Preview: Bulls v Hurricanes

The Bulls’ disappointing season takes another test when they face the defending champions, the Hurricanes, in Pretoria on Saturday.

After Thursday’s announcement that former All Blacks, Western Force and Lions boss John Mitchell, who is currently the USA’s head coach, will take over the reins at the Bulls, there is some optimism in the three-time champions’ ranks.

Mitchell only joins the Bulls, in July, however, so for now they will prepare for this weekend’s clash with Nollis Marais still in charge and if their results from previous matches in this year’s tournament is to be used as a benchmark, then this is going to be another difficult fixture for the home side.

The Bulls have won just three out of their 11 matches so far this year although all those matches were at Loftus Versfeld. However, they also suffered a humiliating 62-24 loss to the Crusaders at home in Round 11.

They have been on the winning side in just one of their last 11 games against New Zealand opposition – suffering nine defeats and drawing one of those fixtures.

The Hurricanes have won their last two games against the Bulls, snapping a four-game losing streak against them spanning 2009 to 2013. The champions have won the opening game of each of their last two South African tours, though the last time they opened a South African tour against the Bulls ended in a 48-14 loss in Round 12, 2013.

The men from Wellington are one of the leading attacking teams in the competition. They have gained 555 metres per game this season, the most of any team in the competition and one of only two teams to average more than half a kilometre per match, along with the Crusaders.

The last time the teams met: The Hurricanes had to dig deep but eventully secured a narrow 17-13 victory in Pretoria in 2015. Both sides scored a try each with Julian Savea dotting down for the visitors and Handré Pollard crossed the whitewash for the Bulls. Pollard also kicked all the Bulls’ other points and Beauden Barrett slotted four penalties for the Hurricanes.

Players to watch: The return of captain and first-choice hooker Adriaan Strauss is a timeous one for the Bulls. The former Springbok skipper brings plenty of experience to the home side’s cause and this should prove invaluable as the three-time champions try to return to the victory trail. Strauss’ prowess in the forward battle will also be crucial especially at the scrums and lineouts as he usually does well in those departments.

After starting on the bench in his side’s demolition of the Cheetahs last weekend, Jordie Barrett returns to the Hurricanes’ run-on side at full-back. The 20-year-old has been in sublime form this season and is dangerous with ball in hand. If he joins the champions’ back-line at pace, he is sure to wreak havoc and the Bulls’ defenders will have to be at their best to keep him in check.

Team news: Regular Bulls skipper Adriaan Strauss is back to lead the team while Jesse Kriel is on the wing for this clash. Strauss missed the last two Super Rugby matches due to a foot injury, but returns to the middle of the scrum and takes over the captaincy from Hanro Liebenberg and the hooking spot from Jaco Visagie. Bulls coach Nollis Marais also made changes to his backline as Kriel moves to wing in place of Rabs Maxwane and Warrick Gelant returns to full-back. Tian Schoeman will again wear the number 10 jersey. Ulrich Beyers moves onto the bench in place of Gelant. If he takes to the field, this will be his first appearance of the season. Bulls lock Lood de Jager will play in his 50th Super Rugby match.

Vaea Fifita will start at blindside for the first time this season in a re-shuffled Hurricanes starting line-up. Fifita, who has started the last four matches at lock, will join openside Ardie Savea and number eight Brad Shields in a new-look loose forward trio. Fifita’s positional shift allows Mark Abbott to return to his regular starting spot in the second row and pushes versatile loose forward Reed Prinsep to the reserves. There are two other changes to the team that started against the Cheetahs in Wellington with Jordie Barrett returning at full-back and Loni Uhila making his first start since round three at loosehead prop. Jordie Barrett replaces older brother Beauden, who moves back to his favoured position of fly-half in place of Otere Black, while Uhila takes over in the loosehead jersey from Ben May.

Form: The Bulls suffered a humiliating 51-14 loss to the Lions last weekend and prior to that, they only won three out of 12 matches. Their only wins were against the Sunwolves, Jaguares and Cheetahs and all those matches were in Pretoria. They suffered losses to the Stormers, Cheetahs, Sunwolves, Blues, Chiefs, Crusaders, Highlanders and Lions in their remaining games.

The Hurricanes bounced back from a Round 12 loss to the Crusaders to claim a convincing 61-7 victory over the Cheetahs last weekend. Their only other defeat came in Round 3 against the Chiefs with their other victories registered against the Sunwolves, Rebels, Highlanders, Reds, Waratahs, Blues, Brumbies and Stormers.

Prediction: Despite playing at home, the Bulls will be massive underdogs and the champions will win confortably. Hurricanes by 12 points.

Previous results:

2015: Hurricanes won 17-13 in Pretoria
2014: Hurricanes won 25-20 in Napier
2013: Bulls won 48-14 in Pretoria
2011: Bulls won 26-14 in Napier
2010: Bulls won 19-18 in Pretoria
2009: Bulls won 19-14 in Wellington
2008: Hurricanes won 50-22 in Pretoria
2007: Hurricanes won 17-9 in Wellington

The teams:

Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Duncan Matthews, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jesse Kriel, 10 Tiaan Schoeman, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Lizo Gqoboka
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Coenraad van Vuuren, 19 Abongile Nonkontwana, 20 Nic de Jager, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Tony Jantjies, 23 Ulrich Beyers

Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara (c), 8 Brad Shields, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Mark Abbott, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Loni Uhila
Replacements: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Ben May, 19 Reed Prinsep, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Otere Black, 23 Ben Lam

Date: Saturday, May 27
Venue: Loftus Versfeld
Kick-off: 15:05 local (13:05 GMT)
Referee: Egon Seconds
Assistant Referees: Quinton Immelman, Jaco Pretorius
TMO: Christie du Preez