Both teams have been complimentary of each other in the build-up to the 7pm Super Rugby clash which will signal the season’s first meeting between the two South African rivals.
Each side have stressed their wariness of each other’s strengths, aspects of the game both have indicated to have worked hard on to counter the threats.
“They don’t give you gainline,” Bulls coach Nollis Marais said of his opponents. “They are very physical. They carry the ball up to you.
They try to get into space with their forwards. The forwards dominate, and then they use their backs. “We will try to manipulate their play as best we can by using our attack against them, but we definitely will not make things easy for them here.”
Bulls captain Adriaan Strauss added: “They’ve been very physical in their last couple of games. They have a very good first phase, their scrums are solid, they enjoy the driving maul.
“We know they will be coming to Loftus wanting to dominate those areas. We will be up for it. Here at Loftus we want to create that culture where the forwards do their bit.”
Despite being overwhelming favourites going into the match – although their last victory over the Pretoria side was in February two years ago – the Sharks, who have won both their games so far, will not underestimate the Bulls.
The Bulls will still have their tails up after their 45-25 win over the Melbourne Rebels in their previous match, an encounter Sharks director of rugby Gary Gold describes as “outstanding”. “I thought their performance against the Rebels was outstanding.
