It is a fact that went by virtually unnoticed, but the Blue Bulls team that will take on Western Province in the Currie Cup semifinal on Saturday shows a remarkable resemblance to the side that trounced the Chiefs by almost 50 points in the Super 14 Final earlier this year.
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke admitted that “continuity” and “play-off experience” will be two key factors in the traditional north-south derby at Newlands on Saturday.
While past results are never a guarantee of any future success, what the Bulls will bring to the party is what they now call ‘street-smarts’.
The Bulls starting XV that will make the trip to Cape Town for the semifinal shows just one change from that which recorded a 61-17 win over the pride of New Zealand, the Chiefs, in the Super 14 Final in May – Francois Hougaard starts on the right wing in place of injured Springbok Akona Ndungane.
There are a few changes to the bench – Bandise Maku for the injured Bok hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle, Rossouw de Klerk as prop cover in place of Rayno Gerber and Gerhard van den Heever in place of Marius Delport.
The key impact players – Danie Rossouw, Pedrie Wannenburg, Heini Adams and Burton Francis – are still intact.
Not many of the WP players have the same kind of play-off experience as the Bulls – who have a host of Springboks that have performed with distinction on the international stage.
Duane Vermeulen has play-off experience with the Cheetahs, Andries Bekker is a member of the all-conquering Bok team and Anton van Zyl has played in a Currie Cup semifinal with the Lions. That’s the Province starting XV.
They have a lot more experience on the bench to call on – Bok veterans Schalk Burger and Ricky Januarie.
But overall the Bulls look the more settled outfit.
The Bulls coach, Ludeke, said this team is still “hungry for success”, despite a number of them having already won a World Cup, a Tri-Nations (some twice), a series against the British and Irish Lions and the Super 14 (many twice).
“At the end of the day it is about players who are still hungry and who have set themselves lofty goals,” Ludeke told rugby365 in an interview.
“These are all guys who have achieved success at various levels.
“However, it has been a while since we have won a Currie Cup outright [the last time was 2004, in 2006 the Bulls and Cheetahs shared the trophy].
“There is a real passion and a hunger to be successful [at domestic level] again,” Ludeke added.
He admitted that it will take a “huge effort” to win at Newlands.
“Western Province have had a great season and they deserve to be there [at home in the semifinal].
“They could so easily have finished top [of the standings] and they also brought through a bunch of youngsters.
“We are gearing up for an enormous battle.”
The Bulls mentor felt that the role that experience will play can’t be undervalued.
“In play-offs experience does play a role, especially if you are under pressure,” he told rugby365, adding: “It is about which team can best handle the pressure and put the opposition under pressure.
“It is tough for players who haven’t been there before and who don’t know how to handle it.
“Experienced players come through in these situations, they react instinctively to situations.”
Ludeke said he changed the “volume” at training sessions this week, as the psychological part of the preparation become far more significant that physical training.
“It becomes more focussed, short and sharp sessions.”
He said the Bulls have managed to get some “rhythm and fluency” going in the last three weeks – with the Boks all back.
“We finished our league campaign on a strong note [against the Leopards] last week.”
Article courtesy of Jan de Koning of Rugby 365
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Bulls to take this and IMO it will be a LLOT more onesided than we think.
Whoever plays the Bulls in the Final will have their work cut out for them
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) :
I hope you are wrong. It will be a miracle if WP win but stranger things have happened in sport. 🙂
Se moer.
PROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) : i am not so sure.
reckon bulls are better outfit but they may be already thinking about a final and I reckon WP will show more commitment than chiefs plus the Newlands crowd.
I think it will be close.
Let’s face it, now that the Boks are back these are essentially the S14 sides for these two unions.
Neither S14 team really uses any players from the other unions in their region.
I’m afraid the Bulls are going to thump these guys. My pick of Bulls by 15 is by no means even near some of the bigger picks in faviour of the Bulls. (leads me to believe I am not alone in my beliefs)
@KSA Shark © (Comment 5) :
That said….. Go WP!!!!!!!!!
Meisiekind
The experience in the Blue Bulls midfield and lack thereof among the Western Province centres is set to be a decisive factor in Saturday’s Currie Cup semi-final between the teams at Newlands.
Bulls’ centres Wynand Olivier and Jaco Pretorius have played in the region of 150 first class games in their careers.
On the other side, Juan de Jongh is playing his first senior season and Paul Bosch has been unexpectedly picked after only a handful of games for WP.
Olivier played his 50th game for the Bulls in this year’s Super14, while Pretorius played in his first semifinal back in 2002.
Even so, Olivier does not believe that experience counts for a lot in semi-finals.
“These games are a different animal because there is so much more pressure and things happen so quickly,” he said.
“It’s good to know you have been in these situations before, but we’ll have to pitch mentally and execute our task.”
Olivier, 26, is full of confidence about the Bulls’ chances.
“With all due respect to WP, we can only lose to ourselves. They would not have been in the top four had they not enjoyed a good season, but we will achieve success if we do things right,” he said.
“We should not go and beat ourselves. But the manner in which we have prepared this week, makes me a calm person.”
Olivier conceded he had expected to see Frikkie Welsh in midfield.
