There is a campaign-defining next month coming up, where the Bulls will have to juggle their resources across the United Rugby Championship and Challenge Cup.
They are clearly prioritising the URC, judging from their selections and the importance of winning their ‘league, as opposed to a virtual knock-out competition like the Challenge Cup.
The Pretoria side are also virtually assured of Champions Cup rugby next season by finishing in the top eight, as they are currently third on the URC log with 45 points — one ahead of the Sharks, four behind Glasgow and 13 off leaders Leinster.
But they have won two and lost two in their last four games.
If they want to earn silverware over the next few months, they need to find their rhythm on attack once again, as well as sort out their discipline as they gave away a red and yellow card against Leinster, and conceded several penalties.
They were missing a number of backline stalwarts such as Johan Goosen, Stedman Gans and Canan Moodie ~ not to mention the Japan-based Kurt-Lee Arendse - and hopefully all of those players will be in prime condition for the play-offs.
It is also about getting the right mix at the current time, as next up for the Bulls are Zebre - who lost 35-34 to the Sharks in Durban at the weekend.
That will be followed by Bayonne in the Challenge Cup last-16 on April 5 in France, and then a possible quarter-final the next week, either in SA or Europe.
Then it’s another two massive URC clashes against Mun- ster and Glasgow at Loftus Versfeld.
Goosen is training already and may come into the mix against Zebre in Pretoria on Saturday (2.45pm kick-off). But with his injury history, Johannes should rather be given another start against the Italians.
He had some good touches against Leinster, with a couple of fine kicks to touch and classy passes that put his outside backs into space. But you got the feeling that the Bulls were playing around Johannes instead of letting him call the shots as the main playmaker, with too much responsibility given to scrumhalf Embrose Papier and fullback Willie le Roux.
There’s no doubt that Johannes has the skill-set and tem- perament to run the show for the Bulls, but he needs to be backed fully to get the attack buzzing.
It will also be interesting to see whether Stedman Gans is back for Zebre, as he is adds some ...
They are clearly prioritising the URC, judging from their selections and the importance of winning their ‘league, as opposed to a virtual knock-out competition like the Challenge Cup.
The Pretoria side are also virtually assured of Champions Cup rugby next season by finishing in the top eight, as they are currently third on the URC log with 45 points — one ahead of the Sharks, four behind Glasgow and 13 off leaders Leinster.
But they have won two and lost two in their last four games.
If they want to earn silverware over the next few months, they need to find their rhythm on attack once again, as well as sort out their discipline as they gave away a red and yellow card against Leinster, and conceded several penalties.
They were missing a number of backline stalwarts such as Johan Goosen, Stedman Gans and Canan Moodie ~ not to mention the Japan-based Kurt-Lee Arendse - and hopefully all of those players will be in prime condition for the play-offs.
It is also about getting the right mix at the current time, as next up for the Bulls are Zebre - who lost 35-34 to the Sharks in Durban at the weekend.
That will be followed by Bayonne in the Challenge Cup last-16 on April 5 in France, and then a possible quarter-final the next week, either in SA or Europe.
Then it’s another two massive URC clashes against Mun- ster and Glasgow at Loftus Versfeld.
Goosen is training already and may come into the mix against Zebre in Pretoria on Saturday (2.45pm kick-off). But with his injury history, Johannes should rather be given another start against the Italians.
He had some good touches against Leinster, with a couple of fine kicks to touch and classy passes that put his outside backs into space. But you got the feeling that the Bulls were playing around Johannes instead of letting him call the shots as the main playmaker, with too much responsibility given to scrumhalf Embrose Papier and fullback Willie le Roux.
There’s no doubt that Johannes has the skill-set and tem- perament to run the show for the Bulls, but he needs to be backed fully to get the attack buzzing.
It will also be interesting to see whether Stedman Gans is back for Zebre, as he is adds some ...
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The Mercury (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 24, 2025