Flyhalf battle to be a pivotal one
POLLARD: IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CONSISTENT NO 10
Bulls man comes up against Sharks’ in-form Du Preez.
Handre Pollard will know that game management has been one of the strengths of his opposite number in the Sharks team, Robert du Preez, but the Bulls flyhalf is also looking extremely comfortable when it comes to deciding whether it is time to kick the ball or keep it in hand this season ahead of their big Super Rugby clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
“It’s very important for a team to have a consistent flyhalf and I feel like I have been consistent this season, but just to be on the field is a blessing. I’m enjoying every minute of it and enjoying playing under John Mitchell; before we were very kick-driven at Loftus, but we’ve now developed our attack more and we vary when to kick or to run. It’s just more effective rugby,” Pollard said.
“It was a bit wet when we played the Sharks in Durban, but whether at sea level or at altitude, you want to win the kicking game and win territory and possession in the right areas. It’s about executing, we’re creating lots of opportunities but we’re just not finishing, that’s our big problem. We’re not capitalising on our chances.”
So the Bulls know where on the field they want to be playing and they also know where they want to be in the table. The South African Conference is where their Super Rugby hopes will be decided and the Bulls are currently bottom of that table after their loss to the Stormers.
This is certainly not where they want to be, but they play the second-placed Jaguares and third-placed Sharks in their next two games and if they win both of those matches then they could be second and within one win of the table-topping Lions.
“Winning your conference games is massive and it’s always a big battle. Over the next two weeks it is very important that we get two wins and get ourselves back in with a shout of winning the conference. If we don’t, then it could mean we have to win four matches in a row to make the playoffs and you don’t want that,” Pollard said.
“The Sharks will be a different side from when we last played them, they’re now back on a high and their confidence is back, plus they’ll be desperate to get one back on us after what happened in Durban. They showed they are a quality side when they really gave it to the Highlanders. But we’re desperate as well and for us it’s very important to win at Loftus Versfeld.”