High stakes for Bulls

THE Bulls knew long before embarking on their trip to New Zealand and Australia that their four-match tour would be a defining factor in their bid to make the Super Rugby playoffs.

After a disappointing start to their tour when they lost a game they should have won against the Blues last week in Auckland, their fate in the competition boils down to the result of their encounter against the Chiefs in Rotorua tomorrow morning.

It will be hard for the Bulls to swallow that all of their toil this season hinges on the outcome of one match.

While the Bulls have openly expressed their desperation to get a positive result in Rotorua, the Chiefs are also in a desperate sprint to secure themselves a place in the knockout stage of the competition.

Any slip-up by the Bulls could see them fall out of contention for the play-offs, especially if the Stormers manage to beat the Rebels on Saturday, leaving the Pretoria side with the near-impossible task of having to win all their remaining games if they are to stand a chance of making the playoffs.

Bulls captain Pierre Spies is under no illusion on how difficult a task his team face.

“Both teams are going to battle it out in Rotorua, and we hope to get the result,” he said. “We’ve done our preparation, and we know what to expect.”