It may sound like a relatively easy task given the depth in the Vodacom Bulls squad, but the reality is that the Pretoria side need to fill a giant hole in their backline with the departure of Kurt-Lee Arendse to Japan.
Arendse’s move for a sabbatical to the Mitsubishi Dynaboars for the upcoming Japanese season was the best case scenario the Bulls could have hoped for. Arendse, who had been looking to boost his salary through big money offers could have been lost to the Bulls forever, but instead the short-term deal was done that will see him return to the province where he became a Springbok.
And it isn’t an easy hole to fill. While convention may dictate that the next player needs to step up, Arendse is a mercurial talent, someone who, despite his size, manages to make metres in tackles, bounce off defenders and score some unbelievable tries. And that’s not even mentioning the sidestep that has mesmerised so many defences.
Arendse is now a regular in the Springbok team, forming a scrumcap alliance with Cheslin Kolbe for the No 1 side in the world, and while there may be a lot of other talents in the Bulls group, there will always be only one KLA.
But that is the reality for the Bulls, and it starts on Saturday against Connacht, where Arendse will be missed and along with lock and captain Ruan Nortje are the glaring omissions from the Bulls squad to tour Europe.
Make no mistake, there is a lot of talent in the Bulls group, but life without KLA is something the team will have to get used to, particularly because he could always be relied upon to make a game-breaking linebreak, or score a try out of nowhere.
This weekend, one of the players likely to fill in for him is the 32-year old Devon Williams, who has slotted in at wing and fullback for the Bulls since moving across from the Pumas on loan, and did so well that a permanent contract was signed last season.
Williams is a stepper in the mould of Arendse, but has other attributes as well, and while he has had to fight his way to the franchise ranks, he has made his mark as well.
But even he admits that it will be tough to replace KLA.
“Kurt-Lee is a special player. He’s won a World Cup. He’s going to leave a big hole,” Williams told reporters in a call from Galway ahead of the Connacht game
. “It’s now the responsibility of the back three to step up and try and fill that hole. It also creates an opportunity for a younger player to step up.”
Of course, the Bulls have one eye on the Investec Champions’ Cup which starts a week later, and have a date with top English Premiership side Saracens next week, but first they need to negotiate Galways infamous weather and hope to score their first victory in the city.
Last time the Bulls went to Galway the rain was falling sideways, something that is quite common in the area, and they lost 31-7 in a night they would rather forget.
Williams was laughing that the sun was shining in Galway when he spoke about the game, but few expect the good weather to last to the weekend.
And given the experience of new Boks and a bunch of other players, the Bulls will be hoping they can perform in whatever conditions they face on the artificial pitch.
“We’re quite experienced but obviously not all of the guys have played in all the conditions,” he said. “But I think going into the game we have enough experience to adapt to any conditions.”
Williams also gave some insight into how the Bulls used the three weeks off as a mini-hybrid off-season training camp to set themselves up for the rest of the URC season. With the Currie Cup flowing into the URC, there was no time for players to have an off-season and with a combination of rest and training, the Bulls have put some focus into getting the best out of their players in the coming months.
But it all starts on Saturday again, and a win away from home will go a long way later in the season for their ambitions of going one better than the final.
The Bulls know that and will be targeting this game, especially with Connacht without their Irish internationals.
But they will need to do it without their best strike weapon, and that will be a challenge.