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The Bulls confirmed today that Victor Matfield would be their new Forwards and Attack Coach for the 2013 Super Rugby season and also named Derick Hougaard as a skills and kicking coach. Pine Pienaar has also been promoted to the Super Rugby coaching staff and will assume the position of Defense Coach.

Matfield will no longer be seen on Supersport because of his new role. Who would you like to see filling his position? (One can only hope!)

“Someone like Victor has so much experience to give back to our players and I am very excited to work with one of the sharpest rugby minds in the business,” said Blue Bulls head coach Frans Ludeke. (Wee matfield must have a sharp mind to have fooled so many for so long - imaginge anyone believing a 106 kg guy can effectively play lock - that takes some conning!!!)

The Bulls wider training group roster for 2013 is:

Akona Ndungane, Arno Botha, Basil Short, Bjorn Basson, Bongi Mbonambi, Callie Visagie, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Clayton Blommetjies, Corne Cooper, Cornell Hess, Dawie Steyn, Daniel Kriel, Dean Greyling, Deon Stegmann, Dewald Potgieter, Flip van der Merwe, Francois Hougaard, Francois Venter, Frik Kirsten, Grant Hattingh, Handrè Pollard, Hencus van Wyk, Jan Serfontein, Jano Vermaak, Jacques Potgieter, Jacques du Plessis, Jean Cook, Jesse Kriel, JJ Engelbrecht, Juandrè Kruger (?), Jürgen Visser, Juan Schoeman, Lionel Mapoe, Lohan Jacobs, Louis Fouchè, Marcel van der Merwe, Marvin Orie, Mike Williams, Mornè Mellett, Mornè Steyn*, Paul Willemse, Pierre Spies*, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Ruan Snyman, Rudy Paige, Sampie Mastriet, Schalk van Heerden, Shaun Adendorff, Tiaan Schoeman, Tony Jantjies, Travis Ismaiel, Ulrich Beyers, Werner Kruger, Wiaan Liebenberg, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Willie Wepener, William Small-Smith, Wynand Olivier, Zane Kirchner

This again is a pretty good squad. Bulle have again bought players to carry them forward. Little reason for them not to make top six with squad like that although I wonder if  their coaching staff is up to it. Wee matfield hopefully will be a far better caich than he was a player!

Beeno, you might not like Matfield as a physical specimen, however he is not stupid, he knows his rugby and most players have alot of respect for him which means he has the motivational factor as well. I don't think he will be that bad a coach. We will wait and see....

Beeno

Thanks for a rugby-related post.    I have some poblems with the Bulls that could be detrimental to their campaihn and will have to be ironed out pronto:-

Backline

The Bulss has potentially a very good backline - but for some real problems that could prevent proper usage.   In this regard there are -

*   the Hougaard issue - he went bad in 2012 and now wants to play scrummie prmanently - hope h e gets over his problems andperforms better than he did in 2012;

*   the flyhalf issue - will Morne Steyn recover his kicking form - and will he play a more active passing game:

*   the centr selection - will the Bulls utilize players like Jan Serfontein and William Small-Smith to best advantage - or will they persist with venter and Engelbrecht who were not all that good in 2012.

Forwards

The Bulls has a major problem with their props and that is going to cost them dearly.   I hope they can overcome that one this year.   I would also like to see Liebenberg utilized to maximum capacity.

Ek I also believe matfield could make a good coach - as I said he must have a sharp brain to have conned so many!

I am not worried abou tthe bulle scrum as it perforemd well enough last year and hence the seelction of Greyling fo rthe Boks. Both Greyling and Kruger are solid enough and should improve again this year given their age. nmarcell van der merwe 9Ex Cheetah ) is a big plus fo rthem on the tighthead. Chilli boy is adequate if not spectacular and Kallie is a livewire alternative.

Willmese could add clout to the pack as could Arno Botha. If these two come off they could lift the bulle pack  and make them quite formidable. We shall also have to see what Spies does. Has the rest done him good. Jaque Potgieter dispite all the bleats about him is a good loosie  and Adendorf is a goer of nore and it will be of interes to see what sort of impact he makes.

Hougaard can only benefit from specialisation so we shall have to see what the season holds for him but to me Vermaak is a very good scrummie they can also utilise..We have seen Morne play good attacking rugby for the bull and one hopes he returns to his best form. They hav epalyed Morne inot the ground and should hav elearnt their lesson - Meyer ceretainly picked up on this.

Center may prove problematci Olivier has probably played his best rugby?  Can JJ make it at center - there have to be some questions here. Venter is able but doesnt look like a world beater yet. Guys like Pollard, Serfontein and SmallSsmith may surprise but my guess is that they will find Super 15 pretty hard going if given a chance. Mapoe is a good buy and boosts their center stocks. Bulle backline could be quite good.

All in all I think the bulle will be better than last year barring injuries. That makes them very likely  top 6 contenders.

How come Juandre is in the squad?

Bulls have a great squad and have the makings of a great side, look no further than:

15. U.Beyers 14. Mapoe 13. JJ 12. Serfontein 11. Basson 10. Pollard 9. Hougaard 1. Marcel v/d Merwe 2. Chiliboy 3. F.Kirtsen 4. Flip 5. Willemse 6. D.Potgieter 7. A.Botha 8. Spies

Saffex

I like your team very much - but it is very unlikely that it would ever materialize.     One thing is for sure and that the Bulls have a problem with a forward (Mattfield) once again being the attack coach and a kicker (Hougaard) the backline technical advisor.  

I think they would stick with Morne Steyn at flyhalf - that being  a major problem.   Matter of fact is that that is probablythe reason why their centers misfired in 2012.   I think Engelbrecht had a dismal year on CC level in 2012  and .I think that it may be better to play a player like Small-Smith than him at 13.    Your suggested team would also not meet up with the race requirement of SARU - so Kirchner will remain at 15.

I like your suggestion as to playing Serfontein at 12 - but then we need some really improved service to the backline by the flyhalf and that would be really problematic unless Morne Steyn is replaced.

When he was appointed Mattfild said that they would pay special attention to Hougaard to get him over the problems he showed in 2012.   I think that Hougaard's main problem was psychological - he developd an over-inflated opinon about himself being the greatest thing ever in rugby and that is where his judgement on the game went astray.   Maybe the fact that Meyer dropped him would have a beneficial affect and he would come down to eaarth and become a team player - not a Hougaard player.

The problem with the Bulls props in 2012 was that Greyling and Werner Kruger was in firce competition as to who would give away most penalties against the Bulls in 2012.   I believe ultimately the battle was won by a short head by Greyling.    Both were cluelss about discipline and both were not so hot insofar as scrummaging is concerned.   However, the threat of Kirsten and Van der Merwe may just settle thati ssue as well.

My only other observation is - should the Bulls not find a place for  Liebenberg as a loosie - I rate him very highly as a future Springbok prospect.