Simelane: Bulls plan to counter ‘exciting Stormers’

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Wandisile Simelane says the Vodacom Bulls have a plan to neutralise the DHL Stormers’ exciting brand of rugby and enforce their own style in the derby in Cape Town on Saturday. DYLAN JACK reports.

The Vodacom Bulls travel to the Mother City this week, looking to avenge last season’s loss in the final and end a three-match losing streak to the Stormers.

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Both teams are on 34 points on the table this season, with the Vodacom Bulls sitting ahead of the Stormers in second place due to a superior win ratio, although the Capetonians have a game in hand.

“Any South African derby is difficult,” said Simelane. “We know how the Stormers have been playing, that exciting brand of rugby. We have a plan to counter that. Hopefully our plan works out. Without sharing too much, we are excited and hoping for a positive result.

“In South African derbies we do analyse each other well. We expect them to rush up on quicker guys, and we will do the same to them. The opportunities will come, but you might only get one or two and it’s about making those count.

“We are very aware of the fact that there will be limited opportunities. It’s how well you execute that makes the difference.

“Momentum is very vital in a game like this,” Simelane added. “Throwing the ball away versus keeping it for one or two more phases could be influential. We prefer to build pressure, rather than make miracle passes. That’s what these big games are for, to test whether you know when to make the miracle pass and then keep the ball and build pressure.

“It will be a tighter game than people expect. It will be a momentum-based game. Hopefully, we are calm enough to control the game. We believe our game drivers will put us in the right positions.”

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Since joining the Vodacom Bulls from near neighbours the Lions, Simelane has undergone something of a positional switch, playing far more rugby among the outside backs, which he believes will benefit him in the long term.

“I enjoy playing fullback, but my number one position is still outside centre,” he said. “I will play wherever the team needs me, whether its fullback, wing or centre.

“I do believe it can help me achieve higher honours. The funny thing is that I always play fullback or wing at training, so I always knew I can play there. This is the first time the rugby world is seeing me play there. So, for me, it’s not really a big switch, because I always knew I could play there, and will give it my best shot.

“It’s not something that bugs me, I just want to get better. It also helps me understand better what players outside me need, when I do play at outside centre.”

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Photo: Johan Rynners/Gallo Images

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Dylan Jack