Bulls plan to go on the attack for crucial win
• Pretoria franchise to raise their game against Chiefs in Hamilton
The Bulls have their backs against the wall with one win from four starts in Super Rugby in 2017 and captain Adriaan Strauss says they will have to play with an attacking mind-set against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday.
The Bulls have lost to the Stormers‚ Cheetahs‚ Blues and their only win came against the Sunwolves before their departure for New Zealand two weeks ago.
Speaking from New Zealand on Thursday, after coach Nollis Marais announced five changes to the squad that lost to the Blues last weekend‚ Strauss said they had to minimise mistakes.
“We are working hard every week and we want to play with an attacking mind-set against the Chiefs‚” he said.
“If we do the right things‚ we will get it right and we need to hold on to the ball more, which will help us to get more opportunities. To say that we are creating chances and not converting is the best assessment of where we are at the moment.
“This game is about creating pressure and making it count when it matters most.”
Marais pointed out that some of the mistakes they have committed have been their undoing and the players are fully aware of what to do going forward.
“In the match against the Blues‚ there was miscommunication in the attack, but we have worked on it and all the players know where to go and what to do. They took the loss against the Blues hard‚ they know that things must be fixed, but the team is in good space. We know that we must come out of this situation and perform.
“Nobody gives us a chance to beat the Chiefs because they are a side with lots of confidence.
“We just have to go out there and play. All their guys are back‚ they are a good side that will punish you from everywhere if you make mistakes.”
In the changes‚ Arno Botha will make his first appearance for the Bulls in the competition this season to add to his 11 matches in 2016 and 46 overall.
Botha comes in for injured Hanro Liebenberg at No 8‚ Jesse Kriel moves from centre to fullback in place of Warrick Gelant, who will play off the bench.
Burger Odendaal will start with Jan Serfontein in the midfield, while at scrumhalf Rudy Paige replaces Piet van Zyl.
Jacobie Adriaanse is back on the bench in the place of injured John-Roy Jenkinson, while Jaco Visagie and Edgar Marutlulle swop places, with the latter on the bench. /