Loftus looms large for Rebels
The Rebels need to register their first-ever victory at Loftus Versfeld this weekend if they are to have any chance of avoiding last place this season.
The Melbourne-based side have won just four matches this season, and will have to break their duck in Pretoria on Friday and hope that the Cheetahs lose to the Lions on Saturday in order to finish in 14th place.
Having gone down to the Lions at Ellis Park last week, they are in for a major test against a Bulls side that will be smarting from their 0-16 drubbing at the hands of the Stormers at Newlands last week.
Wallaby scrumhalf Luke Burgess is one of a few players in the Rebels squad to have previously played at Loftus Versfeld and said he was looking forward to the challenge of running out there again.
"It's always a privilege to play at Loftus Versfeld. It's one of the toughest challenges in Super Rugby, against some of the most experienced and toughest Rugby players in the world, and it's a real honour and delight to play there," he said.
Burgess knows the tough task that lay ahead but said that dwelling on last week's loss won't do any good if they want to end their campaign on a positive note.
"It's very important to finish the season off on a positive note. It's a new challenge, and that's the great thing about rugby; it's a new challenge and opportunity every week. You have to be positive about it and look forward, not back," he said.
"The competition is very demanding, and we have a big game this weekend so it is important to review what we have just done and then move on quickly," Burgess said.
"Everybody was pretty sore because we are all so committed; the effort was there, but we need to own our mistakes a bit better."
Coach Tony McGahan will have to make do without Tom Kingston (knee injury) and suspended captain Scott Higginbotham, but remains confident that he will be able to name a strong team to face the Bulls.
"There will be some forced personnel changes this week, and I think we have a squad of about 26 players to choose from and that's the nature of it," he said.
"We have a great group of players here who have been training well, and we just need to go out there and front up in what is going to be a very tough and physical game."
