With Polly back in Blue, Bulls look to break another duck

The Vodacom Bulls arrived in Belfast this week, freshly boosted by their Springboks, and full of hope of breaking another duck in Ireland.

Last season the team recorded their first win in Galway and Limerick, beating Connacht and Munster on their way to the title, and they have previously shocked Leinster in the semifinals of the inaugural tournament to win there, but Belfast remains the one place the Bulls have not tasted victory since entering the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

The side arrived in the Northern Irish capital with 13 Springboks in their squad, and are likely to heavily load them going into the clash knowing they have a chance of achieving something special.

While they are without their two regular season captains in Ruan Nortje, who is resting after some extensive Springbok duty, and Marcell Coetzee, a player who became a legend at the Kingspan stadium after several years with Ulster, they do have a number of their new signings, almost all their Springboks who were on duty at the Castle Lager Rugby Championship and of course, double-World Cup winning flyhalf Handre Pollard with them.

GROBBIES HAS A POINT TO PROVE

Tour captain Johan Grobbelaar was surprisingly omitted from the Bok group earlier this season, and had an exceptional season last year for the national side and is fighting hard to get back into the good graces of the Bok management to be selected again.

Grobbies, as he is known to his teammates, fronted up for the media and was in good spirits, showing how much the Bok boost has done for the Bulls thus far.

“It’s good to have the Springboks among us — they bring experience and new energy,” Grobbelaar said.

Grobbelaar then turned to Pollard, who has a lot of attention focused on him since he’s moved a bit into the background with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Manie Libbok being the two starters for the past few games in Green and Gold.

Pollard is by no means finished and will be chomping at the bit to remind the rugby fraternity of his skills, especially as the last time he played was in the narrow defeat at the hands of the All Blacks at Eden Park.

“Handré is one of the best flyhalves in the world, with heaps of experience. He’s been at the Bulls before, so it’s not new to him. Yes, he left for a couple of seasons, but it’s great to have him back. His calmness on the field will make a massive difference in managing the game,” Grobbelaar said.

“He’s also played up north with Leicester Tigers, so he knows the wet conditions. It’s going to be good playing with him again.”

KEEN TO BREAK DUCK

Grobbelaar added the Bulls were keen to get their first win in Belfast, especially as they haven’t had their fair share of luck in the city.

“We’ve never won here. Ulster are a physical side with great ball-carriers and a strong maul. If we can stop their momentum, we’ll be in the mix,” he smiled.

“The first few years we didn’t travel well, but we’ve adapted to the conditions and schedule. If we can build on last season’s tour, we’ll be in a good position on the log.”

While there is some concern about the team’s defence - they have let in more than 70 points in their first two wins, Grobbelaar thinks their attack needs more bluntness to be effective.

“On defence, we’re also leaking too many tries. We’ve got a few work-ons there, and I believe we’ll be much better. The conditions will be different, probably windier and wetter than we’re used to, but we’ll adapt. Hopefully, we can improve our points difference, get the win, and secure a bonus point.”

The Bulls will name their side for the clash on Friday.