Depleted Crusaders could be first step in a Bulls comeback
AFTER nine matches unbeaten, two comprehensive wins over South African opposition and sitting pretty at the top of the Super Rugby log, one would think that nothing would be daunting for the Crusaders.
But they will head to Loftus Versfeld this weekend – a place they last won nine years ago – and they will do so without the influential figures of All Blacks Keiran Read and Sam Whitelock.
Loose-forward Read suffered a broken thumb in the Crusaders’ 48-21 win against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein and underwent an operation, meaning he will be out of action for at least six weeks and runs the risk of missing the first Test against the British and Irish Lions in Auckland.
Always an influential figure with his tackle-busting runs and calm leadership, Read would have been the perfect man to lead the side in what will be a hostile atmosphere at Loftus on Saturday.
The Crusaders were dealt another blow with lock Sam Whitelock being suspended for two weeks yesterday after being cited for striking a player with his arm in the match against the Cheetahs.
The absence of Whitelock could play into the Bulls’ hands, with Lood de Jager and RG Snyman expected to rule the roost in the lineouts.
Crusaders and All Black loose forward Matt Todd is under no illusion of the enormity of the task that faces them in the capital on Saturday and regardless of the Bulls indifferent form this season, Todd insists they are a different team at home.
“At home they are a different beast. This is probably going to be one of the biggest challenges of the season so far. We’ll get excited about facing them because it is going to be a massive task – as mentioned Loftus is a place where we haven’t been successful in a long time.
“The Bulls are getting some decent form and we will have to be better than we were against the Cheetahs,” said Todd in the aftermath of their win in Bloemfontein.
While the Crusaders exploits have been well publicised in recent weeks, particularly after handing the Stormers the mother of all beatings before climbing onto the plane and handing the Cheetahs a similar but competitive hiding, the Bulls have been hiding under the radar.
As much as last week’s bye would have helped them mend some of their walking wounded, the week off would have also given the Bulls enough time to conjure up a winning blueprint that will see them maintain their almost decade long unbeaten run.
At the same time, the Bulls could use the game against the Crusaders as a springboard to continuing on their two match winning run and turning around a season that seemed to have gone wrong from the outset.
The Bulls will be boosted by the return of Springboks Trevor Nyakane and Jan Serfontein from their mandatory rest, while they will also have the services of newly-acquired former Springbok Sevens and Cheetahs star loose forward Boom Prinsloo, who has penned a two year deal with the Bulls.
Prop Conraad van Vuuren and utility back Johnny Kotze have been cleared from the injury list and so too loose forwards Ruan Steenkamp and Arno Botha could be available for selection.
Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard, centre Dries Swanepoel and flank Roelof Smit are all expected to return to action after the June break. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR must win their Premier League game against West Ham United on Friday to cut the lead at the top and put pressure on leaders Chelsea, manager Mauricio Pochettino has said.
Tottenham, who beat rivals Arsenal 2-0 on Sunday, are four points behind Chelsea in second but can reduce the deficit to one point if they win against West Ham and Chelsea fail to beat Middlesbrough on Monday.
“We will play before (Chelsea). It will be a tough game and a difficult game and if we are able to win we will see what happens,” Pochettino said.
Tottenham’s victory over Arsenal extended their home league winning streak to 13 matches and they can equal the club record for consecutive home wins when they host fifth-placed Manchester United on May 14 in their final home game of the season.
Man City’s home games vital for top four finish, says Guardiola
Manchester City’s hopes of finishing in the top four hinges on their three remaining home games, manager Pep Guardiola said after Sunday’s 2-2 draw with second-bottom Middlesbrough.
Fourth-placed City are level on points with third-placed Liverpool and are a point ahead of Manchester United, who also drew against a relegation-threatened side Swansea City on Sunday.
“We have tough games. Everybody has tough games so it’s game by game,” Guardiola said.
City host a resurgent Crystal Palace, who defeated three of the league’s top six in April, on Saturday before visits by Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion. They end their season at Watford on May 21.