Agaba gets start as Bulls try for a late Cup run

BLUE BULLS coach John Mitchell has told his team to forget about the Currie Cup semi-finals and about Sunday’s opponents Western Province, and rather focus on getting better as a team.

The Bulls are lying second from bottom on the log and with three matches remaining in the round robin phase, they run the risk of missing out on the playoffs after being losing finalists last year.

Mitchell, though, doesn’t want his team to think too far ahead nor overthink the threat that awaits them on Sunday at Loftus Versfeld.

What will be important for Mitchell is how his team converts their ever-improving performances into victories and how they can finally realise the all encompassing running game that Mitchell insists on them playing.

“It is not something I focus on, and I don’t expect the players to focus on the log, nor do we focus on the opposition. All we are worrying about at the moment and concerning ourselves with and putting our positive energy towards is how we can get better. Our biggest task is to become consistent. But we are running out of time... we are going to have to become very cohesive and consistent very soon,” Mitchell said yesterday.

In his quest to continuously strength his side, Mitchell has handed Springbok Sevens star Tim Agaba (pictured) his first start since joining the Bulls in August, along with young flank Marco van Staden.

The other changes come on the bench with flyhalf Tony Jantjies returning after sitting out last week, while prop Dayan van der Westhuizen also returns along with fit-again Boom Prinsloo.

Mitchell has admitted that the pressure for results is growing but wants his team to use the pressure as an ally against their opponents.

He is eager for them to make a statement against Western Province that they are still relevant in the competition.

“There is always pressure, it depends on how you manage and handle it.

“So what external pressure comes is irrelevant to us, that is something we can’t control. We are in good spirits, we have good energy and know that our destiny is in our own hands and at the end of the day we are leaving it late,” Mitchell said.