Mitchell warns Bulls

MITCHELL: WE FACE A SIDE WITH MANY DIFFERENT THREATS

Ken Borland

After a top-class performance against the Sharks, Bulls coach John Mitchell says his team have to reset this week and ensure they put in a good week’s preparation again ahead of their Super Rugby match against the Melbourne Rebels at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

It was obvious how well the Bulls had done their homework in hammering the Sharks 40-10 in Durban, but now they have to make sure they don’t undo the good work by losing at home to a Rebels team that are sixth in the overall table, two places above the Pretoria franchise, despite successive defeats.

“It was a good performance against the Sharks but we’ve got to reset and your preparation determines a good end to the week. We need to get our feet back on the ground and get the detail right. Our process won’t change and it’s important the players don’t focus on scoreboards or tables but make sure they are hungrier to improve,” Mitchell said.

“We backed up against the Stormers and Sharks and there’s no reason we can’t do it again.

“But the important thing is our mindset and preparations have to be right. We will undo all our good work if we get too far ahead of ourselves and lose focus.

“Super Rugby is such a challenge and this weekend we face a team with a whole lot of different threats. The Rebels are a good side and have clearly become stronger with Australia reducing their number of teams.”

In the midst of some of the superb tries they scored, a great defensive effort by the Bulls at King’s Park could be overlooked.

“The defence is slowly coming, if the Lions hadn’t hit us so badly with their maul then our figures would be even better, but it’s important we stay on task and never just expect things to happen. Defence can be unrewarding, but the guys are owning it and it’s about how effective your drills are, you have to keep repeating it.

“You have to reload in defence and regain your shape as quickly as possible,” Mitchell said.