Victor Matfield has confirmed on his social networking Twitter page that the Super 14 table-topping Bulls have decided to rest some players for their clash against the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 17:05 SA time.
Matfield wrote: Ons het besluit om paar ouens te rus maar nog steeds n goeie span. (We have decided to rest a few players but still a good side)
Matfield did not reveal whether or not he’d be one of the players rested. The Bulls team is expected to be finalised on Wednesday.
The Bulls are assured of top spot on the Super 14 log and will thus host a semi-final and the final should they progress that far.
The Stormers find themselves in second spot on 39 points, some eight points adrift of the Bulls, with the Waratahs (38), Brumbies (37), Hurricanes (37) and Crusaders (36) all still in contention.
The Stormers have the advantage of playing in the final match of the weekend, and will thus have their playoff fate in their own hands come kick-off.
Coutesy of Sport24
Difficult decision to make this…
Well I said this would happen. No need to play your best and risk them with injury if you have secured a home semi and home final if you win the semi.
Stormers will beat a 2nd Bulls side. So that win by Sharks against the Stormers actually helped the saffa teams 😛 by allowing the Bulls to rest key players and the Stormers to play Bulls 2nd side 😛
Though if Stormers never secured a bonus point this would be a away semi for them. I think they will get the 5 points this weekend and secure a home semi and probably the final will be a all saffa final. Keeping fingers crossed. 😀
Good luck to our two top teams.
Ash, Where are you? You see I was right when I said Bulls will rest their top players.
I can’t wait to see this team, I still reckon a good second string team can beat the Stormers…
That devalues(if their is such a word) the game and could be misconstrued as a bit of a insult to the Stormers, they are going to come out fireing.
Bulls have done it before in the Currie Cup. Nothing wrong with resting their key players. It is an incentive for finishing top of the log. If the Stormers supporters are going to be unhappy about that then they only have there precious “warrel windjies” to blame. Blaming the Bulls for that will be stupid.
Trees it is also an insult to other teams vying for a final 4 slot – sounds like soemthing convicts would do to secure a “preferred” result 🙁
Mirrag mense!
Kan enigiemand my dalk asseblief inlig oor waar die “Span van die Week” draad is?
En ek weet die Bulle sal beslis die heel bes moontlike besluit neem oor wie om te rus en waar.
7Rugby_Princess
Sour grapes? I can just see your mouth twitching.
RP you in a fine fettle today 😡 greeted you on he other thread.
Good day all of you.
I think we should rest the whole match 22.
Agree AB. Play the Vodacom Cup side as a prize for winning their cup.
Some years ago I read a story about the ghost of Loftus. It seems like it appeared again last Friday night.
There is also a story that the Loftus pitch is never level. It is always down hill for the Bulls in the second half.
Well the Stormers did play their b game on Saturday night, if not their b team.
Treehugger
Hello Miss Trees – Yes, been taking no prisoners all day today 😆
RugbyBal
No, really not – change the teams names to Convicts &/or NZ & I know you would be singing that well known ‘ANZAC Conspiracy’ tune ! No team with pride should be able to phone it in – it is not sporting (for me at least). Is just the way I was raised – go hard or go home.
I hear you Rugby_Princess
Loosehead
😆
14 – Loosehead, :poop: They played their best and we outplayed em… 😆 No B game from Stormers, they were rattled by a better side on the day.
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