Sharks can’t be taken seriously if they lose to Bulls

THE BULLS have won Super Rugby on three occasions, and are the most, and only, successful South African team in the competition. The Lions have been close, making a number of finals, but it is the traditional SA style of play that has seen the men from Pretoria succeed.

The Sharks will be heading to traditionally South Africa’s toughest ground to try and bounce back from a disappointing home defeat against the Stormers last weekend. But, they will also know that the Bulls of 2019 are not the same team of 2018 or 2017 for that matter.

The men from Pretoria, who won the title three times in quite quick succession, have been rebuilding. They have a new coach who may not have a lot of experience, but with an experienced squad they have some true leaders.

Coach Pote Human has in his arsenal the likes of Duane Vermeulen and Schalk Brits to add a lot of experience. They may only be two players in a matchday squad of 23, but they are pure rugby gold which can shape the direction of any team.

Vermeulen, pictured, is seen as a traditional South African forward; powerful, dangerous, and abrasive, and someone the Sharks will need to try and counter directly. At the same time Brits may well be on the older side, but he is sprightly in his own play.

The Bulls are not only made of these key veterans, but they also have the likes of Handre Pollard, who is finding the form that accompanies his raw talent, as well as a host of other key Springboks like Jesse Kriel and Sevens star Rosko Specman.

The Sharks will certainly need to up their game from the performance they put on against the men from the Cape. They will, probably behind closed doors, admit they were a little complacent against the Stormers at home seeing as they were hammered by the Bulls.

That must then surely mean they will be more than prepared for the onslaught of a reinvigorated Bulls team at Loftus tomorrow.

The Bulls are probably far from winning Super Rugby for the fourth time, but they are certainly in a position to give the South African conference a real run for their money.

The problem is that the Sharks are also well positioned to be shining this year after winning last year’s Currie Cup, but if they cannot overcome the Bulls, after losing to fellow South Africans the Stormers, they cannot be taken as a real threat this year.