Super Rugby Review: Bulls
With the Super Rugby quarter-finalists now decided we take a look at those teams who missed out. Next up, it's the Bulls who finished 15th.
The Bulls have had one of their worst ever Super Rugby campaigns under Nollis Marais and Adriaan Strauss.
They've played 15 and only won four games. This shocking win record from a side made up of numerous current and future Springboks should be cause for concern for SA Rugby as a whole.
This team is not short of talent or experience despite suffering a mass exodus of seasoned campaigners over the last few years. Even though Handré Pollard has missed the season, along with a few talented forwards, the side is made up of numerous Springboks and exciting young prospects. So what are the problem areas?
Their scrum, an area they have pride themselves on for many years, has not been good enough. They have the third lowest scrum success in the entire competition. They have also only amassed 39 tries, the fourth worst of the season so far. It is now rare for them to defend or execute their own driving mauls with conviction while their forwards no longer dominate their opposition. It looks as if they have totally forgotten the strengths they were once feared for.
They have also been inconsistent in their attacking form. This past weekend against the Stormers, they showed flashes of brilliance in the tries they scored from open play and by capitalising on Stormers errors. However, for a large portion of the season they have failed to finish off try-scoring opportunities and have suffered from poor on-field leadership and discipline in games where victory could have been achieved.
Their defence has also been woeful. When they took on the Crusaders in May, they missed a staggering 35 tackles. Their poor defence also cost them victory this past weekend against the Stormers.
John Mitchell will take up his role with the union during the Currie Cup and will be the Bulls head coach for Super Rugby in 2018. In a recent interview, he said he wants to get the Bulls back to an aggressive, winning, attractive style of rugby. He also wants to increase the speed at which they play.
The Bulls will hope that Mitchell, Marais and the rest of the coaching staff and players can turn their fortunes around quickly, starting with the Currie Cup.
Best player: A silver lining in the Bulls disastrous campaign was Warrick Gelant. The 22-year-old has been in sizzling form since his return from injury. He has pace, quick feet and a solid boot. Highlights include scoring six tries in two games for the Bulls and the SA 'A' side within seven days.
by Brandon Yates