Season Review: Bulls in limbo
OPINION: A promise of new beginning ended up in a very public divorce for the Bulls
The three-time Super Rugby Champions have been in free-fall since the departure of former coach Frans Ludeke in 2015.
The solution: Get in New Zealander John Mitchell.
The appointment of John Mitchell as Bulls Super Rugby head coach was accompanied with very high expectations.
Not only did the Blue Bulls Rugby Union long for success on the field, they were targeting an increase in stadium attendance.
In the opening stages of the 2018 season the young Bulls side showed great potential beating New Zealand outfit the Hurricanes 21-19. They were direct and scored three tries which was a testament to Mitchell’s abrasive military approach.
But after the fast start at Loftus, the South Africans simply could not adhere to Mitchell’s Kiwi theory. The side fell apart and suffered three consecutive defeats before beating the Stormers at Loftus.
The Bulls only managed to secure six wins from 16 games, and at the end of the season they found themselves at the bottom of the South African conference and 12th on the overall log.
This year was supposed to instigate a new era for the Bulls, but it turned out to be one of their worst Super Rugby seasons.
One could blame the long casualty list on the Bulls’ dismal season. Even before the season started the injuries started to creep in and the list just kept growing.
Springbok Lodewyk de Jager, captain Burger Odendaal and Blitzboks star Tim Agaba just to name a few spent the majority of the season on the sidelines.
Aside from injuries, the side’s lack of consistency, second half implosion (against the Reds in Round four and Chiefs in Round five) and inability to produce success on the road (only one away win in eight matches) also played a huge part in the dismal season.
Not only that, deciphering John Mitchell’s blueprint also proved to be another challenge for the young Bulls side.
And despite Mitchell’s ridiculous demands which was a ZAR90-million to buy experienced players like Springboks Duane Vermeulen and Schalk Brits, the outspoken coach – in his first season – deserves credit for improving the sides attack.
The Bulls have scored 59 tries this season, occupying the seventh spot for team tries, the only other teams who scored more all played in the play-offs. The coach encouraged the likes of Warrick Gelant and Jesse Kriel, who has 26 clean breaks equal to Hurricane Ben Lam and Chiefs Damien McKenzie, to attack more.
The coach had a hand in producing two new Springboks scrumhalves 21-year-old Embrose Papier and 23-year-old Ivan van Zyl, which proved giving Rudy Paige the boot was a good idea while flank Marco van Staden also got included in the Springboks squad.
However, all the planning must start from scratch.
Because just like 2018, the Bulls will start the 2019 season with a new Super Rugby coach.
According to rugby365 Bulls and Springboks legends Fourie du Preez and Victor Matfield are the leading candidates to take over the reins as Bulls coach.
Nonetheless, whoever take charge of the Bulls, one thing is certain the Bulls do need experience players especially in key positions and consistency in the coaching department.
The good news for next season is that captain Burger Odendaal, locks Rudolph Snyman and Jason Jenkins and forward Marco van Staden are amongst South Africa’s leading talents to extend their stay at the Bulls.
Leezil Hendricks
@Leezil07
@rugby365com
