THE Bulls are a different side to the one beaten by the Sharks in their Super Rugby season-opener in February, says coach Frans Ludeke.
.
On Wednesday, he named the side that will be out to avenge their 31-16 defeat as the Bulls and Sharks square off on Saturday at Loftus. Ludeke made only two changes to the side that secured a 38-22 win over the Blues in March.
Dewald Potgieter makes a return to Loftus on a short-term loan from his Japanese club, Yamaha Jubilo. The experienced loose forward gets a starting berth at No 8, replacing Jono Ross who drops to the bench.
Following the death of his father last week, winger and vice-captain Akona Ndungane will be allowed some time away from the field and his place will be taken by Springbok Sevens player Sampie Mastriet.
Potgieter’s presence not only adds experience to the loose trio, it boosts a bulky forwards pack and sets up a bruising battle.
“It doesn’t matter — you can have all the experience — it comes down to what happens at the weekend. We need to put pressure on them to force turnovers. It will be a huge battle — (at) the set pieces and breakdowns. We will need to be on top of our game,” Ludeke said.
The coach was gleeful about Potgieter’s return and showered Ross with praise for his growth in Super Rugby. “Jono will be on the bench in a different capacity as he covers all three (loose forward) positions. He has been a quality player for us and has been impressive,” he said.
“We know the quality of Dewald. He fitted in nicely this whole week at training, and he is used to Super Rugby … He brings his work rate — he can play for 80 minutes, creating big moments in the game. He’ll be crucial with ball in hand, at the breakdown, defensive-wise and he makes sure we win the gainline.”
Ludeke stressed the improvements in the side since their defeat by the Sharks, and he expects his charges to carry the momentum from wins in their last two matches into this weekend’s clash. “There is a huge difference between our first game where most of our guys were coming back from operations (injury). Our combinations have settled down and everyone is now comfortable and understands their role,” the coach said.
The last time Ludeke’s counterpart, Sharks coach Jake White, visited Loftus he left the happier of the two after sending his former team, the Brumbies, through to the final of last season’s Super 15.
Ludeke downplayed ideas of avenging the semifinal defeat and getting even with the former World Cup winning Springbok coach.
“They (Sharks) are playing well. Jake is doing well, and it’s going to be a great battle at the weekend,” he said. “But it is never about individual battles — it’s about the team … It will boil down to which team executes their plan best.”
Sydney: The Coastal Sharks put their unbeaten Super 15 run on the line in this weekend`s South African derby with the Northern Bulls, as defending champions Waikato Chiefs trek to in-form Western Force.
The Sharks, under former World Cup-winning coach Jake White, have opened their season with four wins, but face a test against the Bulls in Pretoria, where they last won three years ago.
The Durban-based Sharks are comfortable eight-point leaders of the South African conference, but Saturday`s encounter will give a strong indication of their title credentials this season.
“Like Jake said when he took over the job, he`s here to win the competition,” veteran Springbok winger JP Pietersen said.
“He sent that message to all the boys and we`re all believing that. We`ve said every year in the past that we are going to win it, we`ve come close but never won it.
“The belief is the difference. It`s probably 100 percent better than what it`s ever been.”
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke has named Sampie Mastriet on the wing and Dewald Potgieteras at number eight to play the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld.
“Our first two away outings were pretty disappointing and everyone stepped up after that,” Bulls captain Flip van der Merwe said.
“The Sharks are not topping the log for nothing, but we have prepared well for this one. We will be ready.”
Two-time champions Waikato Chiefs have used 30 players in just three matches this season, and again will be injury-hit for when they face the Force.Charlie Ngatai and Robbie Fruean were the Chiefs` preferred midfield pairing in wins over the Crusaders and Highlanders, but both will sit out the trip to Perth.
The Chiefs, who lead the New Zealand conference by five points from the Crusaders, will meet a Force side full of confidence after back-to-back wins over the Melbourne Rebels and Otago Highlanders.
Waikato lost their first game in Perth in 2008, but have won on their last two visits, and the Force are eyeing a big scalp this weekend.
“We`re in a great position,” former Bulls lock Wilhelm Steenkamp said.
“The past two weeks have shown the quality of players the Force have. We want to make it a great season for us and we are busy getting something special here at the moment.”
The Queensland Reds have to adjust to Johannesburg`s high altitude for their challenging game against the Golden Lions on Saturday.
The Lions have won three of their five matches this season, and defeated the Auckland Blues last weekend, while the Reds fell to the Sharks in Durban.
“The 2014 Lions side is unrecognisable to the side from 2012,” Reds coach Richard Graham said.
“They`ve got a young group that don`t bear the scars of their previous history.”
The Reds trail the ACT Brumbies by four points in the Australian conference, with the Brumbies hosting South Africa`s Western Stormers in Canberra on Saturday.
The Brumbies took over at the top of the conference after downing the New South Wales Waratahs at home last weekend, but they have had trouble with the Cape Town-based team in the past.
The Stormers, who have lost to the Crusaders and Chiefs on their Australasian tour, downed the Brumbies 16-3 on their last trip to Canberra three years ago.
In this weekend`s remaining games, the Waratahs host the Rebels, the Highlanders are at home to the Wellington Hurricanes and the Blues face South Africa`s Central Cheetahs in Auckland.
online rugby live 24h 