Embrose Papier said the Vodacom Bulls are ready to battle the elements and an unfavourable travel schedule in their crunch clash against Northampton Saints this week.
Jake White’s charges are set to travel on Tuesday evening for their first Champions Cup quarter-final on Saturday night at cinch Stadium in Franklin’s Gardens.
English Premiership leaders Northampton beat Vodacom URC defending champions Munster in the round of 16 to secure a home playoff against the men from Pretoria.
Among the contingent marching with the Saints is former Bulls captain Burger Odendaal and Juarno Augustus, the 2017 U20 World Player of the Year.
“It’s going to be tough. We had a look today at how they play. The travel is going to be tough as well, we are flying on Tuesday night,” Papier told reporters in a Bulls conference on Monday.
“Usually when we travel late, we take it slow when we get to England or France. We will relax and do a lot of stretches.
“They are a good side. Usually people think teams in England or Europe kick the ball a lot, but Northampton can run the ball from everywhere.
“Burger and Trokkie [Augustus] are both great rugby players. They are physical and know us. Burger spent most of his career at the Bulls, so he will definitely be chatting with his teammates about us. But we are looking at them more as a team.”
The Bulls bounced back from a heavy defeat to Leinster in Dublin by thrashing Lyon at Loftus Versfeld last week.
Papier, who scored a brace of tries, is anticipating a much tougher outing against the Saints but says the Bulls have learned from what happened in the Irish capital.
“After the defeat to Leinster, the guys were down, but we reacted really well against Lyon. It’s going to be a physical game. The weather will be cold and wet. I think it will almost be like Test rugby,” the Springbok scrumhalf said.
“The team that plays in the right areas of the field and takes control of the game will win. Our game management is going to be important. It’s going to be a massive game.
“If we look back at our game against Leinster, we kicked a lot just to make sure we are playing in the right areas. But if you kick too far or in the middle of the field, teams in the UK will punish you. They are used to playing in these conditions. Consistency will be very important.”
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