Challenge Cup quarter-final: Time for Bulls to show what they’re made of

With five Springboks in the pack and a further six on the bench, it is time for the Bulls to show what they’re made of when they take on Edinburgh in a big EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-final on Saturday afternoon, with kick-off at 1.30pm.

Playing away from home for the second week in a row in the competition is a big ask for the Bulls, especially as they’re again on the artificial “grass” surface at the Hive Stadium, but if the Bulls and their coach Jake White are serious about winning big European cup competitions it is games such as this one they have to win.

White’s team did well to get past Bayonne in France last weekend, but this is another step up, against an Edinburgh side with a good few Scottish internationals in the mix and a coach in Sean Everitt who has worked with the Bulls in the past and knows the strengths and weaknesses – and mindset – of South African teams.

‘Step up’

But while there is a good deal of pressure on White and the Bulls to win this game, there is an equal amount on the home side. And Everitt admitted this week his side would have to take a step up after edging the Lions in the round of 16 last weekend.

“Yes, it is a step up,” Everitt acknowledged. “The Bulls are two-time URC finalists. They had a good win against Bayonne away from home, and South African teams have struggled against the French teams away. So, it was important for them to get that win.

“We know they pride themselves on set-piece and physicality. So, a difficult team to play against. We know them quite well after playing them in the earlier rounds of the URC and then obviously at home last year. So, we know what they’re going to bring. It’s about us being able to stop them and using the opportunity that we can create against them.”

Packed with Bok stars

For his part White has for once been able to pick a fairly settled team and he’s hoping that continuity will pay dividends.

“What I am looking forward to is a bit of continuity, a bit of reward for how they played against Bayonne last week.

“It’s also a very good bench … which we haven’t had for a very long time.”

The Bulls’ starting Springbok players are all in the pack, namely Wilco Louw, Akker van der Merwe, captain Ruan Nortje, and loose forwards Marcell Coetzee and Cameron Hanekom. The six Boks on the bench are Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Marco van Staden, Embrose Papier, Johan Goosen and Canan Moodie.

Both teams will fancy their chances and like always it is likely to come down to who makes the most of the possession when they have it.

The winner of the match will take on the winner of the clash between Bath and Gloucester in the semi-finals.

The other two quarter-finals see Ospreys host Lyon and Connacht take on Racing 92.