Bulls set to run free against Jaguares
IF their match 23 is any indication, the Bulls want to break some shackles off in their approach when they face the Jaguares at Loftus this Saturday.
After three games without a win, including last week’s crushing 23-21 last-minute defeat to the Blues, the Bulls needed to think out of the box to get the best out of the available talent.
The most significant change to last week’s team was New Zealand-born Tongan international Nafi Tuitavake slotting straight into the No 13 jersey and Johnny Kotze playing on his inside. Tuitavake should break the rigidness of the Bulls backline and introduce the offload element where the three-quarters operate, which the Bulls hope will unleash the fire power of their back three.
“He has got a big heart and a great skill-set,” said coach Pote Human.
“Two weeks ago he played a curtain-raiser for the Bulls XV against the Lions XV but this will be the first time he plays for the Bulls.
“He’s very excited and the players are excited to play with him, so I think you will see something different in the backline on Saturday.
“We want to play a 15-man game and give the outside backs more space and I think we’ll get that this weekend, especially with Nafi there.”
Human’s hand was forced somewhat following captain and inside centre Burger Odendaal’s calf injury, which brought the Tongan into play.
Human had a couple of unforced, head-scratching positional switches that saw Springbok openside flanker Marco van Staden coming into the side, with Jeandre Rudolph moving to No 8 and regular eighthman Josh Strauss moving to the blindside and Wian Vosloo missing out completely.
It means the home side goes into the game without a real physical enforcer in their pack. Although the Jaguares love running the ball, they’ve proven to be one of the most physical teams in the competition. The Rudolph-Strauss-Van Staden backrow appears desperately light but they could add a dynamic element if they hunt the breakdown in a hungry pack.
Abongile Nonkontwana, who is one of their few enforcer-style loose-forwards in the squad, has again been sidelined this week after the coach mentioned he was not entirely satisfied with the player’s contribution to the team cause. Where Human didn’t have any headaches was appointing a stand-in captain, Trevor Nyakane, in Odendaal’s place.
Warrick Gelant, Cornal Hendricks, Nafi Tuitavake, Johnny Kotze, Rosko Specman, Morne Steyn, Embrose Papier, Jeandre Rudolph, Josh Strauss, Marco van Staden, Juandre Kruger, Andries Ferreira, Trevor Nyakane (C), Jaco Visagie, Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements: Corniel Els, Gerhard Steenekamp, Wiehahn Herbst, Ruan Nortje, Ruan Steenkamp, Ivan van Zyl, Manie Libbok, Divan Rossouw.