Bulls have all to play for against Kings
Vodacom Super Rugby resumes this weekend in South Africa and New Zealand with four tough derbies and one cross-section clash in Durban, where The Sharks will be looking for their ninth consecutive win over the Blues.
It has been almost a month since the last round of action involving teams from South Africa and New Zealand – Round 17 consisted of only two Aussie derbies – and with the Finals Series a little over three weeks away, a number of teams will be looking to step things up as they fight for places in the top six.
The Vodacom Bulls, SA Conference leaders, host the Southern Kings at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria at 17h05 on Saturday. The home team have been hard hit by injuries, which will test their depth, and the visitors themselves are under pressure because of the non-availability of a number of injured players.
On Saturday it will be almost three months since the Vodacom Bulls last lost in Vodacom Super Rugby. They are on a seven-match winning streak and will be looking to make it eight when they host the Southern Kings in Pretoria this weekend.
The Vodacom Bulls’ last defeat was on tour against the Brumbies on 30 March. It was the last encounter of a three-match losing streak Down Under and now, with the playoffs in sight, they are leading the South African Conference.
Looking at the Vodacom Bulls’ home record in recent seasons, it’s clear the Kings have a massive task ahead. Since winning their third Vodacom Super Rugby title in 2010, the team from Pretoria have lost only five out of 22 matches at Loftus Versfeld. Going back to the start of 2007, it changes to nine home defeats in 53 matches – not too shabby.
Both teams have lost their captains this week, and in both instances the injury news was not good – the Vodacom Bulls’ Pierre Spies and the Kings’ Luke Watson will not play again in 2013. Dewald Potgieter (Bulls) and Andries Strauss (Kings) will lead their teams out on Saturday.
“It’s good to have a few of our front-line players back as we head into the business end of the competition, especially since we’ve lost a few players to injury,” said Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke.
“This is a massive game for us – each game in Super Rugby is – but we’ve set our goals for the season and now is the time to make sure we achieve them. The Kings will not be an easy opponent, as there is no such thing in this competition. “We simply need to ensure we stick to what has been working for us thus far this year and the guys who are getting opportunities need to put their hands up on Saturday.”
Vodacom Bulls: Zane Kirchner, Akona Ndungane, Jan Serfontein, Wynand Olivier, Bjorn Basson, Louis Fouché, Francois Hougaard, Dewald Potgieter (captain), Jacques Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Grant Hattingh, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Dean Greyling. Replacements: Willie Wepener, Frik Kirsten, Juandré Kruger, Jono Ross, Rudy Paige, Morné Steyn, JJ Engelbrecht.
Southern Kings: SP Marais, Michael Killian, Ronnie Cooke, Andries Strauss (captain), Marcello Sampson, Demetri Catrakilis, Shaun Venter, Jacques Engelbrecht, Wimpie van der Walt, Cornell du Preez, Darron Nell, David Bulbring, Kevin Buys, Bandise Maku, Schalk Ferreira. Replacements: Grant Kemp, Hannes Franklin, Rynier Bernardo, Devin Oosthuizen, Nicolas Vergallo, George Whitehead, Shane Gates.
Vodacom Bulls v Southern Kings
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Referee: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
@15 ek het dit ook nogals opgelet.
Posted by Nitronic on 29 June 2013 21:02
Mooi bulle. n Pluimpie aan Wessel Roux hulle, Merkwaardige verbetering met ons skrumwerk. Wanneer dit by skrum kom is dit al agt wat as n eenheid moet skrum. Die blues het vir ons gewys hoe jul teen die Sharks moet speel. Dryf reguit vanaf losskrums. Hul commit nie baie spelers by losskrums nie. Sterkte. Posted by Gerriebloubul on 29 June 2013 19:12
Hou op die musiek speel as die game aan die gang is,speel dit as daar n bruek is,magtig man ons is nie die kings in pe nie
Posted by Bloudna's on 29 June 2013 18:45
Wat het van morne mallet geword???
