Bulls Super 14 season preview: return of Heyneke Meyer major boost
By Greg Clark
Fox Sports rugby commentator
February 04, 2010.


The Bulls will be one of the teams to beat again in 2010.

Some of the men from the high veldt, coming off their second title success, might be getting a bit long in the tooth, but they have made the semi-finals in four of the past five seasons and they’re favoured to do it again.

Coach Frans Ludeke is still in charge, but former coach Heyneke Meyer, credited with signing the majority of the squad before his departure two years ago, is back at Loftus Versfeld as director of coaching so the Bulls will have an even bigger brains trust this season.

The loss of Springboks winger Bryan Habana is huge, however. He was back to his best last year, and I can’t believe they let him slip away to the Stormers.

They are pinning their hopes on a young speedster called Gerhard van den Heever to eventually fill the gap, but it will take time.

However, Springboks halves Fourie Du Preez and Morne Steyn will again steer the side around.
The forward pack still has size and mongrel, with Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Pierre Spies, Danie Rossouw, Pedrie Wanneburg and Gurthro Steenkamp all back.

Former Springboks hooker Gary Botha has also returned home after a stint abroad, and he’ll add even more experience.

There is some concern about player burnout as many of the Bulls’ Springboks stars had a huge year in 2009, starting with the British and Irish Lions tour, then the Tri Nations, Currie Cup and end-of-season European tour.

Having their first five games on South African soil will help, though.

They also play only four games on the Anzac road trip, and three of their final four games are at home.

The final-round clash against the Stormers in Cape Town could decide the top South African team this year.

Fox Facts: Bulls

Home ground: Loftus Versfeld
Coach: Frans Ludeke
Best Super 12/14 finish: Champions 2007, 2009
Last season: P13 W10 D0 L3 F338 A271 BP6 Pts46 (first)

Squad:

Heini Adams, Bakkies Botha, Gary Botha, Stephan Dippenaar, Fourie du Preez, Jaco Engels, Dean Greyling, Francois Hougaard, Zane Kirchner, Frik Kirsten, Werner Kruger, Derick Kuün, Fudge Mabeta, Bandise Maku, John Mametsa, Tiger Mangweni, Victor Matfield (C), Akona Ndungane, Wynand Olivier, Dewald Potgieter, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Jaco Pretorius, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Danie Rossouw, Bees Roux, Pierre Spies, Gurthro Steenkamp, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Deon Stegmann, Morné Steyn, Gerhard van den Heever, Flip van der Merwe, Pedrie Wannenburg, Stefan Watermeyer

Gains: Gary Botha (London Harlequins), Flip van der Merwe (Cheetahs)

Losses: Bryan Habana (Stormers), J.P. Nel (Japan), Marius Delport (Lions), Burton Francis (Lions), Rayno Gerber (Europe)

Bulls' Head-To-Head Records

Week 1, v Cheetahs (away)
H2H: Played 4: Won 4, Lost 0 +
In Bloemfontein: Played 2: Won 2, Lost 0 +

Week 2, v Brumbies (home)
H2H: Played 12: Won 4, Lost 8 -
In Pretoria: Played 6: Won 3, Lost 3 =

Week 3, v New South Wales Waratahs (home)
H2H: Played 13: Won 6, Lost 7 -
In Pretoria: Played 6: Won 4, Lost 2 +

Week 4, Bye

Week 5, v Highlanders (home)
H2H: Played 12: Won 3, Drawn 1, Lost 8 -
In Pretoria: Played 6: Won 2, Drawn 1, Lost 3 -

Week 6, v Hurricanes (home)
H2H: Played 12: Won 5, Lost 7 -
In Pretoria: Played 6: Won 2, Lost 4 -

Week 7, v Western Force (away)
H2H: Played 4: Won 2, Lost 2 =
In Perth: Played 2: Won 1, Lost 1 =

Week 8, v Blues (away)
H2H: Played 12: Won 5, Lost 7 -
In Auckland: Played 6: Won 0, Lost 6 -

Week 9, v Chiefs (away)
H2H: Played 13: Won 5, Drawn 1, Lost 7 -
In Hamilton/Rotorua: Played 6: Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 5 -

Week 10, v Queensland Reds (away)
H2H: Played 12: Won 5, Lost 7 -
In Brisbane: Played 6: Won 1, Lost 5 -

Week 11, v Lions (home)
H2H: Played 12: Won 7, Lost 5 +
In Pretoria: Played 6: Won 3, Lost 3 =

Week 12, v Sharks (home)
H2H: Played 13: Won 6, Drawn 1, Lost 6 =
In Pretoria: Played 6: Won 3, Drawn 1, Lost 3 =

Week 13, v Crusaders (home)
H2H: Played 15: Won 4, Lost 11 -
In Pretoria: Played 8: Won 4, Lost 4 =

Week 14 v Stormers (away)
H2H: Played 12: Won 5, Drawn 1, Lost 6 -
In Cape Town: Played 6: Won 2, Drawn 1, Lost 3 -