Nothing short of total forward domination by the Bulls will give them a chance of winning at a venue where they last won in 2006 against the Sharks in the domestic competition, according to Bulls forwards coach Denzil Frans.
With an ever-improving scrum, a tactically astute and physical second row and an extremely busy loose trio, Frans believes that his beefy pack can overpower and subdue their Sharks counterparts, making it easier for the Bulls to secure a victory and a subsequent march on to the final.
“We will have to take them on up front. If we can win that battle, we can win the collision battle on defence and attack and then we are going to make it easy for ourselves,” said Frans yesterday.
Knowing how to beat the Sharks is the easy part but the Bulls will need to first tighten up on a handful of flaws that were glaring in their win over the Lions.
“Our pillar defence wasn’t great against the Lions and in the beginning [of the game] the guys had to feel each other out with the returning Springboks.
“I think it [the gelling of the team] helped a lot towards the end of the game against the Lions, so I think we can have a better start to the game on Saturday,” said Frans.
Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar is today likely to announce the same pack that grew in confidence and ascendancy against the Lions and this will help team cohesion.
With a strong bench, spear-headed by Springboks Chiliboy Ralepelle and Dean Greyling, the Bulls will have plenty of firepower to keep the Sharks under pressure.
However, Pienaar is grappling with a dilemma over which of his two scrumhalves will start the match.
Jano Vermaak had been favoured over Francois Hougaard for the game against the Lions but Pienaar might feel the need to start Hougaard against the Sharks, given his big match temperament and game-breaking capabilities.
While the Bulls are being regarded as lucky semifinalists, making it into the play-offs through the back door, Frans says there is enough belief in the team for them to attain their pre-season goal of being crowned Currie Cup champions.
Likely Bulls team: Zane Kirchner, Akona Ndungane, JJ Engelbrecht, Francois Venter, Bjorn Basson, Morné Steyn, Jano Vermaak/ Francois Hougaard, Arno Botha, Jacques Potgieter, Dewald Potgieter (capt), Flip van der Merwe, Juandré Kruger, Werner Kruger, Willie Wepener, Morné Mellett.
Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Frik Kirsten, Wilhelm Steenkamp, CJ Stander, Francois Hougaard/Jano Vermaak, Louis Fouché, Dean Greyling.
IOL
