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Stedman Gans of Vodacom Bulls scores a try during the Super Rugby Unlocked match between Emirates Lions and Vodacom Bulls at Emirates Airline Park on November 7, 2020 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Gordon Arons / Gallo Images)
- The Bulls’ faith in their Blitzbok-laden defensive line continues to be rewarded as they were instrumental in helping to subdue the Lions.
- Rugby manager Jake White believes it points to his team’s adaptability and ability to vary their game.
- Taking the initiative without a consistent platform from the forwards also positively influences the confidence of the runners.
A large, mobile and skilled pack will remain the cornerstone of the Bulls’ assault on the Super Rugby Unlocked and Currie Cup titles, but you won’t hear Jake White complain that his back saved his team’s skin against the Lions at last. last week.
On a night when Ellis Park’s men had their numbers on set pieces and defended like Trojans, Blitzbok stars Stedman Gans and Kurt-Lee Arendse, as well as the crafty and underrated Travis Ismaiel, came out on the spot. fore.
It was Gans who acrobatically intercepted a wayward pass from Elton Jantjies after the Bulls knocked down an attacking lineout to score a vital try, a short but forceful intervention in a game where his chances were painfully limited.
Arendse, who defended well on the left wing, was available to execute a neat angle from a quick attack move all the way to the final score.
As White previously said, the local rugby fraternity should “keep an eye on this space.”
“In preparation for the game, I talked a lot about how great it would be if we could play the ‘two types’ of the game, where we can play with a focus on our forwards or on our backs,” he said. director of rugby for the Bulls.
“I thought we achieved that balance for most of the second half, even if we could have executed better on set pieces.”
Yet it was still remarkable how the Bulls’ fickle talents attacked their tough opponents despite being given what was, at best, a jagged platform.
“If our backs can play like this without the forwards gaining some ancestry, there’s a lot of hope,” White said.
“The most important thing is that it’s the kind of thing that will give them a lot of confidence. It’s about the learning process for us right now with this group of players.”
In fact, without resorting to actual fireworks, Gans, for example, has kept its hit rate of 100%.
“Think about how Stedman must feel right now,” White said.
“He’s still scoring shots and he’s been doing well overall. The more he plays, the better he’ll be. It’s so important to back these guys.
