Boot, brute force and brains: How Pollard, Wilco and Willie can steer the Bulls past the Stormers

A packed DHL Stadium is one of the toughest places to play rugby in South Africa — ask any rugby player in the world.

The noise, the pace, the emotion — those elements feed the Stormers and on Saturday evening (6pm kick-off), things won’t be any different. However, derbies have a way of ignoring form — the Capetonians are unbeaten in nine matches — and reputation, and every now and then, a handful of players rise above the chaos and drag a result their team’s way.

For the Bulls, these five players could be influential in doing something few teams have achieved in the United Rugby Championship: beating the Stormers in front of their faithful twice in a row.

Handré Pollard

Few players in world rugby handle pressure like the double World Cup winner. Whether it’s game management, tactical kicking, or slotting clutch penalties while 55 000 voices roar against him, Pollard brings calm to chaos.

His ability to dictate territory will be vital against a Stormers side that feeds off broken play. If Pollard controls the tempo and keeps the Bulls playing in the right areas of the field, the visitors can frustrate the hosts into errors.

Wilco Louw

The platform is often laid up front, and Louw is built for the fight that awaits in the scrums. He will call DHL Stadium home from next season; however, should he be selected, he will aim to cause problems for his new team one last time in the Mother City.

Few tightheads generate his raw scrummaging power, and if the Bulls scrum starts winning penalties, the psychological shift will almost be immediate. Beyond the set piece, Louw’s work rate in contact and at the ruck can hurt the Stormers’ fast breakdown game.

Willie le Roux

He is the glue that holds the backfield of the Bulls together, but there will be plenty of pressure on the shoulders of the experienced fullback. He must be on top of his game and have a calming influence on the players around him to achieve their goal.

Le Roux’s ability to turn half-chances into tries can spark the Bulls’ attack and deflate a home crowd faster than almost anything else. He can be expected to be peppered with box kicks from Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Elrigh Louw

The Sherriff will relish another opportunity to face the Stormers, and if the Bulls are to match the Stormers’ intensity, Louw must lay down the law up front. His ball-carries, aggressive tackling, and relentless energy make him a key player on the attack and defence

He is the kind of player who drags teammates into the fight. Big tackles and dominant carries early on could swing momentum, and the Bulls need that to improve their 78% tackle success rate this season.

Johan Grobbelaar

The busy Grobbelaar’s impact often flies under the radar; however, his speed of service and accuracy at lineout time will be crucial. His work rate around the fringes and at the breakdown can exploit tired Stormers forwards.

Grobbelaar brings efficiency, and if he gets the nod to start, in a tight derby clash that could prove pivotal. His battle with fellow Bok hopeful André-Hugo Venter will also be one to watch on Saturday evening.