Marco’s return makes Bulls' back row selection interesting

The potential return of Marco van Staden from Springbok duty should give Vodacom Bulls coach Jake White a pleasing selection dilemma ahead of what has now become a much bigger Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash against Cardiff at Loftus on Saturday.

Cardiff’s unexpectedly one-sided win over the Cell C Sharks at the weekend has given them momentum, and it shouldn’t be forgotten that they also beat the tournament champions, the DHL Stormers, at Cardiff Arms Park before the international break.

So, Cardiff will arrive in Pretoria looking for three out of three against the top South African teams, at least according to the finish of last year’s log, and their win in Durban should add some much-needed wariness to the Bulls as they prepare for the game.

Assistant coach Pine Pienaar admitted in an online press conference on Tuesday that although the coaching group was pleased with the way the Bulls started against Ospreys last weekend, there are plenty of work ons. One of those being the disturbing continued tendency for the Bulls to lose momentum in the second half, something that plagued them in 2021/22 and arguably also cost them in the final against the Stormers.

There was a lot of space created by the Ospreys in the Bulls defensive system when they did manage to win possession, particularly after halftime, where at one point they came back strongly into the game after being well behind.

“We were very proud of the outing, and it was good to come away with a good win, and we started with great intensity after coming back from the four-week break,” said Pienaar.

“But while in the first half we started really well, and everything we’d worked on came through, we lost momentum in the second half and just couldn’t build and sustain pressure like we would have liked. The Ospreys also handled the pressure well after halftime. We did finish the game well though, which was good for our confidence.”

Perhaps part of the problem for the Bulls in that second half was a struggle to slow the Ospreys ball down. They were able to get phases going through quick recycles and that was what tested the Bulls’ defensive system. It is also why Van Staden’s return to availability after being on Bok duty is important, as he will bring what the Bulls missed in the second half against the Ospreys when Bismarck du Plessis, so brilliant at the breakdown in the first half, was off the field.

“I am not sure if the Boks are all available for us this weekend, that is a question you’d have to ask coach Jake, but they were training with us this morning (Tuesday),” said the assistant coach.

“Marco is one of the guys currently training with us, but the team hasn’t been selected yet. However, Nizaam (Carr) was really good for us against the Ospreys (playing as the No 6). A guy like Marco will play an important role for us, but Nizaam did play well and we clearly have many quality players and a top group. A guy like Marcell (Coetzee) is not with us at the moment but we have quality players to step in. So, selection will be a difficult part for us.”

Van Staden only played off the bench for the Boks against England last weekend so it is likely that he'll play on Saturday, as should the likes of Johan Goosen, who wasn't involved at all at Twickenham, and bench player Canan Moodie.

Carr, formerly of the Wasps and the Stormers/Western Province, delivered against the Ospreys exactly what White said he had selected him for at the team announcement press conference - attacking skills and an ability to pop up among the backs. However, he is not built in the traditional openside flank mould, so it is going to be interesting to see where Carr might be slotted into the team. No 8 would be an option, but Elrigh Louw, who was capped for the Boks earlier in the year, fills that position and is one of the Bulls’ top players. It would appear most likely then that last week’s man of the match will find himself providing what could be crucial impact off the bench this week.