Four-time URC runners-up the Bulls begin another quest to finally get over the line in the competition when they travel to Parma to tackle Zebre in round one on Saturday.
To Win
Zebre | Draw | Bulls
Handicap
Zebre | Bulls
Match context
It was a case of another Grand Final, another grand disappointment for Bulls fans last season after the side was on the receiving end of a second successive thrashing by Leinster at Croke Park. That marked their fourth defeat in a title-decider since the tournament began, seemingly replicating Leinster’s Champions Cup performances, albeit on the URC stage.
They’ve had enough time to lick their wounds though and begin their latest campaign at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi against Zebre, a club to whom they are yet to lose and against whom they’ve racked up an average score of 59-points per game.
There is a real sense of freshness in Johan Ackermann’s camp this season after the departures of Ruan Nortje, Wilco Louw and Kurt-Lee Arendse. Curwin Bosch will bring a wealth of experience to the No 10 role with Handré Pollard on Springbok duty, as will other signings like Hanro Liebenberg and Thaakir Abrahams, all of whom should prove invaluable in the months ahead.
With a trip to Thomond Park to take on mighty Munster coming up in round two, a big win should be the bare minimum for the Bulls here as they aim at starting fast on their two-game tour.
As for the hosts, they won just two games in the entirety of last season to finish rock bottom, 13-points adrift of 15th-placed Dragons. Any improvement will do this term, and the signing of experienced Italy flyhalf Tommaso Allan will certainly aid this respect.
Unfortunately for them though, this clash with the Bulls first-up is hardly an ideal opener.
Players to watch
Tommaso Allan (Zebre)
The influence of the 91-Test cap international and former Benetton man will be huge for Massimo Brunello’s troops as they attempt to improve on their last campaign. Arriving from Perpignan and the Top 14, Allan is enormously experienced and aside from his actual playing strengths, will doubtless play a vital mentorship role within the setup.
Now 33 and in the twilight of his career, Allan will need to lead by example this weekend behind what could be a struggling pack. For a club that has prioritised a free-flowing, ball-in-hand approach over the past two seasons, Allan’s tactical kicking acumen should come in handy.
Embrose Papier (Bulls)
The reigning SA URC Player of the Year made his long-awaited return to the Test fold for the Boks against Scotland at Loftus in July but played no part for Rassie Erasmus’ men during Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry. With a spot on the plane to Europe in Bok colours this November still far from a given, the electric scrumhalf needs a big start to the URC.
Playing behind a pack likely to dominate proceedings up front, Papier has the potential to wreak havoc for the Bulls, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the 29-year-old grabbing one or two tries on Saturday.
Tactical overview
Can Zebre live with the Bulls at the collisions? History suggests not and although the Italian club will have their home support on their side, that can only do so much when you have Marcell Coetzee-sized shapes running at you all evening.
The teams met in Pretoria in May when the Bulls ran out 54-19 winners in the penultimate round of the season. Ackermann had opted to field an experimental team on that occasion, and the scoreline may even have been greater had Willie le Roux and Marco van Staden played in their regular positions instead of at flyhalf and hooker respectively.
Zebre’s last win in the URC came nearly a year ago in a home clash against the Lions last October, and it would be a massive surprise to see them ending that losing run here. While they have made a habit of starting seasons strongly before fading later on, there’s little to suggest they will have answers to the Bulls’ power play.
Prediction
The Bulls to clear the handicap in Parma and get their season off to a winning start.
