The Vodacom Bulls are only four points behind log-leaders, Leinster, on the URC standings and will be wary of the fact that a victory against the Emirates Lions would keep them at the upper echelons of the table and possibly hosting playoff matches.
Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White revealed that prop Wilco Louw should be available for the North-South derby with the Stormers on March 2 in Pretoria. Springboks Canan Moodie and Kurt-Lee Arendse are both available for selection, while Willie le Roux is enjoying his honeymoon after getting married last weekend.
Jake White said he is looking to their back-to-back local derby encounters against the Emirates Lions and DHL Stormers to prepare his side for knockout rugby.
“They are must-win games, these are like trial runs for the big knockout games that are coming."
“One is the Lions away and it’s at altitude so we are used to it, and then the Stormers who we haven’t beaten in a long time. I keep hearing about that and I’m sure I’ll keep hearing about that for the next couple of weeks as well, so it’s time we beat them."
“You want to go to these big games (with confidence)… I’m talking about the back end of the competition, all the playoffs and knockout games. It’s going to be no different against these two because it’s like copy and paste.”
White said they would have to play their best rugby from now until the playoffs.
“We are going to have to play well, we are going to play our best rugby. We’re going to play Test rugby, and we are going to have to find a way in which we can win these two games,” he said.
“We needed some time off, we needed to refresh, we needed to look at where our game is and I think we are looking forward to getting back on the field.”