Ackermann warns Bulls face stern test to contain Stormers’ star-studded backline

Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann admits keeping a lid on the plethora of game-breakers in the Stormers’ backline will be only one of their challenges in Saturday’s sold-out United Rugby Championship derby at Cape Town Stadium (6pm kick-off). 

The likes of Bok superstars Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach, Damian Willemse and Warrick Gelant would be a handful for any team, never mind a Bulls team admittedly struggling with its defensive structures. 

“It’s going to be a big challenge for us. That is one of their strengths,” Ackerman said at Friday’s online media conference where he named his team for the north-south derby against the URC table-toppers. 

“It’s not just that they’ve got a great set piece or maul – we saw what they did of their tour against Benetton and those teams – but they’ve got these individual guys that can do something out of nothing. 

“Obviously, we’ve worked on our defence and we are ware of that and that we need to contain those individuals. But on the day, that’s when it counts, so we need to stay connected and we need to be alert.” 

The Bulls head into the derby desperate to halt a five-match losing streak that has seen them slide to 12th on the URC standings with 15 points from seven games. The Stormers have won all seven of their matches to lead the table with 32 points.

Ackermann warned his side cannot afford a repeat of the lapses that have undermined them in recent outings.

“We can’t have those soft moments we had against Bordeaux, and against the Sharks in the second half, again. We need to make sure we cover all the areas and that everybody is alert for 80 minutes.”  

The Bulls mentor came out swinging at members of the media he accused of blowing the union’s request for assistance from Springbok coaches out of proportion, and his team will have to show the same fighting spirit on the field. 

“It’s a great challenge, naturally, against the best team in the competition that has set the pace and doesn’t have any weaknesses, in a stadium full of passionate supporters,” Ackermann said. 

He has made several changes to the side that lost against their last URC match against the Sharks two weeks ago in Durban, tweaking the pack and the backline. Lock Ruan Nortje returns to the starting XV and will resume the captaincy, taking the armband from Elrigh Louw, who led the side in the Shark Tank. 

There is also a reshuffled loose trio, where Springbok utility forward Marco van Staden comes into the starting lineup at No 6, with Jeandre Rudolph shifting to No 8 to accommodate the change. In the backline, Canan Moodie is drafted in at centre, adding pace and attacking threat, with Harold Vorster making way. At scrumhalf, Embrose Papier moves to the bench, while former Stormers halfback Paul de Wet gets the nod to start against his old franchise.  

The Bulls have still retained a strong, experienced core that could prove crucial in countering the Stormers’ numerous attacking threats. Handré Pollard continues at flyhalf, Willie le Roux will marshal proceedings from fullback, and David Kriel remains a key figure in midfield. 

Up front, the all-Springbok front row of Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar and Wilco Louw stays intact, and will be hoping to starve the lethal backs of front-foot ball. 

“It’s a new year so so we’re really positive. It was the first time we had our whole squad in a team meeting and could look each other in the eye and make plans, so it’s been a great week,” Ackermann said. “Obviously, it’s a great challenge against a team that have shown they’re the best in this competition, and we’re excited for that.”