Marais: Balanced Bulls still 'evolving'

The start of Marais' tenure as Bulls coach, in 2015, was marked by talk of a "change in the mindset of players".

There were signs that the Bulls were indeed moving away from a predictable game to a more expansive, entertaining product.

However, the Bulls mentor feels the team still has some way to go before they have the right balance in their game.

"As I have always said, you need a good balance between a kicking game and an attacking game," he told rugby365.

"I want us to have a slightly different approach, as we no longer have those type of players .

"We will always have the same DNA at the Bulls, but we are working on the renewal of certain aspects."

He said the gameplan always depend on the type of player you have.

"You can take any player and change his mindset, but you need a player that can execute those plays.

"You can't force a certain game plan on a player who is not able to execute.

"Your flyhalf needs a good kicking game, but must have the ability to move the ball when it is on."

However, the key remains the set pieces.

"If you can't scrum or control the line-outs you will struggle."

With the pre-season in full swing, Marais is working on the small things that have to be put in place.

"It feels like we need another seven to eight months, but obviously there is not much time left, so we have to ensure we get it right," he told rugby365.

Ahead of his first Super Rugby season, Marais is facing some different challenges to when he prepared teams for the Varsity Cup and Currie Cup competitions.

"The big difference is the various players that are currently still abroad," he said, adding: "That is a bit of a challenge [to reintroduce them], when they are back."

The players returning from Japan are Grant Hattingh, Handré Pollard, JJ Engelbrecht, Bjorn Basson and Jesse Kriel.

"They will return in fits and starts, depending on when their Japan clubs finish the season, but I suspect most of them will be back before we head to [a pre-season training camp in] Zimbabwe in early February."

There are also some injured players returning to the fray – Irne Herbst, Jaco Visagie, Roelof Smit, Ruan Steenkamp, Hanro Liebenberg, Piet van Zyl, Dries Swanepoel and Warrick Gelant (all in January), with Callie Visagie due back in February.

Pre-season fixtures:

February 6: Bulls v Cheetahs, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

February 13: Bulls v Lions, Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane

Their first Super Rugby fixture will be on against the Stormers in Cape Town on February 27.

By Jan de Koning

@King365ed

@rugby365com