It’s not yet the halfway point of the Super Rugby season, but the Bulls find themselves in a desperate situation when they host the Stormers in Round 7. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 2:15am (AEDT).
The Bulls have won just one of their first five games for the season and are struggling big time way back in their first game of the season – during Round 2.
That came by just two points over the Hurricanes. Since then, they lost to the Lions by 14 points at home, then have lost three straight away from home – either in Australia or New Zealand.
Their performances haven’t been up to scratch, but the Bulls will be hoping a return home is what the doctor ordered, given they were strong there early in the season.
Already they are losing touch with a possible finals spot, sitting just behind the Jaguares and Sharks, but well behind the Stormers and South African-conference leading Lions, who have won four from six.
The Stormers, as mentioned, sit second in the South African conference, but as it stands, need to improve their for and against and win-loss record if they are to maintain pace with not only the Stormers, but top teams in the Australian and New Zealand conference.
They come into this one off a big win over the Blues at home last week. The 17-point win proved exactly what the Stormers have the ability to do with their attack, running up 37. Their defect has issues though, given the side conceded 33 points away from home against the Hurricanes the week previous.
Prediction
The Stormers might be away from home, but they are the stronger of the two sides by a significant distance and will pick up a crucial win here to maintain pace with the top of the South African conference.
Stormers by 10.
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DavSA
Guest
Or should we call it a FND trophy.
DavSA
Guest
Ha ha cuw . Maybe at the end of the comp we can cyberly award an NFD trophy to the worst ref.
Yes cuw, that was Pollard's best performance by some margin
cuw
Guest
i think at least in these few rounds - teams have found the new BULL style a bit hard to deal with. but am not sure they are playing smart - still. there were quite a lot of penalties i would have kicked at goal than take taps and run. they was lucky - im not convinced about that pass to Kriel. but then there were far worse calls this week end.... watched like 5 matches ( or was it 6...) and almost all of them had very contentious / controversial / nucking futs decisions.
cuw
Guest
Willemse may not be that good at 10 - but he is brave and tackles like a center. If only Bosch can watch and learn .....
cuw
Guest
@ Harry Jones i just saw the prediction " Stormers by 10 " :) saw only the second half as i watched Munster v Toulon. the yellow to PSDT was rubbish - as i said in another post , if every time someone goes under a rolling maul and gets trod on the head, half the forwards will get yellow-carded !!! that card resulted in the botched lineout and try. very bad execution. Pollard is playing his best i have seen - seems to like the new style. Harry - u shud watch Munster v Toulon - and talk about the reffing LOL. i think that mtch had enuf for a months discussion . u will not even consider the pass forwards or not for Kreiel try - once u watch the Nigel owens performance :P
DavSA
Guest
Morning Harry . Every single team playing The Bulls at Loftus this year will find the going tough. John Mitchell has done plenty in such a short space of time.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Agree Harry, the Saffa conference is extremely tight and unpredictable. I also see step forward quality-wise compared to the last couple of seasons. Long may it continue. Missed the game last night (I was watching Munster-Toulon) but have seen it now. A very enjoyable game with lots of intriguing contests all over the pitch. Bulls were surprisingly good, but I feel for you and your Stormers Harry. With a tad bit of luck, the Stormers could have been topping the table and overall they have looked the strongest Saffa side so far this season. But how on earth could Adrian Strauss miss out on MOTM? Became the most capped Saffa SR players and scored a hattrick. Should be in the Laws of the game that if a hooker scores a hattrick he must get the MOTM-award.
Harry Jones
Expert
Right now, the two lowest SA Conf teams are Bulls (who beat the Canes) and the Jags (who beat the Lions). Compared to the Blues and Sunwolves. No “easy” wins within the SA Conf That’s healthy
Nobrain
Roar Guru
If by any chance the Jaguares get a good result against Crusaders they will in contention. That is a lot to ask but there are many unexpected results this year in SR.
PeterK
Roar Guru
you mean the jagueres?
Phillips is creating a lot of pressure for Willemse, he is pedantic beyond logic, more interested in organising forwards than clearing the ruck
Harry Jones
Expert
Looks like the SA conference is going to be super-competitive this year. The lowest ranked team in the conference will not be that bad...