Posted by Bloudna's on 29 June 2013 18:30
Goeie genade, Jimi. Wat gaan aan daarso in Australie. Aus lyk my gaan die enekie ook lose.Aah well, bring on he S15 please. Posted by mighty_sharkie on 29 June 2013 13:40
GEE DIT HORINGS BULLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Jimmy on 29 June 2013 10:05
Ons en die chiefs kan gelyk eindig op punte dan gaan dit gaan op wenne en punte verskil. Ek verseker die chiefs kan volg week vasval teen crusaders en dan blues op aucland wen. Gee vir hulle 5punte by. Dan 12voor ons. Ons sal 5moet kry vdg en dan volg week 4. Dit beteken na volg week ons 1ste,maar dan wen chiefs laaste game en dit los ons met n moet wen game vir die home final plek! Wie weet meskien val die chiefs vas in die laaste game teen blues. Sal so hoop,want stormers gaan n harde 1 wees! Bulle bp wen vdg en ons 2de! Home semi! Dink ons gaan aanval so sal daarvan hou om zane se aanvalllende spel te sien. Nr 2-hoe gaan fouche op los-kakel wees ,maar nie net die skop werk nie,maar sy algemene spel. Verseker is hy altyd rotsvas op verdediging. Aanval? Nr 3-grant hating-gaan hy balle kan steel soos n kruger? Gaan ons lynstaan werk 95+persent bly? Hy is verseker ons nr 5 volg jaar. Behalwe as peter stef du toit ons offer aanvaar. Glo hy sal. Sien nuus 24 se- p stef weet dat nr 1 -dis sy beste plek vir bok span. Nr2-hy gaan saam sy held en lynstaan kenner-victor werk. Nr3 dat bulle weet hoe om goeie kontrakte los te slaan en dat hul verseker die "meestel geld het. Bulle en wp gee sy offer 1julie vir hom. Sien hy het nie kontrak hernu by sharks nie. Sterkte #bulle
Posted by roela on 29 June 2013 09:01
Nitronic is my hero!So die bestuur lees wel die klomp rubbish wat party ouens skryf. Nitronic het duirelik n nerve gestrike.....lolJammer speler word op stats gekies. Stats en dit wat my oe sien is ni dieselfde nie.Jis ma Gerrie Coetzee is n master of all trades, oud bokser, tanne ghoeroe en nou ref......you go GerrieJis Jimmy jy praat lekke met jouself.......you rock buddyNitronic for president........lol
Posted by Kosivdkaap on 29 June 2013 08:12
Posted by Jimmy on 29 June 2013 02:10
People are people so why should it be; you and I should get along so awfully. So we're different colors and we're different creeds and different people have different needs… People are People
Posted by Jimmy on 29 June 2013 02:09
I've got to get to you first before they do it's just a question of time before they lay their hands on you and make you just like the rest I've got to get to you first... A Question of Time
Posted by Jimmy on 29 June 2013 02:06
But when you think I've had enough from your sea of love I'll take more than another riverful and I'll make it all worthwhile I'll make your heart smile… Strangelove
Posted by Jimmy on 29 June 2013 02:04
There's a new game we like to play you see a game with added reality you treat me like a dog get me down on my knees, we call it master and servant, we call it master and servant… Master and Servant
Posted by Jimmy on 29 June 2013 02:02
Depeche Mode vir die laatnag..
Posted by Jimmy on 29 June 2013 02:01
Die Bulle se O/13 spannetjie het 10-11 verloor teen die WP in die hoofwedstryd vir laerskole. Baie naby, maar ek hoop die O/18 doen beter. Ek twyfel egter of die O/18 span naastenby so sterk is as verlede jaar se O/18 span. Dit gaan maar afhang hoe sterk die ander spanne is. Die Bulle se O/18's het reeds in die Bondedag teen die Vrystaat verloor. Wel met twee geel kaarte is dit moeilik om enige wedstyd te wen! Dissipline gaan ook 'n groot faktor speel.Op daai noot hoop ek Greyling en Kruger bewys my verkeerd teen die Kings!
Posted by Poepindieketel on 28 June 2013 18:16
Die Chiefs het vandag 5 punte gekry, so 5 punte is die minimum vereiste vir hierdie naweek. Sterkte Bulle, weet julle kan dit doen!
Posted by GeenBloutjieNetBlou on 28 June 2013 16:04
Posted by Bulletjie 1 on 28 June 2013 15:26