Bulls scrum doctor Wessel Roux has called for calm amidst heavy criticism of the team’s scrum after their loss against Stormers last weekend.
Roux says there is no need to panic and that the team is working hard at rectifying whatever little problems they experienced last week.
At the same time Roux is not oblivious to the fact that much is expected of the Bulls frontrow and scrum as a unit.
While the criticism of the Bulls scrum after just one performance may be misguided, especially with the injuries they have encountered at prop since the pre-season, Roux is also anxious to get reward for the amount of work they have put into the scrums.
Ahead of last week’s season opener against the Stormers, the Bulls injury list amongst the props resembled a casualty ward with Springboks Marcel van der Merwe and Dean Greyling injured and they were joined on the list by Hencus van Wyk and Basil Short.
Roux evaded making the injuries to their props an excuse and insisted that it is only a matter of time before the Bulls scrum starts showing its power.
“We are working very hard at the scrums and the biggest frustration is that it feels like we are not getting any reward.
“But we will keep on working hard at it and I know things will turn,” said Roux yesterday.
“There is no need to panic but at the same time I am not going to deny that in the game against the Stormers we struggled at times. We will continue to work hard just like we have done in the past and I can tell you that we want to fix things,” he added.
Fixing the Bulls problems in the scrums is not just about how the three men in the frontrow go about doing their job but it also includes the effort from their other five teammates in the pack.
“It’s about the entire pack of forwards. They need to work together as one unit. They must get the timing right and they must have the right kind of fitness.
“The new rules in the scrums are very positive for scrumming but it requires an eight-man effort and getting the minds of all eight forwards to work together,” said Roux.
There will be no better time and game for the Bulls to rectify their ailing scrum than against an All Black-laden Hurricanes side.
The Hurricanes named their side yesterday and included veteran All Black centre Ma’a Nonu to partner with captain Conrad Smith in the midfield for Friday night’s game at Loftus Versfeld.
Bulls: Jesse Kriel, Bjorn Basson, JJ Engelbrecht, Jan Serfontein, Francois Hougaard, Handré Pollard, Piet van Zyl, Pierre Spies (capt), Lappies Labuschagne, Deon Stegmann, Victor Matfield, Jacques du Plessis, Trevor Nyakane, Adriaan Strauss, Morné Mellet.
Replacements: Callie Visagie, Dean Greyling, Grant Hattingh, Hanro Liebenberg, Rudy Paige, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Jurgen Visser, Dayan van der Westhuizen.
Hurricanes: Jason Woodward, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith (capt), Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Blade Thomson, Callum Gibbins, Brad Shields, James Broadhurst, Mark Abbott, Ben Franks, Dane Coles, Reggie Goodes.
Replacements: Brayden Mitchell, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Chris Eves, Ardie Savea, Victor Vito, Chris Smylie, James Marshall, Matt Proctor. - The Star