PRETORIA - If there is any good that the Bulls will take from Saturday’s defeat against the Southern Kings at Loftus Versfeld its commitment to the cause, even if it seems lost.
That commitment was epitomized by lock RG Snyman’s chase and try-saving tackle from behind on Kings wing Makazole Mapimpi.
And that will be the same commitment that the Bulls will need to show in their last outing of the season against the Stormers at home this weekend according to the lanky Snyman.
“Ja I must say at first I thought he is going to pull away a bit but I realized that I might have a chance and I just went for it and at a point decided to dive and go all out,” laughed Snyman after training at Loftus on Monday.
“I don’t think there is anything wrong with that aspect (commitment) in the team and we constantly remind each other to keep constantly working for one another.”
And the Bulls will definitely have to work for one another as a team against a Stormers side that will be baying for blood at the sight of a wounded foe while looking to gather enough momentum ahead of their play-off match a week later.
While the 22-year-old Snyman joked about how sheepish his teammates, especially the wings, have been at the realization of how fast he actually is, the former Afrikaanse Hoer Seunskool star athlete says they will need to put their best foot forward and play a bit of rugby when they face the Stormers.
“No I don’t think so (teased him about the run). Especially the back three, they won’t say anything at this stage because they know I might catch them,” joked Snyman.
“I think the most important thing is for us not to hold back because there is still one game remaining. Even though in the end there is nothing in it for us, there are still personal battles and it is a massive game and challenge for us as a team.
“We played them in the first game of the season and it didn’t go well so this will be the final chance to show what we have and can do. We want to go out there and play a bit.”
Play is something the Bulls and Snyman have failed to do this year and with so much expected from the former champions and one of the country’s rising star locks, a victory against the Stormers will not only end the season on a high but it will give some inspiration ahead of the Currie Cup season where the Bulls will be looking at going one better after losing last year’s final to the Cheetahs.
“Things haven’t gone the way we were hoping they would and we will want to take something good out of this game with them (Stormers) having such a good season, as a ray of light for those guys who are going to be playing in the Currie Cup,” Snyman said.
Snyman, though, won’t be around to play in the domestic season after signing with the Honda Heat in Japan and Saturday will be his last opportunity this year to outplay incumbent Springbok locks Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit, who stand in the way of himself and lock partner Jason Jenkins from attaining higher honours.
“For Jason and myself to play against Eben and Pieter-Steph will be a big challenge but this is why this weekend is going to be big for us as a team because it is an opportunity to prove something to ourselves,” said Snyman.
The Bulls have been bolstered by the return to fitness and availability of flyhalf Tony Jantjies (rib injury) and Springbok prop Trevor Nyakane (wrist injury) while Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard will consult a specialist for his injured ankle today to determine if he can play against the Stormers.