Bulls head into the unknown
The grand, ultramodern metropolis of Singapore shares few similarities with the bustling old city of Buenos Aires, but the Bulls will be eager to ensure they don’t suffer the same fate against the Sunwolves as on their last overseas trip.
In May, the Bulls were thrashed 54-24 by Argentina’s Jaguares in the unfamiliar surrounds of the Estadio Jose Amalfitani and today will once again venture into strange territory against the Sunwolves, who have won their last two home games.
The Bulls lost to the Sunwolves in Tokyo last year and their away record in Super Rugby has continued under new coach John Mitchell, now running to 10 successive defeats outside South Africa.
“I know we’re going to have to adapt to the humidity. Tactically, it will be important how we play,” Mitchell said.
Although the New Zealander is well known for his preference for playing with the ball, Mitchell is shrewd enough to know that territory might be more important than possession today.
“The humidity will dictate how much ball we move through the hands and how much we put in the air. We’ll be approaching the game with no less intensity and we have to deal with the conditions,” he said.
With the best lineout in the competition, a strong kicking game will help the Bulls who, despite their stated preference for playing with ball-in-hand, have carried for the least metres.
With dogged former Lions flank Willie Britz leading them, the Sunwolves can be expected to tackle with enthusiasm and the Bulls are more likely to beat them with set-piece excellence and game management than fancy, open rugby.
“It’s going to be physically draining, so we are going to use that to our advantage, play the game fast and move the Bulls around,” Sunwolves’ stand-in coach Tony Brown said.