Bulls eye URC domination

10/08/2024 03:50 AM

Identifying the set piece and territorial battle up north as key, forward Cobus Wiese is confident that the Vodacom Bulls are well poised to win the Vodacom URC this season.

Having spent four years playing in the northern hemisphere with the Sale Sharks, the 26-year-old's experience will be crucial for the Bulls as the Pretoria outfit embarks on a three-week tour of Europe in the Vodacom URC, starting with a clash against Ospreys in Wales on Saturday.

"One of the most important things up north is you have to win the territory game… and it's forwards-oriented, especially if the weather's bad. Who can stay in the fight the longest, and in that staying disciplined," Wiese explained.

"It's a set piece after set piece kind of match and if you're sucking on the short straw of that it's going to be a long, hard day for you.

"If you have world-class game-drivers who manage the game well, which we do have, you'll be in good stead. And if you have a dominant forward pack, I'd say 60 percent of the game is taken care of."

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The Bulls have appeared in two URC finals in four seasons of the competition and are one of the strong contenders for the title this term, and Wiese is impressed with maturity and development of the squad under the stewardship of director of rugby Jake White.

Recruitment has been key to White's strategy, with the additions of Wiese, Nama Xaba and Sintu Manjezi adding a hardened edge to the youthful but tested pack leaders like co-captains Ruan Nortje and Elrigh Louw.

"It's good that we've been in two finals considering the players we have. We've kind of been a young squad, but I wouldn't say an inexperienced one," Wiese said.

"The positive thing for this season is we now have a squad that has been in big-time situations, and have been in two finals which they've lost and know that feeling.

"In terms of the mindset the squad has now, I wouldn't call it a white elephant in the room [but] more an expectation of the players now to perform and come away with the trophy in the middle.

"That gives me massive confidence that if I can add my bit, we can go all the way this season. Everyone knows that this year is a perfect opportunity for us to bring something home."

Photo: Shaun Roy/Sportsfile via Getty Images

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