Jake White knows that the Bulls are in a “nice place to be” in the United Rugby Championship, but now is the time to put the hammer down in order to set things up for a shot at the title.
The Bulls boss spoke ahead of today’s showdown with the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld (5pm kick-off) about the fact that his team have scored the second-most points this season, conceded the second-least points, and have statistically the strongest scrum in the competition.
But, having come through a 33-32 thriller over the Stormers in Cape Town last weekend, White is well aware that the Bulls would take two steps back if they were to come up short against the Sharks.
The fact that the Durban side are missing a number of top Springboks and others due to injury, suspension or resting protocols doesn’t mean that they will be pushovers.
They still boast a formidable unit, with an all-Springbok front row of Ntuthuko Mchunu, Bongi Mbonambi and Trevor Nyakane, while they have some serious fire-power in the backline in the shape of Grant Williams, Lukhanyo Am, Jurenzo Julius and Jordan Hendrikse.
“I’m expecting them to run from everywhere, with the backline they’ve picked. They would’ve seen what the Stormers did last week in terms of trying to beat us out wide, and they will try and do that as well,” White said yesterday.
“But remember that it comes with a price, because if you get it wrong at altitude, you end up running in quicksand.
“They might prove me wrong, but I’m expecting, with the team they’ve picked, that they will try and outrun us.
“That’s going to be an interesting battle, because we’ve obviously got strong forwards and it’s going to be difficult to run if your legs are tired from scrumming and mauling.”
The intrigue goes further, as both teams have opted for five-three bench splits in favour of the forwards, but there is little doubt that the Bulls have the replacements to make a huge difference in the second half.
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Springboks Gerhard Steenekamp, Akker van der Merwe and Aphiwe Dyantyi will add real impetus in the closing stages, but the Bulls also boast a powerful starting front row of Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw to attack the Sharks scrum.
Star No 8 Cameron Hanekom was left out as he is still nursing a leg “contusion” from the Stormers game, while last week’s captain, Marcell Coetzee, has been rested.
But there are two more Springboks replacing them in Nizaam Carr and fit-again Marco van Staden in the loose trio, while youngster Reinhardt Ludwig will be the skipper.
“It’s called a Bomb Squad! I joke about it, but it is a Bomb Squad. What I’ve worked out in our squad is that it’s also nice to finish up with Akker and Gerhard, and guys like Jannes (Kirsten), who have won European Cup finals and Premierships.
“He’s (Ludwig) got the respect of the players. He will be helped by Nizaam, Willie and guys like Harold Vorster, but I’m comfortable that he knows what we want to get out of tomorrow.”
Bok veteran Willie le Roux was retained at flyhalf, and White feels that the 35-year-old will have a smoother game today. “I expect Willie to be a little more fluid in terms of him and Emmy’s combination, Willie to be a little more game-sharp.
“He’ll kick when he needs to kick, and he’ll run when he needs to run – and I trust him on that.
“But I am saying that Willie, second week in the number 10 jersey with the same backline, I can only see it being of benefit, especially at home.”
Bulls Team
15 Devon Williams 14 Canan Moodie 13 David Kriel 12 Harold Vorster 11 Sergeal Petersen 10 Willie le Roux 9 Embrose Papier 8 Nizaam Carr 7 Reinhardt Ludwig (captain) 6 Marco van Staden 5 JF van Heerden 4 Ruan Vermaak 3 Wilco Louw 2 Johan Grobbelaar 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Bench: 16 Akker van der Merwe 17 Gerhard Steenekamp 18 Francois Klopper 19 Jannes Kirsten 20 Mpilo Gumede 21 Zak Burger 22 Boeta Chamberlain 23 Aphiwe Dyantyi.