Bulls must beat Chiefs to secure home play-off spot
Until now the Bulls have denied keeping tabs on the goings-on in the Super Rugby log table, but on Friday they will have one eye on the log and the other on claiming their first Australasian tour win of the season.
The Bulls face the Chiefs at the Rotorua International Stadium at 9.35am on Friday.
The Pretoria side has indicated through captain Pierre Spies that they have their eyes set on securing a home play-off spot. To achieve this, Spies and Co will need to cement their spot at the top of the SA conference, and the only way to do so starts with a victory over the Chiefs in New Zealand.
Defeat for Frans Ludeke’s charges will open the door for the Stormers to overtake them on the log standings and lead the SA conference after the 15th round of matches as the competition draws closer to the play-off stages.
The Bulls’ impressive recent record over the Chiefs — with the Kiwis having won only one of their last six encounters — may put the Bulls slightly ahead on paper, but the Pretoria side’s record on tour is less extraordinary.
They have not won in Australasia in eight games, and have beaten the Chiefs only once in New Zealand.
The Chiefs have not beaten the Bulls since their 43-27 win in 2008 in Hamilton. Perhaps that is a reason for the change of venue to Rotorua — a battlefield where the two sides have met only twice before and the Bulls have not claimed victory. Their last encounter at the southern shore town was the last time the Chiefs beat the Bulls.
Both sides go into the game on a defeat — the Bulls a 22-18 loss to the Blues last week and the Chiefs two back-to-back defeats. Both teams will be out to redeem themselves and get their campaign back on track.
The Bulls could look to take advantage of the Chiefs’ injury woes in the second row. There is no Brodie Retallick, Matt Symons or Michael Allardice, and Michael Fitzgerald will have to pass a late fitness test to be able to play.
Facing Victor Matfield at No 5 lock is Johan Bardoul — a loose-forward who has been forced into the second row by the injuries. If Fitzgerald fails the fitness test, 36-year-old former All Black Ross Filipo will come out of retirement to heed the Chiefs’ SOS call. On the bench is untested 21-year-old Brian Alainu’ uese, who will make his debut at lock.
The lineouts will be an area the Bulls will want to dominate, together with the scrums, given the issues in the Chiefs’ second row.
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