Settled Bulls are ‘confident’ ahead of Currie Cup semi-final

The Bulls are in the healthy position of having a settled line-up and a well-established game-plan that works, and if they play to the best of their abilities, coach Jake White is confident they will see off Western Province in their Currie Cup semi-final at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night.

Marcell Coetzee returns to captain the Bulls, with White happy he has been able to choose his strongest team.

Western Province, meanwhile, have been able to add more experience to their line-up with the return of Springbok hooker Scarra Ntubeni.

ALSO READ: Ntubeni back from injury as WP head to Loftus for Bulls clash

“The players are very confident because we have had a consistent game-plan through the year and it’s working for us,” White said.

“It’s important that the players are just relaxed and trust their preparation enough to get the result. This same group of players had the same pressure last year and they came through with flying colours.

“Plus we have added some wiser heads to the squad, so I really don’t need to say much to the team. We are where we want to be, which is exciting.

“I’m very confident that we have done the work, and if we play as well as we can, then we don’t have to worry about being nervous.”

When asked how the Bulls would counter chunky, in-form fetcher Deon Fourie, White simply said: “We’ve picked Marcell Coetzee”, and the Bulls loose trio is one of their great strengths.

Veteran Arno Botha has been playing great rugby lately and eighthman Elrigh Louw has been one of the finds of the last year.

ALSO READ: Bulls in ‘good place’ ahead of showdown with WP – Botha

Though White felt Western Province locks Ernst van Rhyn and Johan du Toit deserved credit for stepping up during a second-row injury crisis, he pointed out that the Bulls had many locks to choose from, and Ruan Nortje and Janko Swanepoel have grown considerably as players in the last year.

Lionel Mapoe and Harold Vorster are a well-established, experienced centre combination and their battle with Juan de Jongh and Dan du Plessis will be a meaty affair.

Western Province have pace (Edwill van der Merwe) and power (Ruhan Nel) on the wings, up against the accomplished Bulls pairing of Cornal Hendricks and Madosh Tambwe.

Perhaps it will be Bulls flyhalf Johan Goosen, however, who will take control of the game and be the stand-out figure.

Teams

Bulls

David Kriel, Cornal Hendricks, Lionel Mapoe, Harold Vorster, Madosh Tambwe, Johan Goosen, Zak Burger, Elrigh Louw, Arno Botha, Marcell Coetzee, Ruan Nortje, Janko Swanepoel, Mornay Smith, Schalk Erasmus, Gerhard Steenekamp.

Bench: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Simphiwe Matanzima, Jacques van Rooyen, Jacques du Plessis, WJ Steenkamp, Keagan Johannes, Chris Smith, Stravino Jacobs.

Western Province

Sergeal Petersen, Ruhan Nel, Juan de Jongh, Dan du Plessis, Edwill van der Merwe, Tim Swiel, Paul de Wet, Hacjivah Dayimani, Marcel Theunissen, Deon Fourie, Johan du Toit, Ernst van Rhyn (c), Sazi Sandi, Scarra Ntubeni, Leon Lyons.

Bench: Andre-Hugo Venter, Dian Bleuler, Neethling Fouche, Justin Basson, Nama Xaba, Godlen Masimla, Rikus Pretorius, Tristan Leyds.