We give our verdict on the Bulls’ Super Rugby squad

John Mitchell bucked the trend of virtually every other local Super Rugby coach in history by finalising his Super Rugby squad before warm-up matches actually start.

The Bulls mentor on Monday expressed his “excitement” over a youthful and promising group of players though he also warned: “I don’t want to make any promises on how the team will perform this year, we will be solely focused on the process.”

But just how strong is this Bulls squad?

Here’s our verdict.

OUTSIDE BACKS: Warrick Gelant, Duncan Matthews, Travis Ismaiel, Jamba Ulengo, Jade Stighling, Divan Rossouw

Warrick Gelant. Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images.

Arguably the most positive thing about these two positions – fullback and wing – is that most of these players have actively improved under Mitchell.

Gelant will be in the spotlight given the great hopes for him at national level but it’s no one-man show.

Matthews emerged from basically nowhere to stake a real claim for being considered a first-choice winger while Ismaiel is an underrated, hardworking and improving option.

Ulengo might not possess the all-round game of a world-class wing though his finishing makes him dangerous.

VERDICT: Promising but lacking in proven class (for now)

CENTRES: Burger Odendaal, Jesse Kriel, JT Jackson, Johnny Kotze, Francois Brummer

Burger Odendaal. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

The midfield is one of the Bulls’ strongest areas and a lot of competition should be expected.

Kriel is a Springbok who can do with the top-class input of Mitchell at this stage of his career, while co-captain Odendaal is a player transformed under the former All Blacks coach.

Young JT Jackson differentiated himself as a gifted distributor in the Currie Cup and Kotze is a solid backup, a man who won’t let many teams down.

VERDICT: If all of them stay fit, this group should be one of the highlights of the whole SA campaign

FLYHALVES: Handre Pollard, Marnitz Boshoff, Manie Libbok

Marnitz Boshoff. (Photo by Johan Rynners/Gallo Images)

Some teams in Super Rugby can only dream of having two such accomplished performers in Pollard and Boshoff within their ranks.

Pollard’s credentials are now well known but it’s his deputy (that’s even a stretch to call him that) who’s knocking hard on the door.

Boshoff knows how to play in an expansive system – ask the Lions – and is ahead of Pollard in being versed in Mitchell’s new system.

20-year-old Libbok might find himself at No 15 at times though he’s being groomed as a pivot.

VERDICT: Others might become envious

SCRUMHALVES: Ivan van Zyl, Embrose Papier, Andre Warner

Embrose Papier. (Photo by Johan Rynners/Gallo Images)

The Bulls pretty much start on a blank page in this position.

All three candidates have shown glimpses of their abilities but they’re very much inexperienced.

Expect a lot of inconsistency here yet it’s part of the process.

VERDICT: They’ll thrill one minute and infuriate the next

LOOSE FORWARDS: Roelof Smit, Ruan Steenkamp, Hendre Stassen, Nic de Jager, Jannes Kirsten, Hanro Liebenberg, Tim Agaba

Tim Agaba. (Photo by Steve Haag/ Gallo Images)

The Bulls won’t lack size when it comes to their loose trios.

Mitchell cleary favours athletic, strong ball-carriers (even back-up member Thembelani Bholi is a big guy) which raises the question of balance.

Steenkamp should be nippy enough to be a pest at the breakdown but if the injury prone Smit is missing, the Bulls maybe lack a fetcher.

Then again, do they still exist?

Also, this will be a campaign where men like De Jager and Kirsten will have to dispell questions over their true class.

VERDICT: They should dominate the collisions but will they be as imposing in the skills department?

LOCKS: Lood de Jager, Ruben van Heerden, Aston Fortuin, Jason Jenkins, RG Snyman

Lood de Jager.
(Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

The towering workhorse De Jager provides much-needed experience and class in a group that can potentially turn world-class.

Junior Bok Van Heerden had an outstanding Currie Cup and the return of Jenkins provides grunt.

But Snyman, so visible on the field with his moppy hairdo, needs to stop drifting out of games.

VERDICT: Brilliant depth … if everyone stays composed and motivated

PROPS: Lizo Gqoboka, Pierre Schoeman, Trevor Nyakane, Conraad van Vuuren, Matthys Basson, Frans van Wyk

Trevor Nyakane. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

This is a potential weakpoint for the Bulls.

Generally, all these players have up-skilled immensely in broken play – especially Schoeman – but there are still many question marks over their ability at the scrums and, as a consequence, the scope for dominating.

They will hope Frans van Wyk, a recruit from Province, turns out like Wilco Louw.

VERDICT: Wobbly until they proved themselves

HOOKERS: Adriaan Strauss, Edgar Marutlulle, Jaco Visagie

Adriaan Strauss. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

A motivated, fresh Strauss will provide massive value and Marutlulle has been one of the example of players flourishing under Mitchell.

An injury or two though leaves them exposed.

VERDICT: Surprisingly robust and experienced

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