The Bulls face their toughest challenge of the Super 14 when they host the high-flying Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria at 5.05pm on Saturday.
The match will be the Bulls’ first at home in six weeks and they will be looking to make a victorious return against the log leaders. They also have the chance of moving from third place to the top of the standings if they can overcome the hard running New Zealanders.
Victory will also allow the 2007 champions the opportunity to strengthen their claim for a home semifinal with the second-placed Sharks and the Waratahs, who have slipped to sixth, having byes at the weekend. Both the Sharks and Waratahs have played one match more than the Bulls.
The Chiefs, who kicked off their SA tour with a good win over the Cheetahs last weekend, will be motivated by the fact that a win could extend their lead at the top of the table to five points with three rounds left to play.
A key for the Bulls will be in how effectively they disrupt the Chiefs rhythm. The New Zealanders carry the ball well, attack the gain line and keep the ball alive with a strong passing game.
The Hurricanes and the Blues are well-placed to keep themselves in contention for the semifinals.
The ‘Canes — in fourth place — host the Brumbies in Wellington at 9.35am on Saturday, while the fifth-placed Blues welcome the Reds in North Harbour at 7.30am on Saturday.
The Hurricanes can play for a full 80 minutes, which has helped them into the top four. The Brumbies, meanwhile, have become masters at stealing matches at the death and this contest could go either way.
The Blues should have the better of the Reds, who have slipped into 13th place after suffering four successive defeats. While they have not been as consistent as in years gone by, the Blues are formidable at home and will probably have too much firepower for a young Reds outfit.
The Stormers will be looking to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat when they face the Highlanders in their final tour match in Dunedin on Friday at 9.35am. Things have gotten progressively worse for the Cape side since their drubbing of the Lions in Cape Town a month ago. While they have proven their ability to defend and have the third best defensive record in the tournament, the Stormers have been unable to create enough scoring chances to put themselves in winning positions.
A win at the House of Pain will help the cause of the Bulls and the Sharks with the Highlanders still in contention despite lying in tenth place.
The Lions end their overseas tour against the Western Force in Perth on Friday at 1.05pm. The Lions will be buoyed by their good win over the Reds is Brisbane last weekend and will be looking to sustain the momentum with three home matches lying ahead of them during May. A good win could move them as high as ninth in the standings.
The Force have been a bit inconsistent this season but will be looking to build on their narrow win over the Waratahs last week before they travel to SA for a two-match tour.
Things just don’t get easier for the Cheetahs. After their great win over the Sharks two weeks back, the Cheetahs came unstuck against the Chiefs and must now face defending champions the Crusaders in Bloemfontein at 3pm on Saturday.
After losing their way early on in the competition, the Crusaders are among the play-off contenders and pose a real threat to the ambitions of the Bulls and the Sharks. The seven-times former champions are not lookng invincible and if the Cheetahs can replicate the structure and urgency shown in beating the Sharks, they are capable of getting a result. – Sapa