Bulls may have to ‘kick a bit more’ if Glasgow wind howls
THE Bulls have transformed their attack under Jake White, but may have to rein themselves in if the weather doesn’t play ball in tonight’s United Rugby Championship encounter against Glasgow (8.35pm SA time kick-off).
The Scotstoun Stadium design may derail the Bulls’ plans to continue with their ball-in-hand approach, and require halfbacks Zak Burger and Chris Smith – in for Johan Goosen, who White did not want to risk on a 4G pitch, as he sustained a serious knee injury on such a surface last season – to kick more than usual if the wind blows strongly.
“If the wind comes through that stadium, it is a massive factor in terms of the way you want to play,” White said from the Scottish city yesterday.
“And that means sometimes the wind is howling, and it’s very difficult to hold on to the ball or to try and play too much rugby when you’ve got a wind that’s helping you from behind.
“We’d like to play like that, but I’d like to see how the weather is tomorrow, and if the weather is very, very influential, we are going to have to play to the weather as well.
“That means we are going to sometimes have to kick a little bit more than keep the ball in hand.
“But kicking is also a skill, and kicking in terms of creating pressure and points is also a part of rugby, and it’s part of attack.
“So, let’s see tomorrow if we can get the balance right.”
A new-look back three of KurtLee Arendse, Cornal Hendricks and Stedman Gans are sure to be tested under the high ball as well.
“Sometimes teams like to get points ahead with the wind behind them, and others like to hold on and then play the second half with the wind and build some pressure,” White said. “It’s a very open stadium, so if the wind comes in and you end up having to play against it at the back end of the game – and you’re chasing the scoreboard – it becomes difficult.”
Apart from Smith in for Goosen at flyhalf, the other changes see
Hendricks and Gans at wing in place of the injured Canan Moodie and Sbu Nkosi, with Lionel Mapoe at outside centre for Hendricks.
Moodie is out for about eight weeks with a hamstring injury, while Nkosi is over his concussion and will rejoin the Bulls squad later this weekend ahead of next Saturday’s clash against Munster.
The other new face is Jan-Hendrik Wessels at hooker. A key factor in the Bulls’ bid for victory will be maintaining their discipline, after they conceded three yellow cards and numerous penalties in their 28-14 triumph over Connacht at Loftus Versfeld last weekend. White said that there would be “no chance” of winning if they have a repeat against Glasgow away from home.