Bulls: Fanfare or funeral?
2006-04-06 21:31
Morris Gilbert
Pretoria - The Waikato Stadium in Hamilton could become a Super 14 graveyard for the Bulls.
A defeat against the Chiefs on Saturday would effectively bury their semi-final hopes.
The defeat at the hands of the Blues in Auckland has exposed the Bulls to a large extent. It showed that if they were prevented from imposing their gameplan on the match, they were lost.
But, now they know, they will have to stick to their gameplan and playing pattern for the full 80 minutes to prevent a rugby funeral.
This could be a big task as backline coach Mike Bayly has acknowledged his players have not been able to fire on all cylinders for the entire 80 minutes so far this season.
Coach Heyneke Meyer says his team has the potential to beat any side.
"It will mean we have to play our best rugby of the season if we want to beat the Chiefs for the first time on New Zealand soil," he said.
The Bulls were beaten by the Blues because they were not aggressive enough at the breakdown points.
Have to fix everything in a week
They tackled half-heartedly, they did not round off their attacks and they did not execute their kick-and-charge strategy to clinical perfection.
It is asking a lot to fix everything in just one week, but this is what the Bulls should have done if they want to win on Saturday.
Only time will tell if the many changes to the Bulls backline will have an influence on their rhythm and continuity.
Meyer is excited, however, about the difference the new centre pairing of Wynand Olivier and Rudi Coetzee could make on attack.
They willhave to be very good if they want to curtail the Chiefs' midfield combination of Niva Ta'auso and Sam Tuitupou.
Meyer says this tussle is going to be decisive. This is, however, not the only place where the Bulls are going to be tested.
The Chiefs' back triangle will also put a lot of pressure on Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez and Johan Roets.
Dlulane's big chance
The Bulls will have to get to the breakdown points quicker, because they battled to ensure quick possession against the Blues.
This is newcomer Tim Dlulane's big chance to show what he can do as the designated ball chaser.
The difference between winning and losing against a very physical side like the Chiefs is how successful the Bulls will be to stop their experienced ball carriers in their tracks.
At scrumhalf, Du Preez will have to keep his counterpart, the All Black Byron Kelleher, in check. If he can put pressure on him, his backline will suffer.
The teams are:
Bulls: Johan Roets, Akona Ndungane, Rudi Coetzee, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pedrie Wannenburg, Jacques Cronje, Tim Dlulane, Victor Matfield (c), Bakkies Botha, Andries Human, Gary Botha, Jaco Engels.
Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Wessel Roux, Danie Rossouw, Pierre Spies, Heinie Adams, JP Nel, John Mametsa.
Chiefs: Mils Muliaina, Sosene Anesi, Niva Ta'auso, Sam Tuitupou, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Byron Kelleher, Sione Lauaki, Marty Holah (c), Steven Bates, Sean Hohneck, Bernie Upton, Nathan White, Tom Willis, Simms Davison
Replacements: Aleki Lutui, Ben Castle, Jono Gibbes/Kristian Ormsby, Liam Messam, Jamie Nutbrown, David Hill/Mark Ranby/Lelia Masaga, Loki Crichton.
Referee: Scott Young (Aus).
Kick-off: 08:30 (SA time).
TV: MNet, SS 1.
- Beeld