“We’ll see what their midfield looks like when they run on the field. I expected Frikkie would play centre,” he said.
With all due respect to WP, we can only lose to ourselves. They would not have been in the top four had they not enjoyed a good season, but we will achieve success if we do things right,” he said.
😯 WOW that deduction is PURE Genius!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😯
Are we sure he is a Blonde? That was WAY to clever for a Blonde to think of. 🙄
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) :
You seem to love reading (and posting) JJ Harmse’s articles!! 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) :
You better pray I’ce doesn’t read this!!!
@wpw (Comment 10) :
it’s okay she has long since made peace with the fact that she ain’t the brightest bulb in the chandelier. 😉
@wpw (Comment 9) :
Next week will be a WHOLE different story. 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 5) :
This is going to be a Naas Botha Semi-Final. ANY mistake that WP make, beyond the Bulls’ 10m line will be punished with 3 points.
Finals Rugby will be played and Victoria will send for Steyn with every possible chance at goal that is presented.
I predict a slow strangle from the Bulls until the last 15 or so when WP will succumb and leak a number of tries.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 12) :
I know. JJ is gonna blame the ref for their loss against us. 😈
Bulls got a mean streak – Hulle suip te veel klipdrift.
@wpw (Comment 14) :
THEN I’ll nail him. 😆
@BoetaC (Comment 15) :
😆
Interesting Question by Gavin Rich.
So who is going to be playing his last game for his province at Newlands on Saturday — Luke Watson or Bryan Habana?
One of those two important players for their respective teams, Watson for Western Province and Habana for the Blue Bulls, is going to be pulling on the jersey for the last time as the loser in this eagerly awaited Absa Currie Cup semifinal is destined for the exit.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 18) : they should swap jerseys after the game 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 19) : 😆
Luke might wanna Puke on the Bulls one.
Luke is mos gonna slat 3 pushover tries tomorrow
@KSA Shark © (Comment 20) : he can use it to wash his g-string
@BoetaC (Comment 21) :
Luke gaan ge-slat word. 😉
Luke wouldn`t say No to the bulls Jersey. He`ll definately use it to polish the wheels on his Harley . . .
Pls note folks this practice is not safe in Pretoria. I did it with a certain family members` Prized Bulls Flag and lets just say it`s a good thing I was a lot younger and faster than him . . . 😆
@wpw (Comment 10) :
😯 @KSA Shark © (Comment 11) :
😯 😯 🙁
EINA!!!
@BoetaC (Comment 15) : +10000
@McLovin (Comment 3) : So bek moet jam kry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cant wait till monday to hear what the commets wil be on trying to explain why the bulls lost!!
@Volstruis (Comment 27) : “commets”??? There gonna be commets in the sky if the Bulls lose??? 😯
@Volstruis (Comment 27) :
Are you a WP supporter? 😯
@diablo (Comment 28) :
@diablo (Comment 28) :
LMAO 😆
@diablo (Comment 28) : 😀 Haley’s commeNts…everyone sometimes have an “of” day…something the bulls will be demonstrating on saterday!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 29) : What’s giving you that idee…I’m just not that fond of the bulls and the phrase”My bloed is blou” kind of annoys me…at the end of the day Darren rugby is the overall winner hey 😉
@Volstruis (Comment 32) :
Was just yanking your chain a bit. Glad to see that it will take an “off” day for the Bulls to lose. 😉
@Volstruis (Comment 33) :
I was gonna say, you don’t come across as being gay and it came as a surprise that you supported WP. 😈
Now that I see you are just anti-Bull (as I am) thats okay. 😛
Who DO you support?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 35) : Springboks…”My blood is green” 😉
@Volstruis (Comment 36) :
Nee man jy kannie op die draad sit nie. Jy MOET ‘n provisiale span ondersteun?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 35) : I’m anti Bull 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 38) :
We will be REALLY Anti-Bull next week. 😛
BTW. The two week break may actually play into our favour with the article that I have scheduled to go up after the Semifinals.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 39) : don’t jinx nothing, dude! 🙂
A Buuls jersey would have a strange feeling for Luke, he probably would not like it and return the jersey.
That would have beee the feeling of success that he had just let go. 😈
@BoetaC (Comment 15) : Nee wat – toe Mean hulle business 😛
@Volstruis (Comment 27) : En jy moes daai commets gesien het!!! Een oomblik kyk ons nog almal lekker saam rugby en toe verdwyn die res soos commets in de skaai!!!! 😯 😯 😯
@KSA Shark © (Comment 39) : Think I might enjoy this article. 😉
@diablo (Comment 43) : Kan jy glo…. 😈 …Sireli Nakalashiddy cost them AGAIN!!!!!!!
@diablo (Comment 43) :
@Volstruis (Comment 45) :
Ek dink daai topic is bietjie “taboe” op die oomblik!! 😉
@GI Ice (Now its WAR!) (Comment 46) : Wel ek hoop daai oomblik skuif gou aan…want waaragtig…hoeveel kanse gaan hy NOG kry!!!!!!!
@Volstruis (Comment 47) :
Ek dink sy kanse is nou iets van die ver;lede…hierdie een het net TE seer gemaak en was net TE duur fout..as dit nie so is nie, dan moet WP bestuur hulle koppe laat lees…