– Cape Town The only way the Bulls can have a better 2022/23 season than they did in 2021/22 is if they win the United Rugby Championship.
To do this, though, they must improve their performances, and adding something unique to their arsenal could be the deciding factor.
And director of rugby Jake White threw open the playbook when he selected former Lions center Wandisile Simelane at fullback for today’s URC opener against the Johannesburg side at Ellis Park (4.05pm kickoff).
In addition, the former Bok head coach believes that winger Sbu Nkosi has “that glint in his eye” as he makes his return to the national team.
Simelane is an explosive ball-carrier, and his sidestepping skills have been a staple of the Lions’ offense for several years.
White believed that the 24-year-old could add an additional arrow to his bow if he wore the No. 15 jersey.
“I believe it’s about more than simply him. Important is the current state of the game and my coaching philosophy; I prefer interchangeable players. If you look at the All Blacks from yesterday, Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett, and Richie Mo’unga were all running in different spots and on different plays,” noted the Bulls head coach, who also signed a three-year contract extension yesterday.
“Therefore, I do not place sole importance on the number on your back. It involves exchanging those players. I believe Wandisile received a football scholarship or contract to join Kaizer Chiefs while he was still in school.
“He has some footballing skills in terms of touch and the manner he kicks; he also has terrific timing with his kicks.
“Also, a man like Lukhanyo Am, who plays 13 for South Africa and is arguably one of the best players in the world, plays the position. If a player like Simelane aspires to play for the Boks, he must become more versatile.
“He has trained exceptionally well, and I am excited to see how he performs. I have no doubt that what he can give in particular areas where he excels will be exciting.”
With the Boks’ issues at right wing, which led Canan Moodie to earn his first Test cap against Australia a few weeks ago, there is always an opportunity for Nkosi to once again impress Jacques Nienaber.
“Gee guys – I can confirm that he is capable of playing rugby. He’s tough, a World Cup champion, and he’s got something. I am actually curious to see how he performs. “He’s been out for a while, and I think he’s got a burning desire to get back into the national set-up and show his teammates why he came to the Bulls,” White said of Nkosi.
“I appreciate that. I enjoy observing his training regimen and the look in his eye. He has it… he has something.”
White added that flyhalf Johan Goosen must wait until both he and his team are satisfied that he is ready to play, but that day will soon approach. The Bulls coach emphasized that he would not hurry the former Cheetahs star back onto the field, as the primary objective was to get him ready for the November Bok tour of Europe.
But for the time being, the focus is on defeating the Lions and getting off to a winning start, in contrast to last year’s difficult debut against Leinster and Connacht in Ireland.
“It seems like only yesterday that we concluded the season. “We had a terrific preseason, with some new ideas and discussions on how to improve our game,” White added.
“It will be tough to do everything in one match; we will need to improve as the competition progresses.
The nature of the competition caused us to lose five of our first six games, and we had to play exceptionally well in the second half of the season in order to make the playoffs.
“I hope we can play good rugby once more. If we improve, we will be difficult to defeat.”
Bulls Group
15 Wandisile Simelane fourteen Cornal Hendricks 13 Lionel Mapoe 12 David Kriel 11 Sbu Nkosi ten Christopher Smith 9 Embrose Papier 8 Mihlali Mosi 7 Ruan Vermaak 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain) 5 Ruan Nortje 4 Walt Steenkamp Three Mornay Smith 2 Johan Grobbelaar 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Bench: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels 17 Dylan Smith 18 Francois Klopper 19 Janko Swanepoel 20 Marco van Staden 21 Zak Burger 22 Morné Steyn 23 Stedman Gans.