Preview: Bulls v Kings

The Bulls will be looking to make it back-to-back wins when they host the Kings at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.

Once a mighty force in Super Rugby, the Bulls have endured a torrid season in which the once impenetrable fortress of Loftus has been exposed.

The Bulls have lost each of their last three games at home. The last time they went longer without a home win was a nine-game drought from 2001 to 2003.

However, the men from Pretoria will be delighted with last week's 30-17 victory over the Sharks and desperate to continue their momentum as they look to salvage some more pride as the season draws to a close.

The Kings are a side they are expected to beat, however and all the pressure will be on the Bulls. Key to their mini-rejuvenation has been the return to form of midfield combination Jan Serfontein and Jesse Kriel who have returned from the international break with renewed confidence.

Perhaps they are in a better place mentally knowing that the experienced and extremely competent John Mitchell is taking over the reins next season.

The Bulls have won all three previous meetings between these sides, having scored a combined 120 points in those matches and conceding just 24 in reply.

The 2017 Super Rugby campaign has seen the coming of age of the Kings. They have endeared themselves to the rugby world by playing an exciting brand of ball in hand attacking rugby. 

However, as much as they are generous on attack, they are equally generous on defence. The Kings have conceded more than 50 points in four of their last five away games against fellow South African teams, losing by an average of 33 points per game across that span.

But nevertheless Deon Davids has done an excellent job with this youthful side as they have secured wins in Australia, Argentina and Singapore as well as a first ever triumph against the Sharks in Port Elizabeth.

Testament to the good work Davids has done is the fact that a number of Kings players were rewarded with call-ups to the South Africa 'A' team.

And with the Eastern Cape side set to be axed from the competition and rumoured to be shifted to the PRO12 they will be eager to prove their credentials to all and sundry come Saturday.

The last time the teams met: The Bulls scored six tries and kept the Kings tryless in a 38-6 masterclass. The Bulls scored through tries from Jan Serfontein, RG Snyman and two apiece from Jamba Ulengo and SP Marais.

Players to watch:

For the Bulls: Keep an eye on Warrick Gelant, the man who scored that scintillating hat-trick last weekend against the Sharks. He also scored a brace for the SA 'A' side against the French Barbarians a couple of weeks prior and is in red-hot form.

For the Kings: Watch out for fetcher Chris Cloete who is crucial to the counter-attacking game the Kings love to play. Cloete is the turnover king, able to assume a low body position at the breakdown and win the ball back for his side from which they are able to launch their deadly counter-attacks.

Team news: Former Junior Springbok winger Travis Ismaiel has recovered from injury and is back in the Bulls starting XV for Saturday’s clash with the Southern Kings in Pretoria. The 25-year old picked up an injury against the Crusaders early in May, but takes over his regular spot from Kefense Mahlo for the match in one of two back-line changes to the side that beat the Sharks in Durban last weekend. In the other alteration, Tian Schoeman has been promoted off the bench and will start at fly-half in place of the injured Tony Jantjies. There are some new faces on the bench for this match, with two more players set to make their debut for the Bulls. Fly-half Tinus de Beer will provide cover off the bench for Schoeman and could make a first start in the tournament, while Ruben van Heerden has also been named in the match day squad for the first time.

The Kings have made one injury enforced change to their starting side. It comes in the second-row where Wilhelm van der Sluys is ruled out after sustaining a concussion in last weekend’s game at the Jaguares. Lubabalo Mtyanda takes Van der Sluys place with Mzwanele Zito replacing the former on the bench for the derby clash at Loftus Versfeld.

Form: The Bulls have won four of their 12 games this season, beating the Sunwolves, Jaguares, Cheetahs and Sharks while losing to the Stormers, Blues, Cheetahs, Chiefs, Sunwolves, Crusaders, Highlanders, Lions and Hurricanes.

Meanwhile, the Kings have a better record than their more-fancied opponents, winning five of their 13 games this season with those victories coming against the Sunwolves, Waratahs, Rebels, Sharks and Jaguares while they have suffered defeats against the Jaguares, Stormers, Sharks, Lions, Force, Reds, Brumbies and Lions.

Prediction: The Bulls will be high on confidence after their win over the Sharks and will be hoping for a good turnout at Loftus. Bulls by 10.

Previous results:

2013: Bulls won 34-0 in Port Elizabeth
2013: Bulls won 48-18 in Pretoria
2016: Bulls won 38-6 in Port Elizabeth

The teams: 

Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Duncan Matthews, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Nic de Jager, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Conrad van Vuuren, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Lizo Gqoboka 
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 John-Roy Jenkinson, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Shaun Adendorff, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Tinus de Beer, 23 Burger Odendaal 

Kings: 15 Malcolm Jaer, 14 Wandile Mjekevu, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Luzuko Vulindlu, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Lionel Cronje (c), 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Andisa Ntsila, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Michael Willemse, 1 Mzamo Majola
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Thembelani Bholi, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Masixole Banda, 23 Yaw Penxe

Date: Saturday, July 8
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-Off: 17:15 local (15:15 GMT)
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistant Referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa)