The return of the Enforcer!

The Bulls have started phase 3 and it’s time to get the blue machine picking up momentum ahead of the business end of the competition.

The Sharks may also be a Springbok laden side, but they operate in a completely different manner to the Bulls. They may bring their 5 match winning streak with them, but at altitude, against a tough pack, they might struggle to match the class of the Bulls.

Matches between these 2 sides have been fairly close in recent years, but in general the Bulls have had no problem at Loftus. It would take one of the tournament’s stand out performances for the Sharks to win. Whilst they have been winning, they’ve barely done so in a convincing manner, nor by scoring plenty of tries.

If the Sharks can hang in there early, then it could be close for the first 60 minutes, before the Bulls stamp their authority on the game. However if the Bulls can come out firing from the start, it could be fairly easy victory.

Central to the Bulls chances will be closing the strong ball carriers the Sharks possess in Jean Deysel, Willem Alberts, John Smit and Bismarck du Plessis. Tackle well and contest the breakdown competitively and the Bulls backs will be able to outshine the Sharks.

Where the Bulls are more effective is utilising the width of the field, and running straight and hard with their centres which puts players into space. That is reflected by the high number of tries the back have scored, especially the wingers, Wynand Olivier and even Morne Steyn.

The Sharks conversely run too laterally and simply shovel the ball along the line to be threatening to an ever improving Bulls defensive line. As the game opens up in the second half, the Bulls should be able to create more chances and earn a semi-final clinching victory.

MILESTONES

Jacques Louis-Potgieter will earn his first starting appearance for the Bulls.

4 Bulls players are currently closing in on 100 career super rugby points. They are Pierre Spies (95), Wynand Olivier(95), Jacques-Louis Potgieter (92) and Fourie du preez (90)

Morne Steyn needs just 23 points to become the fastest player to ever reach 200 points in super rugby. Prsently this is held by Daniel Carter, who took just 12 matches in 2004. Currently Morne Steyn has played 10 this year, and this match will be his eleventh. Steyn is already the Bulls and South Africa’s leading super rugby points scorer ever with 671.

The Bulls are looking to extend their 16 run super rugby winning streak at Loftus to 17.

TEAM SELECTION

The most notable selection change sees the return of Springbok enforcer Bakkies Botha. He reunites with his good friend Victor Matfield in the second row. Danie Rossouw drops to the bench and the unfortunate Flip van der Merwe misses out on the 22.

Botha returns after spending 6 months on the sidelines with an achilles injury.

“It’s nice to have Ou Grote (the big one) back next to me. But we are very privileged to have locks of the quality of Danie and Flip, who must be the surprise package of the year, in our team. If you look at how well Danie played last weekend against the Lions, it must have been a difficult decision.” said Bulls captain Victor Matfield.

The other change in the pack sees Deon Stegmaan return for Derick Kuun in what I think is the strongest Bulls pack of the year.

In the backs, champion halfback Fourie du Preez returns for Heini Adams, Jacques-Louis Potgieter comes in at centre, and Francois Hougaard returns to the left wing whilst the unlucky Akona Ndungane is ruled out with his second broken leg in 2 seasons.

The move to bring Potgieter into the starting lineup is a brave, but very shrewd move. I felt Potgieter was the catalyst for a strong second half comeback against the Bulls, and he has played brilliantly all year in his 9 appearances as a substitute. He has been extremely strong running directly at the opposition and creating space for his fellow backs.

Playing outside centre won’t bother him as he is used to playing with fellow Affies team-mate Wynand Olivier.

“It’s not major for us. Whether the one is inside, or outside isn’t a big thing. They can shift around for whatever is needed and you would have seen that Jacques-Louis moves inside anyway from broken play. To have two such good playmakers is a good thing for us” reflected Bulls coach Frans Ludeke.

Potgieter is keen and looking to make the most of his opportunities which bodes well.

“I have been waiting for this for ten weeks now, so I cannot wait to take on the Sharks. I am very keen to use the opportunity and grab my chance,” enthused Potgieter.

I’m expecting big things from this centre pairing which could just set the Bulls scoring plenty of points like they did in the first 3 weeks of the competition.

Go Bulle Go!

Vodacom Bulls:

1. Gurtho Steenkamp
2. Gary Botha
3. Werner Kruger
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Victor Matfield (c)
6. Deon Stegmann
7. Dewald Potgieter
8. Pierre Spies
9. Fourie du Preez
10. Morne Steyn
11. Francois Hougaard
12. Wynand Olivier
13. Jacques-Louis Potgieter
14. Gerhard van den Heever
15. Zane Kirchner

16. Bandise Maku
17. Bees Roux
18. Danie Rossouw
19. Derick Kuun
20. Heini Adams
21. Stephan Dippenaar
22. Pedrie Wannenburg

Sharks:

1. John Smit (c)
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Steven Sykes
5. Johan Muller
6. Jacques Botes
7. Jean Deysel
8. Willem Alberts
9. Ruan Pienaar
10. Andy Goode
11. Lwazi Mvovo
12. Riaan Swanepoel
13. Stefan Terblanche
14. Odwa Ndungane
15. Patrick Lambie

16. Craig Burden
17. Tendai Mtawarira
18. Alistair Hargreaves
19. Keegan Daniel
20. Rory Kockott
21. Andries Strauss
22. Luzuko Vulindlu

Previous Super 14 results:

2006: Bulls 34, Sharks 27 (Pretoria)
2007: Bulls 3, Sharks 17 (Durban)
2008:Bulls 15, Sharks 29 (Pretoria)
2009: Bulls 27, Sharks 26 (Durban)