Bulls must pray for a miracle
The Bulls may have saved South African face in the penultimate round of the Super 12, but events elsewhere have lengthened the odds against them as they make a last-ditch attempt to reach the semifinals.
The Brumbies' victory over the Hurricanes and the Waratahs' defeat of the Highlanders have made the Bulls' chances of reaching the knockout stages even more remote.
For the Bulls to make it into the semifinals they have to score at least four tries and beat the Sharks in Durban, the Chiefs have to beat the Waratahs in Sydney, the Reds will have to overcome the Highlanders in Brisbane and the Brumbies must fail to get a log point against the Crusaders in Canberra.
For all these results to fall into place certainly looks a tall order.
Before even contemplating the results elsewhere, however, Bulls coach Rudy Joubert put their local challenge into perspective.
"It's going to be very hard. Matches between the Bulls and the Sharks are always merciless, so we are not expecting any favours," he said.
"Both teams can, however, act in the national interest. But maybe the defeat against the Stormers will come back to haunt us," Joubert added, referring to a clash in which the Bulls made most of the running but failed to translate their dominance into points.
Before getting carried away on blurred semifinal aspirations, the Bulls have to heed a national call.
"Rudolf Straeuli has requested that we give certain players an opportunity to play this weekend, while others are rested. I will talk to him before I decide on the make-up of the team," Joubert said.
With their defeat of the Chiefs, the Bulls accomplished a number of significant firsts.
"We've won the most number of matches in the history of the franchise in a season and it will be the first time we finish ahead of all the other South African teams on the table. We also won our first match on overseas soil," Joubert said.
"We are, however, still developing as a team. The way we've developed as a unit has been satisfying. Next season it can only get better. We have a foundation and things to build on."
Joubert's team continued their good form by running into a 19-0 halftime lead against the Chiefs but almost squandered what appeared to be an unassailable lead in the final quarter of the match. In the end the Bulls held out 29-26 but it was a close thing.
South Africa's other challengers faltered. Against the Reds, the Sharks failed to reproduce the pressure that made them so effective against the Crusaders and the Blues.
The Cats showed some marginal improvements but they hardly troubled the Blues. Ditto the Stormers against the Crusaders.
The Cats and the Stormers may also have to adjust their teams in the national interest for their match at Newlands on Saturday.
Conrad Jantjes is believed to be in the frame for a start at fullback, while Jaque Fourie may be moved to wing.
However, Fourie took a knock to his knee and a decision on his availability for the Newlands clash is expected on Monday or Tuesday.
- Wallaby fullback Chris Latham is in danger of missing next month's tests against England, Ireland and Wales after breaking a rib, reports Reuters.
Latham fractured the rib playing for the Reds against the Sharks in Brisbane on Saturday in yet another blow to Australia's World Cup preparations.
The 28-year-old left the pitch midway through the match after aggravating an ankle problem but X-rays later revealed he also had broken a rib.
The injury threatens to rule Latham out of next month's tests against England, Ireland and Wales.
Latham joins other Wallabies, Ben Tune, Stirling Mortlock, Nathan Sharpe and Mat Rogers, who are sidelined by injuries. - Rugby writer