Bjorn Basson is the sole survivor from the Bulls’ last triumph in Sydney against the Waratahs four years ago and his experience could prove valuable if the Pretoria outfit are to redeem themselves after their loss against the Brumbies last week.
While Basson is a shadow of the devastating try-scoring machine he was when the Bulls secured a 27-24 win over the Waratahs, he has shown signs of returning back to form and being one of the Bulls go-to-men in their ambition to finish at the top of the South African group at the start of the June recess.
Earlier in the season, Basson showed glimpses of the finishing that made him a Springbok when he scored a hat-trick of tries against the Melbourne Rebels but it was in the same match that he showed glaring frailties in his defensive game.
The Bulls will need for Basson to shine again tomorrow at the Allianz Stadium against a Waratahs side that are far more experienced than the Bulls and play a game largely reliant on set-piece dominance and, surprisingly, the same structured game that made the Bulls dominant a few years ago.
There has been a drastic change in personnel for the Bulls since their last victory in Sydney and so, too, their style of play and the key to getting back to winning ways could lie in how the visitors are able to use the width of the field with a much younger but enthusiastic team.
While set-piece dominance will go a long way in handing the spoils to the victors, the Bulls will need to be street smart in not being embroiled in too many forward confrontations with the Waratahs while looking to bring the likes of Basson, pictured, and giant wing Jamba Ulengo more into the game to keep a healthy distance on the scoreboard.
The truth of the matter is that the experience and battle hardened players within the Waratahs team make them firm favourites to outplay the Bulls but the men from Pretoria stand a chance of pulling a rabbit out of the hat by religiously sticking to their newfound game of giving the ball air and relying on the fearless exuberance of their youthful players.
When running with ball in hand, regardless of where it is on the field, the Bulls have proven to be effective as was evident in their games earlier in the competition.
The lively understanding of their hefty forwards and hungry backs made them a handful for even the most formidable of defences as their ability to spread the ball wide not only stretched the most watertight of defensive systems but it gave space and time for the likes of Jesse Kriel and Jan Serfontein to exploit the shortcomings of a personnel starved defence.
But the Bulls are going to need to earn the right to go wide and this is where their ailing set-piece play will be put to the test.
TEAMS
Waratahs Starting XV: Andrew Kellaway, Reece Robinson, Israel Folau, Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper (captain), Dean Mumm, Will Skelton, Dave Dennis, Tom Robertson, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Paddy Ryan; Replacements: Hugh Roach, Jeremy Tilse, Angus Ta’avao, Sam Lousi, Ned Hanigan, Matt Lucas, David Horwitz, Matt Carraro
Bulls STARTING XV: SP Marais, Jamba Ulengo, Jesse Kriel, Jan Serfontein, Bjorn Basson, Tian Schoeman, Rudy Paige, Hanro Liebenberg, Jannes Kirsten, Lappies Labuschagne, RG Snyman, Jason Jenkins, Marcel van der Merwe, Adriaan Strauss, Lizo Gqoboka; Replacements: Jaco Visagie, Trevor Nyakane, Pierre Schoeman, Marvin Orie, Roelof Smit, Piet van Zyl, Francois Brummer, Dries Swanepoel - The Star