as the players going through their drills were very much the second-stringers.
At least 13 regular Bulls starting XV players are expected to be rested this weekend.
These include captain Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez, Morné Steyn, Zane Kirchner, Francois Hougaard, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Gary Botha, Werner Kruger, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Wynand Olivier and Pierre Spies.
The Bulls will also be without Gerhard van den Heever after he was suspended for a dangerous tackle.
There's sense in the Bulls resting their stars ahead of the playoffs but it would also do rugby in the republic a big favour to have both the semi-finals there.
It could mean a long trip for New Zealand's semi-finals hopefuls the Hurricanes and Crusaders.
The difficulties in these assignments were exposed last season when the Crusaders lost their semi-final to the Bulls at Loftus (36-23) and the Chiefs were crushed in the final (61-17).
NZ bookies are only taking a pick the score bet on the Bulls v Stormers game at present.
