Jesse Kriel of the Vodacom Bulls during the Super Rugby match between Cell C Sharks and Vodacom Bulls at Jonsson Kings Park on March 30, 2019 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images)
It will be a new-look backline for the Bulls for Saturday’s Super Rugby encounter with the Waratahs at Loftus Versfeld after bad injury, especially for Jesse Kriel, but for the forwards it will just be a case of ensuring they are properly up for the game and bring their usual physical intensity.
Kriel tore a ligament in his ankle against the Stormers in Cape Town at the weekend and will need surgery, putting him out of action for at least six to eight weeks.
Super Rugby is therefore over to all intents and purposes for the World Cup hopeful.
His midfield partner Burger Odendaal suffered an eye injury and it is touch-and-go whether he will be available, while wings Jade Stighling and Divan Rossouw were both concussed.
“It doesn’t help with that consistency we’re always talking about, but the guys that will come in will be up for the contest and we believe they can do the job 100%. But against the Stormers, up front we didn’t totally pitch physically, so we didn’t start well. So it’s back to the drawing board and we have to fix all the small things.
“Hopefully we’ll have better rhythm this weekend and the offloads will stick. Playing in front of our home crowd will make a difference and a quick start is always positive because then you can build momentum. It’s easier at home because you’re in your comfort zone and you’re not feeling unsettled. But the South African teams are more direct so there’ll be a bit of adapting against an Australian team,” loose forward Paul Schoeman said.
Paul Schoeman of the Vodacom Bulls attacking during the Super Rugby match between Vodacom Bulls and Reds at Loftus Versfeld on April 13, 2019 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Gordon Arons/Gallo Images)
Saturday’s match is the first of the Waratahs’ tour to South Africa, with the New South Welshmen then taking on the Lions in Joburg next week. Winning on the Highveld is always a big job for Australian teams, but the Waratahs will be feeling motivated after a defeat to the Sharks in Sydney last weekend that obviously irked them.
The Bulls are also coming off a loss though and Schoeman spoke of how desperate they are to win over the next two weekends at home to ensure they start their tour in a good frame of mind.
“This is a very important game and if we can beat both the Waratahs and Crusaders then we can go on tour with a positive mindset. We can build on that momentum and not feel as if we are under as much pressure. We also want to build on our plan,” Schoeman said.
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