BULLS

RECRUITMENT BALANCE Most of their recruitment has been hauling players in from the Blue Bulls Currie Cup team. That’s not necessarily a bad thing – certainly longer term it should help the Bulls become a better team.

But for 2018, they look to be much the same inexperienced, underpowered side that they were last year. The only high profile player movement was the wrong way – with midfielder Jan Serfontein heading to Montpellier.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TACTICALLY?

We have given up guessing what the African sides may do. They are young, inexperienced and random. Possibly they will look to be more expansive and ball-in-hand in comparison with Bulls teams of the past but then again, we could be just guessing to fill up space.

Part of the problem in predicting is the arrival of John Mitchell as coach. He has some good ideas, has had success in some places but he also comes with baggage and a track record of getting on the wrong side of his players.

GUT FEEL – RISERS OR FALLERS?

We said they were a side in decline in 2016 and again last year. We’d like to think that the rot is going to stop somewhere but sadly it won’t be 2018.

But to give things a little hint of optimism, Mitchell could turn things around – and we are thinking 2019-2020 – if he’s given time to do so.

WHERE WILL THEY FINISH?

In the bottom half of the table is our guess. They will fire up for the odd game at Loftus and maybe sneak a couple of away wins in South Africa. But don’t look good enough to win against New Zealand sides or the better Australian outfits.