Vodacom Bulls coach Jake White made three changes to his side ahead of Saturday’s first Rainbow Cup final, as the weight of expectation grows ahead of the team’s showdown with the Italian side Benetton Treviso.
With Marco van Staden and Morne Steyn on Springbok duty, replacements had to be found and it is no surprise that Nizaam Carr and Chris Smith find their way into the starting line-up.
What was a surprise through was bringing in Jan Uys into the second row ahead of the talented former SA under-20 lock Janko Swanepoel, who has been playing most of the competition for White’s side.
But the World Cup winning coach explained that experience was a factor, especially after losing Duane Vermeulen, Steyn and Van Staden for this game.
“Jan has played for Brive in the Challenge Cup and has played against Zebre in Italy before. So he has been here with a touring side and is 26 years old, so a little bit older and a bit calmer in the big games,” White said.
Selections aside, the Bulls will have to overcome a number of factors in the game, not the least that Benetton will be allowed a crowd of 1500 for the match, and this Bulls team under White hasn’t played in front of spectators since he took over.
Add to that the balmy, sticky heat in the 30s in the Italian summer, and the weight of expectation and the Bulls have to be at their best if they want to claim the trophy.
White laughed off the weight of expectation, knowing that the Bulls are expected to win, and knows they will need to live up to their own standards if they are to taste victory on Saturday.
“There’s always the weight of expectation on us. We are the Bulls and there is always an expectation on the Bulls team. Everybody expects us to do well and this is no different. The only unique difference is the whole of South Africa wants the Bulls to pull this off.
“That psyche is always there, we want to play well for our incredibly fanatical fans, and they always expect us to win.”
White pointed out that he needed to “think a bit out of the box” this week, especially as Corniel Els, who played in the Currie Cup final for White a few months ago, is in the Benetton side.
“I’ve coached in France as well and know what to expect, but it is nice to have this challenge, it gives me a chance to look at a different strategy package,” White added.
“There are a lot of South Africans playing here and it does something to their team from a mental point of view.
“Corniel, for instance, knows our lineout calls, knows the way we play and how we think, and how I talk to teams before and during the game. So we have had to think a bit out of the box and come up with a few new things.”
White did say that all eyes would be on the Bulls as a marker of what European teams will expect with the entry into Northern Hemisphere competitions in the next few months.
“It is no different to when we entered Super Rugby, and people wanted to see how good we were against teams from New Zealand and Australia. Everyone will be watching with interest now that we are in the Northern Hemisphere.
“It’s going to be good for us to see where we measure ourselves.”
And measure themselves they will. Benetton aren’t the big powerhouse in Pro14 Rugby, but they are a team in form and with confidence, playing at home.
The Bulls will have to overcome all the challenges to meet their own standards.
Vodacom Bulls: David Kriel, Madosh Tambwe, Marco Jansen van Vuren, Cornal Hendricks, Stravino Jacobs, Chris Smith, Ivan van Zyl; Marcell Coetzee (captain), Ruan Nortje, Nizaam Carr, Jan Uys, Walt Steenkamp, Mornay Smith, Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: Schalk Erasmus, Jacques van Rooyen, Lizo Gqoboka, Janko Swanepoel, Muller Uys, Zak Burger, Clinton Swart, Gio Aplon.