Overseas crusade 'easier' for Bulls
While the focus is on Saturday's clash against the Waratahs, the Bulls have been given a timely boost by the news that they will face the Crusaders next week without their All Blacks.
The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) has withdrawn their national players from Super 14 action for the first few weeks of the competition and they were due to return to their various franchises next week. However, the Crusaders have taken the decision not to use their six All Black players against the Bulls.
The Bulls were given a nightmare draw this year - compounded by the fact that originally they would only be facing the Chiefs without their national players. The rest of their Kiwi opposition were supposed to be at full strength, while other South African sides had the luxury of facing New Zealand sides without their stars.
The decision will come as a boost to Heyneke Meyer's side, as the clash in Christchurch next week doesn't seem quite as daunting.
The Crusaders will be without the likes of Leon MacDonald, Aaron Mauger, Daniel Carter, Richard McCaw, Reuben Thorne and Chris Jack for the game and that can only be beneficial to the Bulls.
The sextet will join the team's training but only be available for the Stormers game a week afterwards. Crusaders coach Robbie Deans confirmed this in his online column on the team's website and spoke about the challenges it gives the team.
"It is exciting to have players of their quality involved. They are no doubt eager and possibly anxious to return to rugby specific training after a sustained period working solely on a strength and conditioning base. Their re-entry does present some significant - and unique - challenges," said Deans.
He said the Crusaders would train in two groups next week with the All Blacks on their own and away from the team.
"Although there is naturally going to be an increased level of public and media interest in how the conditioning All Black players are coming along, the Bulls match is the Crusaders only focus. It has to be. No one can afford to take any short cuts - in either preparation or performance - in a competition as tough as the Super 14.
"As the Bulls showed last weekend (when beating the ACT Brumbies 19-7 in Canberra), they are a force to be reckoned with, and now have a level of belief in their ability to perform away from South Africa that has not always been present in the past.
"That is going to make them a major challenge, but it is one we must meet head on if we are to keep the pressure on the teams who are currently ranked above us on the competition point's table."
The Bulls fared poorly in their two games against the Crusaders last season - losing at Loftus Versfeld and again in the semifinal in Christchurch.