Bulls believe they can win Super Rugby the hard way
SUPER RUGBY REACTION: The Bulls believe that they can emulate the Crusaders and become only the second team to win a Super Rugby final on foreign turf if that scenario pans out for them.
The three-time Super Rugby champions qualified for the Super Rugby quarterfinals courtesy of a 48-27 victory over the Lions in Pretoria on Saturday.
The Pretoria-based team will now play the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday after finishing fifth on the combined Super Rugby table with 41 points from 16 matches played which includes eight wins, two draws and six defeats.
The Hurricanes finished the Super Rugby regular season in fourth place on the combined table with 53 points from 16 matches played which includes 12 wins, one draw and three defeats.
The Bulls will potentially have to navigate through three tough matches on foreign soil all the way to the Super Rugby final if they are to be crowned champions for a fourth time in 2019.
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Provided Pote Humans’ charges beat the Hurricanes they might have to play a semifinal against the Crusaders in Christchurch. The Crusaders will host the Highlanders in their quarterfinal in that side of the draw.
The Bulls will be able to host a Super Rugby Final if they win their quarterfinal and semifinal and a lower ranked team such as the Sharks who finished sixth on the table also win their quarterfinal and semifinal.
Speaking to reporters after the game on Saturday Human said that he believes that his team can win the tournament outside of South African shores.
“I know the Hurricanes are a very good side. I think they’ve had the most wins in the competition so it’s going to be very tough over there, but I really believe we have the team to do it.
“I’ve got lots of confidence in this team and I said from the beginning it will only be a great achievement if we win Super Rugby and I still believe we can do it,” said Human.
Human was proud of the way his team lifted their game after a long tour.
“After the tour, it was a long trip back from New Zealand last week and we arrived here Saturday evening and I was a bit worried about the fatigue and the mental state of the guys, but they really performed very well,” Human added.
Super Rugby quarterfinal Draw
Quarterfinal One: Crusaders [1] versus Highlanders [8]
Quarterfinal Two: Hurricanes [4] versus Bulls [5]
Quarterfinal Three: Jaguares [2] versus Chiefs [7]
Quarterfinal Four: Brumbies [3] versus Sharks [6]
Semifinal Draw:
Pre-determined draw as follows (highest ranked team to host):
Semifinal One: Winner Quarterfinal One v Winner Quarterfinal Two
Semifinal Two: Winner Quarterfinal Three v Winner Quarterfinal Four
Final Draw:
(highest ranked team to host):
Final: Winner Semifinal One v Winner Semifinal Two
