Embrose Papier of the Bulls. Picture: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Ashfak Mohamed
When you finally beat a rival team after eight attempts, then you surely have found the secret to success against them.
That is what the Bulls will hope they have worked out ahead of Saturday’s massive United Rugby Championship clash against the Stormers at Cape Town Stadium (2pm start).
The 40-22 victory at Loftus Versfeld last March may have given the Bulls the blueprint on how to get past the Stormers, but they haven’t tasted success against John Dobson’s team in the Mother City yet.
Jake White’s outfit have even been considered favourites at times, only to come up short.
A born-and-bred scrumhalf from the Western Cape, Embrose Papier, believes he has the answer: silencing the 50,000 capacity crowd.
“I actually think that they planted that seed in our heads, that it is so difficult to win there,” the Springbok halfback said this week.
“I just think that to go there is always tough – there is a big crowd, and I think the Stormers get that energy from that crowd.
“The main thing is to stay tight, and with a big crowd, this one wants to show that one, and take each other’s heads off! But we must just stay tight and stick to the game-plan, and then we will see.
“The noise in the crowd, everyone is loud and it is difficult for us to hear the calls on the field.
“Also the way in which they play ... They like to move the ball around. So for us, it is about us the drivers – nine and 10 – taking control of the game.
“It is also about staying tight as a team and unit, to absorb all of that pressure.”
The Bulls have regained some of their confidence in their last two matches, beating Stade Francais 48-7 in the Champions Cup at Loftus and the Lions 35-22 in the URC at Ellis Park.
But it’s always a bit different facing the Stormers, especially in Cape Town, and the key is for the visitors to play their natural attacking game and not go into their shells.
With veteran Bok Willie le Roux mooted to start at flyhalf this weekend – as well as the attacking instincts of the speedy Papier – having a go with ball-in-hand shouldn’t be a problem.
But the forwards will also have to find a way to secure front-foot ball without injured co-captains Ruan Nortjé and Elrigh Louw.
“It’s tough losses for us, with Ruan and Elrigh and their leadership on the field. They are usually the guys who give us front-foot ball, but we have guys like Marcell and Wilco Louw, who can drive the team,” Papier said.
“To be honest, after those four defeats, it was tough. We had a holiday break, and then Coach Jake had a few good video sessions, which helped us.
“In the last two games, we found ourselves in a good way again, and we can take a lot of confidence out of that.
“We don’t have as much pressure on us as the Stormers, as we are third and they are 12th.
“For them, it is everything to win, and obviously we have prepped well this week – so we will see how things go.”