The Bulls host Stade Francais in the European Champions Cup at Loftus on Saturday and whilst it not quite a dead rubber for the Bulls the visitors are the only one of these sides in with a chance of staying in this competition.
Bulls v Stade Francais, Saturday 18th January, Pretoria, KO 15:00 (South African time)
Referee: Adam Leal (Eng)
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce (Eng), Hamish Grant (Eng)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (Eng)
Weather Forecast – Pretoria
Bulls:
The Bulls are bottom of the log after 3 straight defeats, they have failed to earn a log point and are the only side in this pool out of contention. The slightest of silver linings is that a landslide bonus point win (57 points plus) and denying Stade Francais anything would see the Bulls finish fifth, above their opponents here and they would then parachute into the Challenge Cup play offs. Read more on the qualification permutations here.
The final nail in the coffin of their Champions Cup campaign came away to Castres last weekend when they crashed and burned 49-10. Earlier results include a 27-5 defeat away to Saracens in the opening round and their only home game so far saw them go down 30-21 to Northampton Saints.
It will soon be back to URC business for the Bulls who are in fourth place in the standings of that competition with a record of 5 wins and 2 defeats and although log leaders Leinster are well clear the Bulls have 2 games in hand on the top 3 sides.
Stade Francais:
Stade Francais come into the final round of matches with 1 win and 2 defeats against their name, a tally of 5 log points sees them in fifth spot, 4 points behind fourth placed Castres who occupy the last of the play off berths and 5 shy of Saracens and Munster. Northampton Saints have 11 points and are assured of qualification.
To qualify they will first need a big enough win to move above Castres who they will then need to fail to pick up anything from their game against Saracens on Sunday. Failing that they need to do enough to stay above the Bulls and go into the Challenge Cup.
They stayed in the hunt with a 45-35 home win over Northampton Saints last weekend and earlier results include a 33-7 defeat away to Munster and a 28-17 loss at home to Saracens.
Stade Francais are currently second from bottom in the Top 14 standings with a record of 5 wins and 9 defeats.
Team News
Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw (c), 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johann Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Canan Moodie
Stade Francais: 15 Joe Jonas, 14 Raffaele Storti, 13 Leo Monin, 12 Julien Delbouis, 11 Charles Laloi, 10 Louis Carbonel, 9 Thibaut Motassi, 8 Yoan Tanga, 7 Sekou Macalou (c), 6 Pierre Huguet, 5 Baptiste Pesenti, 4 Juan-Martin Scelzo, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Alvaro Garcia Albo, 1 Isaac Koffi
Replacements: 16 Luka Petriashvili, 17 Hugo N’Diaye, 18 Braxton Asi, 19 Ollie McCrea, 20 Andy Timo, 21 Mamoudou Meite, 22 Louis Foursans-Bourdette, 23 Mathis Ibo
The Betting
Updated 18 Jan 08h05
Bulls -22.5 at 9/10
Stade Francais +22.5 at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Posted 17 Jan 14h07
Team news is critical on this one and we should have it in a few hours. Bet will be placed late Friday or on Saturday morning.
Posted 17 Jan 18h11
The teams are out and the Bulls have named a strong lineup while SF have left a few big guns at home.
The handicap opened -19.5 and has quickly moved to -22.5.
I will wait for points lines before getting involved.
Posted 18 Jan 08h15
The handicap is stable at -22.5 and I am not convinced that is high enough. One burning question in my mind is whether the Bulls fancy a Challenge Cup spot?
To get it the Bulls must win by at least 22 points with a bonus and they must stop SF from getting 4 tries. SF just need a bonus point to secure a Challenge Cup spot but do they really want it?
My gut feel is that they don't and that the Bulls will win big.
The points line is 58.5 and this does match does scream "overs". The problem is that there has been alot of rain in the last week and the Loftus surface is not always to be trusted. I watched a PSL match in the area last night and the pitch held up quite well so hopefully we get a great game to watch.
It looks like we may avoid rain in the game but from the forecast I have looked at it will be touch and go.
Southpaw highlighted the Bulls over 5.5 tries in the forum thread. he got 11/10 but I am happy to take 9/10 on this one. I expect the light blue machine to rumble and for SF to raise the white flag at some point.
BET: 7 units Bulls over 5.5 tries at 9/10 at Pokerbet
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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