Marais sets Super Rugby target

Editor

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 13: Adriaan Strauss and Nollis Marais of the Bulls during the Vodacom Bulls training session and press conference at Loftus Versfeld on July 13, 2016 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Johan Rynners/Gallo Images)

Bulls coach Nollis Marais has set his sights on a play-off place in this year’s Super Rugby competition.

The three times champions haven’t won the title since 2010. While Marais acknowledges they don’t have the experience or big names players usually associated with such success, he does believe his side’s possess the necessary talent and hunger to claim the title.

The Bulls narrowly missed out on the play-offs last year, but Marais is adament they must make up for it this time round.

“No, no, no … making the play-offs is non-negotiable,” Marais told iol.co.za.

“We want to win Super Rugby. We now have depth in the squad and we have a very good side that can go all the way. But we have to make play-offs, that’s our main aim.”

The Bulls will play most of their games at the beginning of the competition away from home with two mouthwatering encounters against the Stormers and Cheetahs away to kick-off their campaign before they travel to the land of the long white cloud and come home to what Marais has termed “the month from hell”.

“Out of my first seven games, I only have one at home. The Stormers, we want to go down there and beat them after they beat us 33-9 in the opening game last year and we are really looking forward to going down there,” Marais said.

“We have a bit of a score to settle with the Cheetahs in Bloem as well. We’ll play the Sunwolves at home before travelling to New Zealand and then we come home when the month from hell starts with the Hurricanes, Highlanders, Crusaders and the Lions. We are looking forward to it and seeing how the players get through it. Our aim has always been to win it (Super Rugby).”