It may be a cold and chilly evening for the Bulls at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli on Friday night when they take on the Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship, but the visitors should have no problem seeing the big forwards get on the gain line and bring the heat to the clash. .
Typically the Bulls’ strength, last weekend’s dominance of the gain line against Olympique Lyon was unmistakable, and they will need to do so on Friday night if they are to beat a Scarlets side who are suddenly starting to play clearly.
“Out of the last seven games, the Scarlets have won six,” Bulls assistant coach Chris Rossouw said on Thursday. “So they have found their rhythm. We know they are an attacking team, but they have found a balance between kicking, territory and attack.
“They have beaten all the other Welsh teams and the Free State Cheetahs, so they are in good form. It all starts on the gainline, they are physical and dominate the collision, so that is one of our focus points.
Read more: Cheetahs still in Challenge Cup hunt despite Scarlets loss
“He’s a big boy, but he also has the ability to release, so we have to try and limit him with tackling techniques. We have to go forward in set-pieces and collisions, bring the physicality that the South African boys can bring,” said Rossouw.
Development
Injuries to powerhouse Jonathan Davies and the unavailability of Six Nations players are developments that will give the Bulls hope, and Rossouw says the confidence is still there despite a succession of difficult matches.
Read more: Smith, Goosen to combine for Bulls against Scarlets
“We all know the Scarlets are at the top and it will be a good challenge, but I’m still high in confidence as well,” Rossouw said. “We slipped up last week, but after losses to the Stormers and Sharks we bounced back against the Dragons and Exeter.
“We showed a lot of energy up front, so we want to keep it. Confidence is important, but execution and clinicalness are more important.
“The biggest lesson on the tour is to focus on our discipline. If you can’t break the cycle, you’ll keep conceding penalties, and we don’t want to keep defending on our own tryline.
“We have to eliminate the Scarlets up front first, like we did against the Dragons. If we make sure we get it right, then the points and results will take care of themselves,” said Rossouw.
Bull: Johan Goosen, David Kriel, Lionel Mapoe, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs, Chris Smith, Zak Burger, Elrigh Louw, Cyle Brink, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje (c), Ruan Vermaak, Mornay Smith, Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp. Bench: Jan-Hendrick Wessels, Simphiwe Matanzima, Francois Klopper, Janko Swanepoel, Nizaam Carr, Embrose Papier, Cornal Hendricks, Wandisile Simelane.