Bulls building nicely

I am really expecting da Bulle to do better this year and get some kiwi scalps along the way. Mitchell with his no nonsense approach is whipping the lazy bulle into shape. Traditionally in the Currie it was well know da Bulle used to get fit much later than anybody else.

It is a surprise that ou cerudunce windpomp is lamenting this strict regime as being unnecessarily harsh but it will pay dividends oaks. The lazy bulle need and respond to a firm hand!

Ex Supersport

Vodacom Bulls coach John Mitchell believes his team needs to be placed under as much "match-day stress" as possible ahead of the Vodacom Super Rugby campaign this year and believes now is the time to get his Springboks into action.

While many sides believe in building before the competition, and wrapping their top players in cotton wool before a game, the Bulls miss round one because of a competition bye and then hit the Hurricanes in round two. They don't want to be walking into an intensity trap when they face the New Zealanders.

While he was happy with his side's draw against the Stormers, Mitchell knows where his side is at the moment, and believes they will be ready when they get to their first outing.

"We are three weeks from competition, just short of that now and we probably head into a different phase as well, because now we start introducing the returnees, or the test player returnees, the Japanese returnees and some players coming back from rehab as well. So we’ve got a target to get them match fit as well.

"As much as our cohesion as a team took a step forward, it will have to take a step back again in the next two weeks in order to go into competition but that is all part of the plan as well."

That cohesion will take a step back because of the introduction of his Springboks, some players returning from rehab and a few Japanese-based players that will form part of this weekend's pre-season clash with the Jaguares.

Two players who probably won't be part of the line-up are wingers Travis Ismaiel and Duncan Matthews.

"Travis is still under HIA so he won’t be available. Duncan has a bit of a lammy in a thigh, but we expect him to be ready for the weekend. If he isn’t, it isn’t a train smash because we will make sure he doesn’t get injured, having another trial under our sleeves," Mitchell explained.

"Trevor will be back, all the test players will be back and all the Japanese players will be back. It will probably take me a little bit long to name them all, hence the reason I group them."

That means Trevor Nyakane, Lood de Jager (who came off the bench in Wellington), Jesse Kriel, Handre Pollard, and Warrick Gelant will all be getting some game time, as will the Japanese-based players in Nic de Jager and Jason Jenkins, both of whom still have to play this year.

Mitchell explained why he needs the tough game time for his stars and why his approach is different to other sides.

"We’ve got to be ready to go, it isn’t about putting them in cotton wool and protecting them and building into the competition. I know some sides choose to have the weekend off the week before, I’m not so sure about that. That’s my plan, the way I plan. Going into the Canes game in cotton wool is not the ideal way to go about it," he added.

"It's important that we continue to be put under stress, we continue to adapt and we continue to create enough comfortable tension within the environment so that when pressure does come, we’re a lot calmer because we have experienced it a lot beforehand. It is essential that everyone gets rugby and match hardened but it is also important not to overdo it and that’s why we have tried to be quite clever with our 45-35s in the matches before.

"I think you’ve heard me say before I have a responsibility to grow the 38 players and they all have an expectation whether selected or not to be ready, hence the reason they were selected. Some of the guys who haven’t been selected are guys who will struggle with being ready because they become selection-focused rather than developmental focused.

"It’s a big part of the process at the moment. Now we enter another phase where it is going to become very competitive and I’m going to be given the biggest challenge of the lot, to select the best 23 and the right mix for the first round. That isn’t far away and it’s knocking on my door at the moment.

"The good thing about it is we have healthy competition for places as well and we have a final trial that will be challenging in itself."

The Bulls will name their side for the pre-season game on Thursday.

Wise words from Mitchell:

Despite the fact that most South African teams played with a lot more flair last year in the Vodacom Super Rugby series, the Bulls are set to be "traditional" in their approach under coach John Mitchell.

Mitchell eluded to the fact that he wouldn't deviate from the team's traditional strengths, but would always be looking to "play better attacking rugby" in this year's competition.

And while he was focused on his own team, he did notice some strengths that he believes will aid the Sharks and Stormers this year.

