VIDEO: Write off these Bulls at your own peril
The Bulls arrived in France with a single objective: to end their losing streak.
The Pretoria-based franchise tackles the Top 14 outfit Castres Olympique in Europe’s premier Champions Cup competition.
They are on a three-match losing streak, with their last encounter a 17-20 United Rugby Championship loss to the Sharks in Durban on December 21.
The Bulls are fourth, with 25 points – behind the table-topping Leinster team (43 points), defending champions Glasgow Warriors (33) and Cardiff (28).
However, the South African outfit has two games in hand.
In the Champions Cup, the Bulls, after two losses to English sides – 5-27 to Saracens and 21-30 to Northampton Saints – desperately need points in January.
Castres is similarly poised in the Pool Three – fourth after an opening loss to Saints (8-38) and a win over Munster (16-14).
It makes this encounter at Stade Pierre-Fabre a ‘must-win’ for both sides in Round Three.
The French outfit, Castres, is coming off a Top 14 win (24-19) over Section Paloise – sitting in eighth place with seven wins from 14 starts.
Seasoned utility forward Sintu Manjezi dismissed the notion that the Bulls are touring with a ‘weakened’ squad.
“There have been a few changes,” he said about the squad, adding: “To win the tournament doesn’t require just 15 or 23 players – it is squad effort.
YOUR touring squad ahead of our 3rd clash in the @ChampionsCup 🏆🐂@Vodacom | @Investec #ForeverBlue pic.twitter.com/76CD0d4K0e
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) January 9, 2025
“The guys that are selected will look to make the most of the opportunity.”
Manjezi said their priority is getting a win and staying alive in Europe – hoping to reach the Round of 16.
That will require back-to-back wins in Rounds Three and Four – with another French team, Stade Francais, visiting Loftus Versfeld next week.
(WATCH as Bulls utility forward Sintu Manjezi previews his team’s Champions Cup Round Three encounter with Castres Olympique….)
“We didn’t come here just to participate.
“We want to win the tournament and to win it, you have to be successful home and away.
“We haven’t had the ideal start, that is why we must get a result [win] this coming weekend.”
As a member of the URC-winning Glasgow Warriors team between 2022 and 2024, the utility forward is familiar with the challenges of playing in Europe.
“There are several players in the [Bulls] team who have played in France and these conditions,” he said.
“Henry Immelman played for Montpellier, so he spoke about the environment at Castres and we can expect.
“Other guys played in the URC and travelled with the Bulls, so we have a good understanding of playing in wet-weather conditions.”
He described Castres as a ‘typical’ French team with some heavies up front – including Fijian behemoth Leone Nakarawa in the second row.
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WE ARE BACK 🐂
Can’t wait to see everyone back at Loftus soon 👀🏆#ForeverBlue | #ComeHome pic.twitter.com/JvaTmNZB3c
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) January 8, 2025
