Flu ruled two Springboks out of the Vodacom Bulls’ URC clash against Benetton on Saturday.
Coach Johan Ackermann said on Friday that captain Marcell Coetzee and wing Kurt-Lee Arendse had failed to recover in time for the Loftus Versfeld encounter.
“Unfortunately, Marcel and Kurt-Lee got a bit of flu. They are still under the weather, so that’s why there are changes with Jeandré Rudolph at six and Devon Williams starting on the wing.”
However, there was some good news with the return from injury of wing Stravino Jacobs, who has been included on the bench.
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A win for the fourth-placed Bulls will ensure a top-four finish and a home-quarter-final.
“We are not across the line yet,” Ackermann said. “The carrot is there for a home playoff, so we must win. That’s where our energy has been all week.
“We are not worried about who we may or may not get in the quarter-finals. The reality is, if you want to go far in this competition, you must be able to beat any team.”
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Ackermann said the Bulls’ focus throughout the week had been on ensuring they imposed themselves physically and mentally against Benetton.
“I told the team all week that we must control what we can control … our attitude, our mindset and how we pitch up at Loftus from the first whistle.”
The Bulls coach also warned against underestimating their Italian opponents, who are 13th on the log.
“It’s a team that could easily have been much higher on the table,” Ackermann said. “They have quality players, internationals, and when they are at their best they play very good rugby.
“The fact that it’s their last game of the season makes them even more dangerous because they have nothing to lose.”
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Photo: Vodacom Bulls/Facebook
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