The Bulls owe the Highlanders!

Whilst the Bulls sit on top of the log after 3 rounds, there is no complacency in the squad, nor are they underestimating the Highlanders. Last season the Bulls were in a similar position before the Highlanders gave them a good hiding in Palmerston North and made life difficult for the Bulls on tour.

This year we owe the Highlanders a good walloping! We’ve generally found them quite easy opposition, and the Highlanders are now three weeks into a difficult tour and have to return to the highveld. As long as we don’t start poorly like we have done, we should be able to open a decent lead by half-time, before causing carnage in the second half!

Earlier this week Pierre Spies mentioned last years game is at the back of the Bulls’ mind, but they are seeking the improvements necessary to satisfy their own standards. “We have to make up for last year. We’ve had a good three weeks, but technically we can improve a lot, especially in the standards we want to reach as a team. We set very high standards for ourselves and while the results have been good for us so far, we want to attain the standards we set for ourselves” said Spies.

The Highlanders possess a no-name pack that does the basics well. We won’t kill them in the scrums, but we should dominate at lineout time. If we get our rolling mauls working we’ll have a great platform to launch attacks from.

Without Jimmy Cowan the Highlanders won’t have a lot of threat around the fringes, and the Highlanders backs are fairly ordinary. As long as we are solid in first time tackles, we’ll be able to exploit them in the midfield and create space for our back three, Hougaard, van den Heever and Kirchner who have been in great try-scoring form already.


The Bulls have continued with their rotation policy and even opted for a 5-2 split on the bench.
Heini Adams goes to the Blue Bulls Vodacom Cup side to get valuable game time ahead of the Bulls overseas tour as Francois Hougaard can cover scrumhalf if needed.

“Heini means a lot to us and it was important that he gets a full game before the tour starts” said Bulls coach Frans Ludeke.

Derick Kuun gains a second start keeping in-form flank Deon Stegmann on the bench, whilst Dewald Potgieter gets his first start of the year after recovering from his knee injury.

“It is part of the squad system and our rotation policy. The Super 14 is a race over a season, but the team comes first and everybody bought into it. We have spoken about it at length and everything is geared to giving ourselves a chance at the end of the season when the play-offs begin” continued Ludeke.

This illustrates the forward thinking the Bulls have had this season, and willingness to be bold. It also shows the Bulls want to win this competition, when too often South African sides simply aim to “do well.” How can they win the competition if the expectation is not there?

Danie Rousouw moves back to lock, meaning Flip van der Merwe drops back to the bench after starting 2010 strongly.

On the bench Rousouw de Klerk replaces Bees Roux who was suffered a large gash to the head in a freak accident with the scrum machine.


Captain Victor Matfield also has the distinction of captaining the Bulls for the 50th time in what will be his 99th Super 14 match. That’s a fantastic achievement, and in my mind Matfield has become the most valuable player in South Africa (if not the world!)

Matfield remains focused on the task at hand and is not underestimating this Highlanders side. “They have a strong set phase and can be very difficult opponents. They created enough chances against the Stormers and we realise that our A-game will be needed to beat them” said Matfield.

Morne Steyn meanwhile only needs 23 points to equal the Super rugby record for the fastest century of points in a season. Gavin Lawlwess set the record in 1997 after he was helped by scoring 50 points against the Highlanders.

Go Bulle Go!

Vodacom Bulls:

1. Gurtho Steenkamp
2. Gary Botha
3. Werner Kruger
4. Danie Rousouw
5. Victor Matfield (c)
6. Derick Kuun
7. Dewald Potgieter
8. Pierre Spies
9. Fourie du Preez
10. Morne Steyn
11. Francois Hougaard
12. Wynand Olivier
13. Stephan Dippenaar
14. Gerhard van den Heever
15. Zane Kirchner

16. Bandise Maku
17. Rousouw de Klerk
18. Flip van der Merwe
19. Deon Stegmann
20. Pedrie Wannenburg
21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter
22. Jaco van der Westhuyzen

Highlanders:

1. Jamie Mackintosh
2. Jason MacDonald
3. Chris King
4. Josh Bekhuis
5. Tom Donnelly
6. Tim Boys
7. Alando Soakai
8. Steven Setephano
9. Sean Romans
10. Matt Berquist
11. Fetu’u Vainikolo
12. Jason Shoemark
13. Kenny Lynn
14. Ben Smith
15. Israel Dagg

16. Jason Rutledge
17. Bronson Murray
18. Hayden Triggs
19. John Hardie
20. Scott Cowan
21. Robbie Robinson
22. James Paterson

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan

Previous Super 14 results:

2006: Bulls 23, Highlanders 16 (Pretoria)
2007: Bulls 22, Highlanders 13 (Dunedin)
2008:Bulls 47, Highlanders 17 (Pretoria)
2009: Bulls 12, Highlanders 36 (Palmerston North)