[2018 Super Rugby] Round 6: Crusaders vs. Bulls (23/03/2018)

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: AMI Stadium
Time: 08:35 CAT (SA, GMT+2)
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Teams

Crusaders: 15 David Havili, 14 Manasa Mataele, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Mitchell Hunt, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Jordan Taufua, 7 Billy Harmon, 6 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 5 Sam Whitelock (captain), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Codie Taylor 1 Tim Perry

Substitutes: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Oliver Jager, 19 Quinten Strange, 20 Tom Sanders, 21 Bryn Hall, 22 Brett Cameron, 23 Braydon Ennor

Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Burger Odendaal (captain), 11 Divan Rossouw, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Tim Agaba, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Roelof Smit, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Pierre Schoeman

Substitutes: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 Hendre Stassen, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Johnny Kotze

 

[TRF_heineken]

Both teams have been announced.

This will be Jesse Kriel's 50th match for the Bulls.

Iwan van Zyl returns from injury and is on the bench.

Interesting selection by Mitchell for the loose trio. It's the 4th combination in a row of different players. Guess that's the one area that Mitchell is unsure of.

 

[SomeOke]

Good to see Trevor in the starting line up again, I thought he was really good last week, JM clearly lit a bit of a fire under him.
Also excited for 60 minutes+ of Embrose Papier he looked very lively last week when he came on.
Nothing wrong with this Bulls team other than they are playing in Cristchurch.

 

[Big_Grumper]

I'm not feeling that Bulls changed kit. I don't like it.

 

[Radsy]

I'm not feeling that Bulls changed kit. I don't like it.

Very odd that they would go with a kit exactly the same as Brazilian soccer. Exactly.

 

[Gena_ZA]

Bulls, like ALL the ZA teams are very poor on the road this year and better. some times even good at home.
Does not hold good for playoff time

 

[TRF_heineken]

Very odd that they would go with a kit exactly the same as Brazilian soccer. Exactly.

It's actually a commemoration to the Pretoria based soccer team, the Mamelodi Sundowns who are also called the Brazillians. They share Loftus Versfeld stadium with the Bulls, and it was made to show unity for the city.

Bulls, like ALL the ZA teams are very poor on the road this year and better. some times even good at home.
Does not hold good for playoff time

True, but Mitchell said from the beginning that they are taking this year not to qualify for the playoffs, but to improve from last year. with that said, they are done with their tour, and are back home this coming weekend, and will hopefully get a few more wins. But there is a significant sign of improvement.