Vodacom Super Rugby
Stormers not 'mocking' Bulls
2012-03-28 20:30
Jean de Villiers (Gallo Images)
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Cape Town - They may be being referred to as the Pink Bulls by some Cape rugby fans, but the Stormers are adamant they won’t be seeing the colour of the opposition jerseys when the north/south Super Rugby derby match is played at Newlands on Saturday.
Naturally the decision by the Bulls to wear their new away strip for this game is attracting comment from both their fans and the supporters of the teams they play against, but according to the Stormers captain Jean de Villiers, what the Bulls wear at the weekend will have absolutely no relevance to the contest.
“We are all proud of the jerseys and the colours we play for, but in the end it is about the team you represent, not what you wear,” said De Villiers.
“When you play the game you play for something you stand for, you play for your team-mates. What matters is not the colour of the jersey that you wear in a specific match, but what that jersey represents. It really doesn’t matter what you’ve got on. We have immense respect for the Bulls and we know what is coming at us on Saturday, regardless of what they will be wearing.”
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee concurred with De Villiers that while the colour of the Bulls’ jersey was an issue that may concern the fans, his team wouldn’t be seeing pink on Saturday, they will be seeing the Bulls.
“There are no jokes in Super Rugby and there is certainly nothing that is a joking matter from our side as we build up to this important game,” said Coetzee when told that his team’s supporters were making jokes about the Bulls’ pink jersey.
“Who is making these jokes? Is it the fans? Well I have no control over what the fans say or think,” he added.