Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann expects contestable kicks to play a decisive role in Friday night’s Vodacom URC clash against Edinburgh at Hive Stadium.
The Pretoria-based side arrived in Scotland with renewed confidence after snapping a seven-match losing streak across competitions with a narrow Investec Champions Cup win in Pau last weekend.
Attention now shifts back to the URC, where the Bulls sit 11th on the log – one place below Edinburgh.
Ackermann believes the conditions will dictate much of the contest, with Edinburgh’s kicking game posing a significant challenge.
“They’re one of the teams that kick the most in the competition,” he said. “They’re very strong in the air and they kick a lot of contestables, which suits the conditions here.
“It’s been wet, there’s expected wind and obviously it’s going to be cold. That means we have to win the aerial battle. If you concede penalties, they’ll kick to the corner and you’ll struggle to get out. Then you’re defending for long periods.”
The Bulls coach described Sean Everitt’s Edinburgh as a settled, well-drilled outfit.
“They’ve got seven or eight players in the Scotland squad and another four in the Scotland A squad. They’re well coached, they smother you, contest the breakdown well and have X-factor players. It’s a big challenge against a quality side, especially on their home ground.”
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Ackermann has made several changes to his pack, with hooker Johan Grobbelaar replacing the injured Akker van der Merwe, Wilco Louw returning at tighthead prop, Ruan Nortje starting in the second row and the in-form Jeandre Rudolph regaining the No 8 jersey. Both Nortje and Rudolph made a big impact off the bench against Pau.
“We know how physical this game is going to be,” Ackermann said. “It’s going to be a ground battle, a lot of collisions and a lot of kicking.
“Jeandre is in form and we want him making carries and tackles from the first minute. We’re fortunate to have players who can start or come off the bench and still make an impact. Nizaam Carr [who started at No 8 last weekend] brings experience and leadership off the bench, and that gives us options later in the game.”
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Ackermann opted against a 6-2 bench split.
“Because of the aerial game and the amount of work at the back, we wanted more balance,” he explained. “The forwards have a big night ahead of them, but we believe they can do the job.”
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
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