The Bulls go into todays clash against the Sunwolves at Loftus Versfeld (5.05pm) holding on to a glimmer of hope that somehow they can still make the Super Rugby play-offs.
It is by no means a false hope that Nollis Marais’ men will be reaching out for but they cannot claim to have control over their fate either.
The reality is that any chance of them making the play-offs lie in the hands of two teams - the Cheetahs and the Sunwolves - as the Free Staters face the Sharks who stand in the way of the Bulls capturing that third and final quarter-final berth.
Marais, pictured, has made no secret that he will be down on both knees praying that his old friend and Cheetahs coach Franco Smith does him a grand favour by beating the Sharks later today but the Bulls will also need to do themselves a favour by goring the Sunwolves in their last game at home this season.
The formula to making the play-offs remains a simple one for the Bulls - win their two remaining games and hope the Cheetahs or Sunwolves beat the Sharks who lead the Bulls by a mere three points in the South African Group log.
However, Marais’ message has been to focus on what they can control and put to bed the horror show last weekend in Buenos Aires when they were outplayed and outwitted by the Jaguares.
“Our plan was to reach the play-offs, so we can’t blow it now,” said Marais.
“At the beginning of the competition we lost bonus points against the Rebels, Reds and Sunwolves and that haunts us.
“We have the same number of wins as the Sharks and before last weekend the same as the Stormers but bonus points killed us.
“It doesn’t matter what happens (today), we must just make sure we play two good games in the next two weeks.”
There will be a need for the Bulls to lift their performance, not onlychasing that chance of making the play-offs but to stave off what will be a spirited Sunwolves team that will still be feeling aggrieved at their narrow loss to the Bulls in Singapore.
“We are under no illusion it will not be an easy game, especially with us being where we are at the moment and the game we had against them in Singapore,” said Bulls captain Adriaan Strauss this week.
“They’ve also shown how competitive they are against some big franchises in the competition and we know they can be dangerous if you give them the opportunity to play.
“We need to take control and not give them space and ball because they can be very dangerous.”
The men from the capital will also be in high spirit to give their departing servants, Werner Kruger, Lappies Labuschagne, Marcel van der Merwe and Grant Hattingh, a rousing farewell.
It will be a bigger final outing for Kruger who is the only player in the history of the union and franchise to have played a hundred games in both, Super Rugby and Currie Cup.
“It has been a great honour for me to have played for the Bulls and an even greater privilege to have achieved what I have here,” said Kruger, who will be joining the Scarlets in Wales at the end of the Super Rugby season.
“Arriving here as a 19-year-old kid, all I wanted to do was play a single game and then another. I never thought I would get to where I am today having won two Super Rugby titles and a Currie Cup trophy.
“I’ve had some really special times here and made some good friends and as painful as it is to say goodbye, I hope I have contributed to the legacy of the team.”
Labuschagne and Hattingh will be making their way to Japan and will not return for Super Rugby action again, while Van der Merwe will be joining the big-spending French Top 14 side Toulon. - Saturday Star