The Vodacom Bulls head into Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup last-16 clash against the Glasgow Warriors dealing with factors beyond their control.
Coach Johan Ackermann spoke about the shifting weather conditions in Scotland after naming his team on Thursday.
“Yesterday we trained in rain and it was cold. Today we had the perfect day, no clouds and the sun was shining although there was a little bit of a chill in the air, but a beautiful day compared to yesterday.
“But according to our information, everything is going to change for the weekend. It’s going to rain again.
“So it’s a bit of an unknown factor exactly what the conditions are going to be like on Saturday at 5.30pm when we kick off.”
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Another key variable is the 4G pitch at Scotstoun Stadium.
“We’ve trained on it this week and most of the players have experienced it before,” said Ackermann. “But it is different. The ball bounces differently, it rolls more, and at the breakdown you have to look after possession better.”
He added that the surface changes the tempo of the game.
“It’s definitely faster. The ball moves quicker, players move quicker, and the scrums feel different compared to grass. Those are all things you have to adapt to quickly.”
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Logistics present another challenge beyond the result in Glasgow.
If the Bulls win, they could either travel to face Toulon at the Stade Mayol or return to South Africa for a quarter-final against the Stormers in Cape Town next weekend.
That uncertainty feeds into a demanding schedule, with the Vodacom URC resuming soon after. The Bulls are set to face the Dragons on 17 April and the Scarlets the following week.
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Ackermann confirmed the team will head to France after the Glasgow clash, unless they are required back in Cape Town.
“We will go to France and then stay there for a few days, because otherwise we have to stay in Wales for three weeks,” he explained.
“For the players, obviously it’s already a big challenge to be away from home for a month. We felt because we stay for both [URC] games in Cardiff, so that will add a third week in the same hotel, same place. So for what it’s worth, we decided to go to France.
“If we don’t progress [in the Champions Cup], then it’s just a few days in France where it’s a different setting and hopefully the boys can mentally freshen up and be ready for the next challenge.”
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Photo: Rob Casey/SNS Group via Getty Images
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