Bulls stick to winning formula

Jul 3 • National, Super Rugby, Super Rugby News • 2202 Views • Comments Off on Bulls stick to winning formula

Juandre Kruger (Photo: Bruce Taylor)

Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke named an unchanged side to face the Sharks on Friday and the same match 22 that outclassed the Toyota Cheetahs last weekend, will again have to deliver the goods in Durban.

Ludeke said team selection this week was straight forward.

“Everyone is fit and ready to go. They showed against the Cheetahs that they are up to the task and are on form. Momentum is a very important factor at this stage of the competition and it is something we have now.”

He is expecting a massive onslaught from the home side.

“We will have to be able to answer some tough questions out there on Friday,” Ludeke said.

“I would like to believe that our team thrive on challenges and the bigger they are, the better we respond. This is why the guys put in the hours and hours of hard work after all. They want to be out there when the challenge is at its biggest and toughest. We prepared well and everyone is very keen to do well. We still have our destiny in our own hands and want to keep it like that.”

Vodacom Bulls captain Pierre Spies admits to a tough assignment in Durban.

“There are numerous game breakers in their side and they do play in front of passionate supporters. We have been able to achieve important results there in the past though and the feeling in the camp is that we can do it again.”

The effort will have to an 80 minute one, he warned.

“We cannot repeat what happened in the last 20 minutes against the Cheetahs. To beat the Sharks in Durban you not only need 80 minutes of effort, but a special 80 minutes to that.”

VODACOM BULLS:

Zane Kirchner, Akona Ndungane, JJ Engelbrecht, Wynand Olivier, Bjorn Basson, MornèSteyn, Francois Hougaard, Pierre Spies (CAPT), Jacques Potgieter, Dewald Potgieter, Juandrè Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Dean Greyling.
Replacements: Willie Wepener, Frik Kirsten, Wilhelm Steenkamp, CJ Stander, Jano Vermaak, Louis Fouchè, Francois Venter.

Milestones:

• Hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle will play in his 50^th Super game for the Vodacom Bulls after making his debut in 2006 against the Cheetahs.

• Lock Wilhelm Steenkamp will play in his 50^th Super match if he takes the field. He debuted in 2008 for the Vodacom Bulls against the Stormers and has also played for The Sharks (5 matches) and Cheetahs (13 matches).

•No South African has scored more points in Super Rugby than flyhalf Mornè Steyn (1176 points: 11 tries, 213 penalties, 205 conversions, 24 drop goals). He could improve on this feat.

•Wynand Olivier is the most experienced South African midfielder ever in Super Rugby. He will play in his 101^st match (28 tries, 140 points).

•Bjorn Basson (nine tries) can extend the tries in a season record (shares with Bryan Habana) if he scores again this season.