This will be my last article about the downgraded North vs South clash we all looked forward to. At one stage i hoped that we came second in the Super14 to give us a chance of playing the Super 14 final at Newlands versus our arch-rivals the Stormers. Only time will tell whether the Bulls played a masterstroke or made the biggest cock-up this decade.
Coaches of Australian and New Zealand teams still in contention warned that the Bulls might use their unassailable position in the standings to hand a lifeline to the Stormers, who could miss the playoffs if they lose on Saturday.
The New South Wales Rugby Union, whose Waratahs must beat the Hurricanes on Friday to have any chance of making the semis, said it would complain to tournament organizers SANZAR if the Bulls named a weakened team but later withdrew that threat.
Even Australia coach Robbie Deans, who coached the Crusaders to five Super rugby titles, joined the debate, saying the Bulls were within their rights to name a weaker team but took a risk if they meddled too much with established lineups.
“They have earned the right to choose their own path,” Deans told The Australian newspaper. “When you sit that far ahead of everybody else, you are entitled to make your own selection choices as you do week-to-week. Personally, I think it’s probably not in their best interests, to be honest.”
Waratahs coach Chris Hickey, whose team could miss the playoffs if the Stormers beat the Bulls, said it was for the Bulls to decide on selection.
“That’s their issue,” Hickey said. “History will show that sometimes these things backfire on you anyhow.
“But, look, all we’re focused on is Friday. If we take care of what we need to there, we’ll be in the finals series.”
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke defended his selection which leaves top players such as Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez, Morne Steyn, Gurthro Steenkamp, Gary Botha, Wynand Olivier and Pierre Spies out of the starting side. Only Jacques-Louis Potgieter remains from the starting 15 which beat the Crusaders last week.
“This is not a B-team,” Ludeke said. “There are seven national players in this team and we have a lot of respect for our opponents. But we are here to run our own race and we are doing nobody favours.”
The Hurricanes have lost backrower Victor Vito to a calf injury but have regained All Blacks center Conrad Smith after an injury break. Coach Colin Cooper had no concerns that the Bulls’ selection might impinge on his team’s playoff hopes.
“It’s a tough competition. You have to do what you have to do,” he said. “Certainly there’s no need for us to worry about it or comment on that because we are just focused on the Waratahs.”
Bakkies die Bul = bdb. Is dit hoe jou nic werk?
151: Bakkies de Botha ? 😉
Eendag bel Schalk vir Andries en sê, “Kom help my asseblief, Dries. Ek het ‘n moerse moeilike jigsaw puzzle, en ek weet nie waar om te begin nie.”
Schalk vra, “Wat is dit veronderstel om te wees as dit klaar is?”
Andries sê, “Volgens die prentjie op die boks is dit ‘n hoenderhaan.”
Schalk besluit om te gaan help met die legkaart en Andries wys hom waar hy al die stukkies op die tafel oopgesprei het. Hy kyk vir ‘n ruk na die stukkies, dan na die boks en dan na Andries. “Tjomma” sê hy, “eerstens is daar nie ‘n manier wat ons ‘n hoenderhaan hieruit gaan bou nie.”
Andries lyk teleurgesteld.
“En tweedens – kom ons ontspan bietjie. Ek maak vir jou ‘n koppie tee. En dan help jy my om al die Corn Flakes weer terug te sit.”
lol Blouste…..
Really wanted to see Habana vs van der Heever…pity, maybe in the final then….
155@ Deben Bulle – Hey, you’re scarse here on the blog… welcome and hello.. good to have another Bull…
Blouste @ 133 – I can see the irony in your post. However, the reality is it does happen. My colleague, a finance broker in Sydney, relayed this story about a client’s finance application, seeking to borrow $600k to purchase a long distance B double prime mover and trailer. He was scheduled to settle on the Thursday; the bank, which had already formally approved his application, sent the broker a fax on Wednesday night saying they caouldn’t settle – they didn’t have the available funds, they needed another 48 hours to gather the money!!!
Guess who had to pay the penalty interest on the late settlement? The borrower.
This game is on SKY in the UK, red button sports channel 3 or 4.
I havent been in touch, been away in Cornwall but I surmise the Bulls are playing their “B” side….not good news, this is one of the great traditional clashes and for the sake of professionalism it is now downgraded…..this is the only aspect of professionalism I dont like…..eventually there wont be any emotion for these games, they will just be money spinners.
I get more fun watching schoolboy rugby these days actually, at least there is still attitude and interest.
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