"What I’ve already seen is that the Sharks are very strong in their setpiece. Every side defends differently. The Stormers have nice hand speed with the ball, and they are very dominant and serious about their setpiece as well and can be dominant. They have a few experienced forwards missing as well. They’ve probably got more injuries than all of us, so that is always a difficult challenge in itself.

"I think we will still be traditional, still be strong in our setpiece, and we’re always seeking to play better attacking rugby but you also have to be able to go without the ball as well and be comfortable with that and present yourself opportunities. All I’ve really been focusing on is us and it has been quite refreshing not to have to go into the dossier of the opposition because there is going to be 19 weeks of that to come. We’ve been concentrating just on our own game.

"But yeah, from my observations from those two trials, that’s where their strengths lie I think."

Mitchell also was happy with his team's performance against the Stormers this past weekend. And while they didn't focus on the result, but reports indicate they could have won easily if they didn't turn down so many kicks at goal, he was satisfied with the outcomes his team got out of the game.

"The stuff we wanted to improve on we did, so that was good. We dominated the performance and the contest for long periods of time, which is very pleasing. Everyone got rugby and we only got a small amount of knocks as well, which is always pleasing. It was certainly a step in the right direction and this gives us form to build from going into this week," he added.

"We are working on everything. We’re trying not to miss anything, so we’re repeating a lot of stuff. Now that we have game situations it’s even better learning because you can take the players back into that situation and because of their experience they can be involved in the process and create a better way of dealing with things.

"Also a lot of stuff we are doing is quite generic as well at the moment. Obviously as we get into each week there will be some specifics as related to each opposition."

The Bulls name their team for their pre-season game against the Jaguares at Loftus Versfeld this Thursday.

Indeed Beeno. 

The Jessie Kriel story is going to be an interesting subplot this season.

Haha my guess is that it won't be too long before we see him in a Stormers Jersey. Leaker Beeno. Kry vir jou haha

Mitchell knows what a good back line player is and surely what it isn't. 

Odendaal, Pollard, Galant, Ismael, Jembabababa are all quality players and I don't think Kriel will keep up with them. 

Is Strauss back? 

I'm more excited for the Bulls and Sharks than I am for the Lions this year. 

Especially the Sharks. 

Plum

I am not sure about the playing style - but what I am sure of is that Mitchell has a real knowledge about rugby and would not keep duds in his squad.   He already identified Paige is a dud and dropped him from the Bulls Super Rugby Squad.

So what will happen to Pollard, Jesse Kriel and a few others,   Pollard will have to pull up his socks and start playing THINKING rugby coached out of him by Meyer and Ludeke  - otherwise he will also be on the skids,  

Insofar as Kriel is concerned Mitchell has Odendaal and Jackson available at center,   Odendaal is effectively a 13 and is ahead of Kriel taking into account the joint captaincy issue and Mitchell has in CC played the center combination of Jackson (12) and Odendaal (13),    It would be interesting to see what happens in Super Rugby.   My own guess is that the Jackson/Odendaal combination will be favoured by Mitchell and Kriel may end up on the bench or worse,   He may end up looking for a job elsewhere,       

Kriel is useless. He shouldn't be allowed to play rugby anywhere.

The Bulls have a potent backline and a solid pack with some excellent locks and loosies. I also believe we'll see Marutlulle come into his own this season.

I have a lot of confidence in Pollard rediscovering his form and I think that Papier is going to play a big role in the Bulls success this year.

It's high time the Bulls got their act together. 

@Mike

Indeed. I hear Beeno can't wait to see Kriel in Blue and White stripes :)

The Bulls will be playing the Jaguares on Saturday in a warm-up game on Saturday.   We will then see what team will take the field - team to be announced tomorrow.   We will alsosee hwhat the bulls is capable of and I wish I could watch the match - but it will not be on TV.  

The stripes you're speaking of ... it wouldn't perhaps be prison attire, would it?

Lets face it, he should have been put away along time ago for the way he plays rugby.

CC

I am mildly optimistic about Pollard, but years of a no game plan situation under Ludeke and Meyer he will have to start playing real rugby - like he did as a junior.   Lets wai t and see what happens.      

CC

I am mildly optimistic about Pollard, but years of a no game plan situation under Ludeke and Meyer he will have to start playing real rugby - like he did as a junior.   Lets wai t and see what happens.