Bulls seek elusive victory

Valke coach Rudi Joubert is probably the man best suited in South African rugby when it comes to finding a way to beat the Blue Bulls.

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske can also give a few tips, but Joubert understands the winning culture behind the success of the Blue Bulls and has made provision for his former team's visit to Brakpan tonight.

The players may have changed drastically from Joubert's tenure as Super 12 coach at Loftus Versfeld, but the playing style is the same.

Joubert has roped in all of the former Blue Bulls players at his disposal for this encounter in the hope that that elusive victory will come and with it a major scalp.

The Valke have two former Blue Bulls in captain Piet Krause at flank and wing Mpho Matsaung and as extra ammunition Joubert has on the bench with two additional former Blue Bulls players in Len Olivier and Wium Arlow.

The Valke are itching to win a game and there is no better game than this one. But can they beat the Blue Bulls?

Realistically anything is possible in rugby but the Blue Bulls are in transition themselves and it is the Valke that they have targeted.

Blue Bulls coach Pote Human respects Joubert, but would like nothing better than getting one over the boys from Brakpan.

Emotions will run high in the Valke dressing-room among four of their players, who will be facing the Blue Bulls, it is the team from Pretoria that needs to start performing .

The Blue Bulls haven't had the best of times in the first half of this year's Currie Cup competition and will want to start getting it right in the second part of the season.

That means that they must start with a win on Friday.

The Blue Bulls will try to redeem themselves from their sluggish start and challenge for second spot on the log. They finished in fourth place at the end of the first round.

The poor start has left the Blue Bulls with little margin of error in the the games ahead.

They must collect five points tonight.

The pressure will be on the joint champions to finally do away with the ugly rugby curse that seems to follow any opposition team in Brakpan.

Teams

Blue Bulls: Johan Roets, John Mametsa, JP Nel, Wayne Julies, Marius Delport, Derick Hougaard, JP Joubert, Pedrie Wannenburg, Deon Stegmann, Hottie Louw, Francois van Schouwenburg, Cliff Milton, Rayno Gerber, Derick Kuun, Jaco Engels. Reserves: Bandisa Maku, Werner Kruger, Ruan Vermeulen, Gerhard Human, Neil Powell, Morne Steyn, Danwel Demas.

Valke Riaan Viljoen, Akuila Nawerecagi, Bertus Swanepoel, Hanno Coetzee, Mpho Matsaung, Albert Keuris, Charl McLeod, Sean Plaatjies, Schalk van der Merwe, Piet Krause, Nico Luus, Hein Potgieter, Gunder Williamson, David Britz, Gavin Whittingham. Reserves: Ryno Barnes, CJ du Toit, Marius Coetzer, Wium Arlow, Morne Adams, Len Olivier, Rouan Cloete.