Bulls want to right the wrongs
SILVER LINING: SEASON OF PAIN DRIVES UNDERDOGS ON AGAINST MIGHTY SHARKS
Ken Borland
The Blue Bulls are hoping the pain of some of their bitterly disappointing results this year gives them strength as they travel to Durban as underdogs, looking to match the powerful Sharks on their home turf in their Currie Cup semifinal today.
The Bulls snuck into the last-four having won just five and losing seven of their 12 games, which included humiliating defeats like 51-15 to the Pumas in Nelspruit and 4534 to Western Province at Newlands. Given that their Super Rugby campaign was even worse, winning just four of 15 matches, including a 38-14 loss to the lowly Blues, defeats to the Sunwolves and Southern Kings, a 62-24 thrashing at the hands of the Crusaders at Loftus Versfeld and a 51-14 hammering by the Lions, there is plenty of hurt that John Mitchell’s men have suffered and are looking to assuage.
“A betting man would put money on the Sharks, but I’m not a betting man,” Mitchell said. “But it is going to be a test of character, we’re going to need to absorb adversity and learn to fight. Hopefully all the painful situations we have been in this year can be used as strength this weekend.”
As dazzling as the Bulls backs have been in recent weeks, there is no doubt the visitors are going to have to front up in the forward exchanges if they are to have any chance of an upset.
“We have to nail our set-pieces, there’s no doubt about it, because only then can you put your stamp on the match,” Mitchell said. “And the gain-line is also extremely important, the Sharks are very good there and we have to be physical and defensively strong there. They will try to bully us.”
While the Bulls will be hoping to have enough front-foot ball to play with attacking freedom, and Mitchell added they will be bringing “something different” tactically, the hosts will be content to create opportunities through defending and kicking well.
“Finals are when your defence has to be right and we will be doing what has been working for us. We’ve got the balance of the team right with a lot of experience in guys who have played finals before and the younger guys coming through. We know what we have to do,” Sharks coach Robert du Preez said.