The Bulls have learnt some key lessons from the Stormers’ defeat to the Ospreys and won’t be caught off-guard in tonight’s United Rugby Championship clash in Swansea (8.35pm start).
The Capetonians led 13-3 in the first half, but allowed the Welsh side back into the game and despite a late try to get to within six points, they went down 37-24 after a penalty try on the hooter.
The Bulls are keen to avoid a similar fate tonight at the Swansea.com Stadium, and after their two-match winning start to the season with wins over Edinburgh (22-16) and Ulster (47-21), they are well equipped to make it three in a row.
Director of rugby Jake White was able to select all of his current Springboks bar Marco van Staden, who is being rested for the tour, and they will feature tonight in Wales.
Canan Moodie was retained at outside centre in the team White announced yesterday, while Willie le Roux and Kurt-Lee Arendse are at fullback and wing respectively.
The loose trio has been slightly re-jigged, with powerful loose forward Elrigh Louw shifting to No 8 and Cameron Hanekom playing off the bench, while there’s a welcome return from injury for youngster Reinhardt Ludwig at No 7.
The experienced Marcell Coetzee slots in at openside flank for Van Staden, and the other pack change sees Ruan Vermaak coming in at No 4 for Cobus Wiese.
“At one point, it looked like it was a matter of time before the Stormers were going to roll them over and beat them – and it didn’t happen. The Ospreys just kept coming back at them, and they scored a penalty-maul try at the death there,” White said from Wales yesterday.
“So, they weren’t even just satisfied with the win – they really wanted to finish off strongly.
“They are that kind of team. They don’t really play much rugby... they are quite a conservative team, and that’s their style.
“But it seems to be working for them as a group, and that’s why they stay in games – because they can almost frustrate teams and make you make mistakes, and then they use those opportunities to put points on you.
“I don’t think it’s something new, but it’s something I saw has worked for them, and not only this season. They have been the top Welsh team over the last two or three seasons on the log, so I’m expecting no different tomorrow – they are going to be a tough nut to crack.”
First Captain's Run on tour ✅#ForeverBlue pic.twitter.com/SDKhNtRcOi
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) October 11, 2024
White is excited to see what Ludwig will contribute at blindside flank, while he hopes that Boeta Chamberlain can continue his improved form at flyhalf.
But the Pretoria side will have their hands full at the breakdowns, where Welsh legend Justin Tipuric will contest hard to make it as scrappy as possible as the Ospreys aim to bounce back from a 23-0 away loss to Munster last week.
“Reinhardt Ludwig has proven to me (that he can start). He was at seven when we beat the Stormers,” the former Bok coach said.
“He is a good lineout option, he offers us a massive amount of work-rate because of his athletic ability – and I’m quite keen to see how he goes in the lineouts this week, and how he combines with Marcell and Elrigh.
“Boeta did step up to the plate last week and was outstanding, and hopefully he uses this as a stepping stone for him to cement himself in every match-day 23.
“What I enjoyed was his work-rate and the way he scrambled to get back and (help Bulls) dot it down when he chased the ball, took a quick lineout and we scored.
“He’s got a point of difference in terms of his pace. He also shows control at vital times, his line kicking was outstanding last week.”
Bulls Team
15 Willie le Roux 14 Sebastian de Klerk 13 Canan Moodie 12 David Kriel 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse 10 Boeta Chamberlain 9 Embrose Papier 8 Elrigh Louw 7 Reinhardt Ludwig 6 Marcell Coetzee 5 Ruan Nortjé (captain) 4 Ruan Vermaak 3 Wilco Louw 2 Johan Grobbelaar 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Bench: 16 Akker van der Merwe 17 Alulutho Tshakweni 18 Francois Klopper 19 Cobus Wiese 20 Cameron Hanekom 21 Keagan Johannes 22 Stedman Gans 23 Aphiwe Dyantyi.