Bulls have 'the right team' for victory
The naysayers may be in full cry, but the Bulls are adamant they have both the team and gameplan to arrest the slide that could rob them of a Super Rugby play-off spot.
After a slow start to the season the Bulls bounced back with a run of six wins in sevens starts – which saw them sitting pretty at the top of the South African conference.
However, they have since lost three of their last four matches, including both games on their Australasian tour – against the Blues and Chiefs.
Having hopped over the Tasman Sea, from New Zealand to Australia, where they take on a revitalised Brumbies team, the Bulls believe they are not that far off the pace set by the tournament's leading lights.
Both coach Frans Ludeke and captain Pierre Spies, speaking in a teleconference call ahead of Friday's encounter with the Brumbies in Canberra, spoke of the need to get the basics right and eliminate the errors that have cost them so dearly.
Ludeke said poor execution in the basic aspects of their game plan is what is keeping them from playing to their full potential.
"We create good opportunities," Ludeke said, adding: "We work hard to get to within five metres of the tryline, then we can't get over the tryline.
"The maul is one of our strengths [and that doesn't function properly].
"Those were the aspects, against the Blues and Chiefs, [that cost us]. We created good opportunities and then didn't finish."
Ludeke is adamant the rest of the their game is in place.
"There is amazing effort that goes in, off the ball – both on attack and defence.
"Just look how our scrum has improved," the coach said, adding: "There are so many positive aspects – it is just that small, final, hurdle.
"The [execution of our] basics is the aspect that is missing, that will ensure we get the results we desire."
Spies said the Brumbies have world class players all over the park, while their success comes from executing their basics very well.
He felt Friday's outing in Canebrra will be like a "Test match" and it will come down to "execution" of your game plan on the day and the discipline.
"We do have our plan in place," he said, adding: "At the end of the day it is about how you execute your plan and how you apply pressure on the opposition to nullify their plans."
The Bulls realise it will require a massive effort to overcome the Brumbies on home soil, but if they execute their own game plam properly they can overcome this hurdle and turn their season around.
"We must do the simple things right and use our opportunities," Spies said, adding: "There won't be too many opportunities in a game like this.
"All it takes are a couple of good opportunities to come off to have the victory within your grasp.
"It will be a tough game, but I believe we have the right team to secure the win."
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
