VIDEO: Bulls to load up on Boks for 'fired up' Stormers
SPOTLIGHT: Watch as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White looks ahead to the big north-south derby – when the Bulls face the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.
White said he expects the Stormers to be “fired up” for the encounter, after the Cape Town outfit lost 30-33 to a motivated Sharks team at the weekend.
“North-South derbies are always tough, anyway,” White said.
He added the Stormers would like to rebound from a game against the Sharks in which two players were red-carded – wing Seabelo Senatla (for playing a man in the air) and No.8 Willie Engelbrecht (two yellow cards for high tackles, which became a red card).
“They would be hurting,” White said of Stormers.
The Bulls will be hoping to get veteran Springbok and South African Player of the Year Duane Vermeulen back this week, as well as fellow World Cup winner, prop Trevor Nyakane.
Vermeulen has returned to training after undergoing knee surgery at the conclusion of the Currie Cup campaign back in January, while Nyakane suffered a rib injury in training.
The return of Nyakane will be significant in the encounter with the powerful and Springbok laden Stormers scrum.
Another player who may come into the selection frame is lock Walt Steenkamp, who was given the green light from the cardiologist last month – following a heart condition scare – and has resumed selected training sessions.
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“We will have to have a look at the combinations and see what is the best to challenge the Stormers,” the Bulls boss said.
He said they saw enough of their encounter with the Sharks at the weekend to realise they will face an enormous challenge in the Green Point venue in Cape Town.
“Having played with 14 men for 40 minutes it [the 30-33 loss to the Sharks] is not a bad return [for the Stormers], White added.
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