The Bulls are going to show their depth in 2010!
Coach Frans Ludeke has shown how confident he is in his extended squad.
Pierre Spies has a niggling injury to he calf, and had this been towards the end of the season I’m sure he would’v played. Instead Ludeke has decided to give him a break which I think is a great move. It brings in a World Cup winning Springbok in Danie Rousouw to eighthman!
Ludeke has also placed faith in Flip van der Merwe at lock, with Danie Rousouw the cover for the lock position. This allows both Deon Stegmann and Dewald Potgieter to cover the loose forwards on the bench. That’s an awesome replacement bench, and shows great faith in Derick Kuun to take the starting role given Stegmann’s recent form.
It has been impressive how professional this Bulls side has become. Not content to rest on their laurels, they are continually seeking to build their depth, and in my mind have the attitude required of a champion side. I’m sure they’ll reap the benefits at the end of the season.
The Waratahs are a side on the decline. They play a defensive, territory oriented game. For a side like the Bulls who place a great emphasis on dominating the set-pieces, we’ll more than match their lineout, and should hold them at scrum-time. We’ve got a better kicking game, especially on the highveld. This should allow us to dominate territory.
The Waratahs don’t ask enough questions on attack, so we should be able to win fairly comfortably by limiting the penalties (I can’t see them threatening our try line too much) and working patiently to bust their defence which is their strength. I think we’ll have too much firepower all around the field for them to withstand a concerted attack.
3 Wins out of 3 will leave us in a great position with our remaining home games before hitting the road where we may only have to win 2 out of 4.
Go Bulle Go!
Vodacom Bulls:
1. Gurtho Steenkamp
2. Gary Botha
3. Werner Kruger
4. Flip van der Merwe
5. Victor Matfield (c)
6. Derick Kuun
7. Pedrie Wannenburg
8. Danie Rousouw
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. Bees Roux
18. Deon Stegmann
19. Dewald Potgieter
20. Heini Adams
21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter
22. John Mametsa/Jaco van der Westhuyzen
Waratahs:
1. Benn Robinson
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau
3. Al Baxter
4. Dave Dennis
5. Kane Douglas
6. Ben Mowen
7. Phil Waugh (c)
8. Wycliff Palu
9. Luke Burgess
10. Daniel Halangahu
11. Drew Mitchell
12. Berrick Barnes
13. Tom Carter
14. Lachie Turner
15. Sosene Anesi
16. Damien Fitzpatrick
17. Sekope Kepu
18. Will Caldwell
19. Locky McKaffrey
20. Josh Holmes
21. Kurtley Beale
22. Rob Horne
Previous Super 14 results:
2006: Bulls 26, Waratahs 17 (Pretoria)
2007: Bulls 32, Waratahs 19 (Sydney)
2008:Bulls 16, Waratahs 13 (Pretoria)
2009: Bulls 20, Waratahs 6 (Sydney)
