Bulls need to win 'patience game' against Stormers

Despite the disappointment of losing their opening game against the Sharks, the Vodacom Bulls believe if they can pick up a victory in Cape Town, they will be able to take momentum into the enforced bye week they have next week.

And while the north-south derby is set to bring the best out of both sides, the Bulls haven't won in Cape Town since 2011, meaning there is just that extra bit of motivation to get it right this weekend.

Halfback Ivan van Zyl believes they played well but lost "the patience game" against the Sharks last weekend and will need cool heads to win in Cape Town.

"We are obviously disappointed as we wanted to get the win. We're disappointed in the way we lost, we threw it away a bit, making silly mistakes. The Sharks played well, they were a bit more patient than we were, but we had all the opportunities to go and win the game.

"It's disappointing but there are a lot of positives to take out of the game and go into a big week like this. We know what we need to improve on when we go down to Cape Town."

Given the Bulls' big victory in the opening round last year, the Stormers will be keen on revenge and will enjoy it if they can keep their dominance going at Newlands.

NO EXTRA MOTIVATION NEEDED'

"They are always going to be up for it' whenever we play them at Newlands they are a different team. They are exceptionally good at Newlands. They are a quality team with so many World Cup-winning Springboks that are carrying so much momentum. We know what we need to do and we know it will be tough. We need to be at our very best this weekend."

The Bulls need to be more patient, Van Zyl believes, if they are to get enough ball to cause the Stormers' defence problems.

"The Sharks won the patience game last weekend and pinned us in our own half. We needed to use a lot of exit kicks in our half especially. They definitely dominated us in that area and it also caused them to have 70 percent ball as well. That is something we need to improve. We know that will be the focus of the Stormers as well, they don't want to play anywhere in their own half and they are really focused on territory. You need to be in the right areas to score points and that is what we need to get right on Saturday.

"We knew it would be a massive ask to start against the Sharks and Stormers away, but it was a good performance even though it wasn't ideal result. Going down to Newlands, a win will be massive for us. Coming back from the bye we face the Blues. so it will be important to win. The last time we beat the Stormers was in 2011, so it will be a challenge, but a win away from home against a quality team will be massive for our team. So we will go in all guns blazing."

And as he spouts the most over-used cliché in the book, there will be no motivation needed for the game.

"We always say there is no motivation needed to play against the Stormers, and they feel the same way. There isn't anything the coach needs to do or say to get the players up for the game, you are always up for it, and always the one you want to win. I don't think there is any extra motivation needed to get the win away from home."