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Can Bulls cope with Kiwi confines? - Super Rugby 2018 Preview

Bulls Preview 2

SUPER RUGBY PREVIEW 2018: In the fourth instalment of our 15-part build up to the season we start with the South African conference and look at the Bulls.  

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 John Mitchell ran foul of players and officials when he was the All Black coach. There was a repeat of that at the Western Force in Perth and again with the Lions in Johannesburg.

However, his often rough-hewn and unguarded approach may just be what the Bulls need to draw them out of the mire of mediocrity they have slumped into since their last Super Rugby title in 2010.

Players at the Pretoria-based franchise have always performed best under a disciplinarian.

Despite the constraints of his measured approach, Mitchell is trying to bring a more expansive game to the Bulls.

There was a hint of change for the Bulls during the Currie Cup last year, even though some players still reverted to type under pressure.

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However, if the mostly young squad embraces Mitchell’s way of thinking about the game and can deal with his sometimes explosive personality, they will be a real threat and certainly play-off prospects.

The challenge is for Mitchell to keep a lid on the free-spirited youngsters in his squad – an issue which reared its head at times in the Currie Cup.

Mitchell, in typical Kiwi fashion, played down expectations over the three-time champions’ prospects.

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“I don’t want to make any promises on how the team will perform this year, we will be solely focussed on the process,” Mitchell said.

“It’s about marginal gains for us, stacking good stuff on good stuff daily as we continue to ensure excellence.

“It’s not about the end, but rather the daily effort combined at the end.

“Our purpose is to fill Loftus and put smiles on people’s faces.  We will be working very hard to achieve that.”

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They might just be a touch thin in the halfback positions – especially if injury-prone Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard drops out again.

Francois Brummer and Marnitz Boshoff can do the job, but they are not the game-breakers you require at Super Rugby level.

Despite their obvious talent, the scrumhalf collection – Ivan van Zyl, Andre Warner and Embrose Papier – lack the experience at this level.

They will be exciting, but the Bulls may lose a few crucial games.

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2018 Predictions
South African Conference Placing: Fourth
Player of the Year: Rudolph Snyman
Rookie of the Year:  Embrose Papier
Super Rugby Placing: Ninth

History

Best finish: Champions in 2007, 2009 and 2010

Worst finish: Fifteenth in 2017

Squad Movements

In: Tim Agaba (SA Sevens), Marnitz Boshoff (Connacht), Thembelani Boli (Kings), Dayan van der Westhuizen (Kings), Frans van Wyk (Stormers), Jano Venter (Lions).

Out: Jacobie Adriaanse (Lions), Arno Botha (London Irish), Renaldo Bothma (Harlequins), Martin Dryer (Kings), Kefentse Mahlo (released), Sibahle Maxwane (released), Luther Obi (Cheetahs), Marnus Schoeman (Pumas), Tian Schoeman (Bordeaux), Jan Serfontein (Montpellier), Piet van Zyl (London Irish).

Squad:

Backs: Warrick Gelant, Duncan Matthews, Travis Ismaiel, Jamba Ulengo, Jade Stighling, Divan Rossouw, Burger Odendaal, JT Jackson, Francois Brummer, Jesse Kriel, Johnny Kotze, Handre Pollard, Marnitz Boshoff, Manie Libbok, Ivan van Zyl, Andre Warner, Embrose Papier.

Forwards: Roelof Smit, Ruan Steenkamp, Hendre Stassen, Hanro Liebenberg, Jannes Kirsten, Nic de Jager, Tim Agaba, Jason Jenkins, Ruben van Heerden, Rudolph Snyman, Lodewyk de Jager, Aston Fortuin, Pierre Schoeman, Conraad van Vuuren, Frans van Wyk, Matthys Basson, Lizo Gqoboka, Trevor Nyakane, Jaco Visagie, Adriaan Strauss, Edgar Marutlulle.

By Jan de Koning
@king365ed
@rugby365com

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Nickers 23 minutes ago
Scott Robertson names his 35-man All Blacks squad for France series

As always with Razor slightly unorthodox with a few surprises. Last year Blackadder was rushed back into the starting 15 after a long injury lay off and no game time, this year on the back of a good body of work in which he was immense in the final he doesn’t even make the squad. But Finau, who possibly wouldn’t have even been starting for the Chiefs if Parker was fit is the only specialist 6 in the squad. Likewise Havili, great season and a great final, much better than last year by all measures but doesn’t make the cut.


6 mid fielders when 4 will do, but only 5 loosies when 7 would be useful -> Maybe Lakai and Parker come in? No 3rd choice at 10 meaning if one of BB or DMac sustain a mid to long term injury there is no one they are specifically trusting to come into the team and be able to close out matches - maybe they think Love is the 3rd best 10 in NZ?


Great to see Tavatavanawai straight in on the back of a huge season - he should 100% be in the 23. There have been players before like Stevenson or Sotutu who had the season of the their lives and didn’t get picked, so this is great and a little surprising to see.


Only 4 locks and no lock cover among the loosies named. This seems like an area we need to be developing more players rather than concentrating the talent pool down further. Maybe when Darry is fit he finds his way back in, but it would be good to see Lord or whoever the 6th best lock is around the squad too.


One thing I continue to find strange about ABs selection going back many years is that they are obsessed with backs being able to cover multiple positions, but they don’t take advantage of this in any way. The fact that we have 3 players who can play 12, and 3 that can play 13, doesn’t stop them from selecting ALB to cover 12 and 13 giving them 4 options at each position - what is the point of this? Likewise Love, I really like him, especially at 10, But they have Jordan, BB, Dmac who all play 15 at test level, as well as JB who is world class at 15 to cover, so why take up another spot in the squad with yet another 15? Why do we need four options for every position in the backs except 10, which is arguably the most important one where we have not been able to develop a new test player for 8 or 9 years.


And unless there is a big change this year they also don’t use all these utility backs to enable a 6-2 bench split, and will instead pick a specialist winger on the bench to come on and play the last 10 minutes.

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