Attack coach Neil de Bruin says the Vodacom Bulls cannot afford to underestimate URC basement dwellers Zebre on Saturday, or risk dropping out of the playoffs race.
The seventh-placed Bulls host a Zebre outfit at the foot of the table, with 34 points separating the teams before the Loftus clash and two rounds left of the regular season.
But, De Bruin insists there is “certainly no complacency” and that the Herd are solely focused on the task at hand.
“Underestimate Zebre? I can assure you there is none of that,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
“Especially given our position and how open the playoff spots are, everyone understands the importance of the next few weeks.
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“If you don’t do the right things, by the time you open your eyes you could have missed the playoffs completely.
“It’s about getting your next job right. The next scrum, the next tackle, the next assignment. Those moments add up to a result.”
De Bruin joined the Bulls at the end of 2025 and found a team that could score tries with ease, but was leaking tries at an alarming rate.
To find the right balance between attack and defence, he explains, all 15 players on the field had to commit to both aspects of the game. “It’s definitely a team effort,” De Bruin added.
“If we defend well, like we have been the last couple of weeks, getting transition moments and stopping the opposition from going forward, it really does help our attack.
“Whether you kick more or are a possession-based side… it’s almost like a yin and a yang effect where you can’t have too much of one or the other.”
“It’s about knowing when to keep the ball and when to play. Those small decisions will be crucial.”
Photo: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
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