Jake: It’s not all bad, but Bulls searching for new energy

CHANGE is coming at the Blue Bulls over the next few months, but that doesn’t mean players are now playing for their careers in the rest of the Currie Cup.

Director of rugby Jake White reminded everybody yesterday just how seriously he is taking the competition by picking his strongest possible team for today’s clash against Griquas in Kimberley (3pm kick-off).

Only Springbok training squad members Kurt-lee Arendse, Canan Moodie and Marco van Staden were not eligible for selection ahead of the national camp next week in Durban, while utility back Johan Goosen has a hamstring injury.

But while the Bulls would love to win a third Currie Cup title on White’s watch, the former Springbok coach has a bit of a renewed focus for the rest of the tournament in order to prepare properly for the United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup next season.

“It wasn’t all bad – no one got through the play-offs of the Champions

Cup. If our season has been poor and we ended sixth in the URC, qualified for the Champions Cup, then we’re in a position of massive strength and we are going to become a powerhouse team,” White said yesterday.

“I don’t think we’ve done as well as we could’ve, but I don’t think it’s a failure. Everyone knows we at the Bulls take the Currie Cup very seriously. We were the only team last year that played our strongest side in the whole Currie Cup.

“That’s not going to change – the fact that we had a poor start doesn’t mean we are going to write the season off. If we get into the play-offs, then we have as much of a chance as all the other teams to win the competition.”

Part of the ‘new’ plan sees a newlook back-three in David Kriel, Sibongile Novuka and Marco Jansen van Vuren, while it’s an all-springbok loose trio of Elrigh Louw, Nizaam Carr and Marcell Coetzee.

“I’m talking about speed, skill and ability to change a game – whatever position you’re in. Obviously we know how important Canan and Kurt-lee are, and I would like to add that kind of player to our squad as well,” White said.

“This is a little bit of a stage where I want to try different things. The combination of Nizaam Carr this weekend with Elrigh and Marcell is something I would like to see as a starting combination, and I don’t think it’s fair to say that some guys are playing for their careers…

“There needs to be change, and not for any other reason than I just think we need new energy. And change will happen inevitably.

“Some guys and coaches are finishing their contracts, so we are probably in a very fortunate position that after three years, from playing behind closed doors with no fans to playing in front of over 40 000 in the URC and Champions Cup, there have been different responses from different players.

“Some guys have done well and some guys have fallen a little bit behind.”

The Bulls are seventh on 17 points, and need the victory to stay in the semi-final race, with Griquas fourth on 23.

“They’re very good in Kimberley. They’ve been together for a while and play good rugby. Anybody who has played or coached rugby knows it’s tough to go to Kimberley. They’re well coached, they don’t go away and they play for 80 minutes,” White said.

“It’s a different ground, and the wind blows there – it’s a bit like playing in Cape Town at Ikeys (UCT). It’s a completely different fixture if you play anywhere else.”