Unbeaten in five matches at Loftus Versfeld this season, the Vodacom Bulls home ground is a fortress, now they just need to find their feet on the road.
The Bulls currently sit fourth in the Vodacom URC, having won eight of 13 matches this season.
Five of those wins have come at home, where they have a points difference of 82. However, the Bulls have won just three of eight road games for an away points difference of -21.
MVP: In the absence of Japan-based Marcell Coetzee, Ruan Nortje has seamlessly taken over as captain mid-season and continued his imperious performances in the Bulls’ engine room. The 24-year-old is the team’s leading tackler (122) and ranks fifth overall in the URC.
Ruan Nortje has been an absolute colossus this year ??#TrueToTheBlue pic.twitter.com/9YOVsBzasO
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) December 28, 2022
MOST IMPROVED: He has largely flown under the radar since arriving from Western Province in 2020, but this season David Kriel has started to find real consistency in his performances. The 23-year-old utility back is second only to Kurt-Lee Arendse in tries scored (3) and is the Bulls’ best in terms of clean breaks (12) and metres gained (570). This despite him being used across the backline, playing on either wing, at fullback and even starting at inside centre.
BEST WIN: While the derby win over the Sharks in Pretoria was a big highlight, undoubtedly the Bulls’ best and most dominant performance came when they hosted Cardiff in the first weekend of December. The Welsh side had thrashed the Sharks 35-0 in Durban a week earlier, which prompted Sean Everitt’s removal as head coach. However, the Bulls ran in six tries to earn a 45-9 win, with Canan Moodie scoring a brace.
WORST LOSS: Only a few weeks after one of their best performances of the season, the Bulls were put to the sword by a Bok-powered Sharks side in Durban. The Bulls were dominated in almost all facets of the match and lost Canan Moodie to a red card late in what was a day to forget.
RESULTS:
W at Lions 31-15
W vs Edinburgh 33-31
W vs Connacht 28-14
L at Glasgow Warriors 35-21
L at Munster 31-17
W at Benetton 44-22
W vs Sharks 40-27
W vs Ospreys 43-26
W vs Cardiff 45-9
L at Stormers 37-27
L at Sharks 47-20
W at Dragons 29-14
L at Scarlets 37-28
REMAINING FIXTURES: Stormers (h), Lions (h), Ulster (a), Zebre (h), Leinster (h)
PREDICTION: The Bulls have a good run-in, playing four of their remaining five fixtures at home. Given their form at Loftus Versfeld, it isn’t out of the question for last season’s finalists to pick up at least 17 points, which would see them secure a home playoff. From there, it will be about the luck of the draw and whether the Bulls will have to travel for a semi-final or final.
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/INPHO/Shutterstock/BackpagePix