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Full Steam Ahead For Bulls After Break

Written by  Greg Smith
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Millions of rugby fans who've little idea about who or what the Bulls are all about need only look at the top of 2010 Super 14 log. The defending champions based at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria are leading the early stages of the 2010 competition with three home wins, with three local referees and three bonus points. This weekend they look set to stretch all those to four thanks in part to their forth home referee, Jonathan Kaplan.

 Bitter and often twisted anti-Blue Blue supporters joke that while other teams spent millions on pre-season player purchases, the Bulls (probably more astutely) spent their cash on referees.A tough mob to please but the lions share of South Africa's supporters shout for the 'Man U' of SA rugby however fierce the passionate rivalries are between the 14 unions that make up the mostly good natured spectrum within the so-called Rugby Republic.

 

No matter who you support, the forecast looks Bullish this weekend as Loftus hosts the Highlanders who aren't getting much chance to find their footing after a severe whipping at Newlands last week. The Bulls are fresh off a bye break and although centre Jaco Pretorius is struggling to shake off his quad injury and will not be fielded this weekend the Bulls have the confidence to give young Stephan Dippenaar another run at Super 14 level.

 

The Bulls will then play the Western Force, Blues, Chiefs and Reds in Australasia before they return for their derby against the Lions on April 24.With one more luxuriously Loftus game against the Hurricanes next week with all it's home benefits, many wonder if they'll find their away leg as profitable ?

 

I'm betting not, but that's purely as I'm on a more south western end of SA's rugby divide.

 

Predictions: Bulls by plenty!

 

Bulls – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard vd Heever, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Derick Kuün, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Subs: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Deon Stegmann, 20 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 21 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 22 Pedrie Wannenburg.

 

Highlanders – 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Kenny Lynn, 12 Jason Shoemark, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 10 Matt Berquist, 9 Sean Romans, 8 Steven Stephano, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Tim Boys, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Chris King, 2 Jason MacDonald, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Subs: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Hayden Triggs, 19 John Hardie, 20 Scott Cowan, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 James Paterson.

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2 comments

  • Comment Link Bullhoring Thursday, 11 March 2010 11:15 posted by Bullhoring

    Greg, you're supposed to be a neutral reporter and what's this we hear about "more on the south western end of SA"? All you hear from that side of the country is how they're gonna perform next year (for the last 9 years)hahahahahaha!!!!!!

  • Comment Link NO BULL FAN Thursday, 11 March 2010 09:30 posted by NO BULL FAN

    They are annoyingly good at the moment!!! and their moment has lasted 3 years so far!

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