Set piece battle key in Shark Tank
There will be many mini battles, but the war will be won by the team controlling the set pieces.
This is the view of Bulls coach Frans Ludeke ahead of his team's Round 10 Super Rugby trip to Durban on Saturday for a crunch encounter with the Sharks.
The Bulls, the South African conference leaders, are just four points ahead of the Sharks – who sit fourth in the SA pool.
Given that the Stormers, two points behind the Bulls, play the Western Force earlier in the day, the loser will be left with some ground to make up in the latter stages of the season.
Ludeke, speaking to rugby365 ahead of Saturday's derby, acknowledged the importance of the game for both teams.
"Just have a look at the standings and you see how close the teams are to each other," he said, adding: "No team can afford a defeat and the loss of momentum at this stage."
The Bulls coach spoke of the need to be "accurate" and produce a "special performance".
"The intensity with which we play will be crucial," Ludeke said of a game that will be a very physical and tactical battle – as it always is in these SA derbies.
"The set pieces are a big focus for everybody," he said, adding: "They key is to lay a solid foundation and get quality possession.
"It is like Test rugby, because there is so much at stake in these games."
The Bulls, who had a hiccup against the Lions a fortnight ago, will be looking to string together another run of victories together, to build confidence and belief in what they do.
"What is vital for us this week is that our set pieces must be accurate – especially the scrum and line-outs," Ludeke said, adding: "We must ensure we get quality possession."
The other big challenge at sea level is field position.
"The team that controls that puts the pressure on the opposition.
"That all comes from the set pieces, a tight five that does their work."
Both teams have good players at the breakdown, players who can create pressure and win turnovers.
One of the more intriguing head-to-head battles will be between Marcell Coetzee and Deon Stegmann, two quality openside flanks that are very competitive.
But for Ludeke it all comes back to the set pieces.
"At the end of the day, if the tight forwards do their work then the loose forwards are on the front foot and their job is easier."
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
