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Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Bulls prepare in Rotorua ahead of Chiefs clash (+video)

Rotorua Daily Post
27 Mar, 2017 05:00 PM4 mins to read

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The Bulls training at RotoVegas Gym in Rotorua ahead of weekend clash against the Chiefs on the weekend.

The Bulls are seeking redemption as they prepare in Rotorua for their crunch Super Rugby clash against the unbeaten Chiefs.

The South African outfit take on the Chiefs at the MG Stadium Waikato on Saturday night and are licking their wounds somewhat after a 38-14 loss to the Blues at North Harbour's QBE Stadium.

The Bulls are staying in Rotorua until Thursday, using RotoVegas Boxing gym and Whakarewarewa's home ground - Puarenga Park, as their training bases before travelling to Hamilton on Friday.

The Bulls squad training at RotoVegas gym in Rotorua, from left, Arno Botha, captain Andriaan Strauss, Lood de Jager and Jannes Kirsten. Photo/Stephen Parker
The Bulls squad training at RotoVegas gym in Rotorua, from left, Arno Botha, captain Andriaan Strauss, Lood de Jager and Jannes Kirsten. Photo/Stephen Parker

Bulls captain and hooker Adriaan Strauss said his side had hard work to do this week with focus on execution after a disappointing second-half display against the Blues.

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"We still have to put in a bit of hard work, we let ourselves down this weekend especially in the second half," Strauss said. "We couldn't hold on to the ball. The plan is to just execute better and we have a week to prepare physically but also mentally. We need to focus hanging on to the ball."

Bulls captain and hooker Adriaan Strauss in Rotorua. Photo/Stephen Parker
Bulls captain and hooker Adriaan Strauss in Rotorua. Photo/Stephen Parker

Strauss also targeted the lineout as a key area for improvement and first phase possession.

"We have about 20 per cent execution from lineouts - that's not winning the lineouts, first and foremost we need to get that right," Strauss said. "We need to make sure our own execution is up to standard. We are definitely going to look at the Chiefs but we need to focus on ourselves at the moment.

"We have to prepare all over the park, we need to get that first-phase possession and execute well for the first key phases. We need to get that right to create attacking opportunities and turn over the ball, that's where we've been struggling all year."

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The Bulls are third in Africa Conference 1 after winning just one of their first four matches.

Halfback Rudy Paige, who touched down against the Blues on Saturday, said he was eager to record a scalp on New Zealand soil.

"We haven't had victory on New Zealand soil for a long time so obviously we are motivated for that," Paige said. "It's never going to be easy but rugby is a funny game and sport has a funny way of having upsets.

"We're up against it this weekend against a good side but we are confident that we have the right players and management to do the job."

Bulls' player Rudy Paige taking a break from training at RotoVegas Gym, Rotorua.
Bulls' player Rudy Paige taking a break from training at RotoVegas Gym, Rotorua.

Paige said the Bulls' fixture list, opening with seven away games, had not made it easy for the side.

"It's not easy but it's not an excuse, everyone has to travel, everyone has to play away games," Paige said. "I don't think we have put an 80-minute performance together yet so that's the sad part. But that's the thing about Super Rugby you always have the next game to fix things so we are just looking to make it right on the field."

Watching on while the Bulls trained yesterday were pupils from Sunset Primary School - a select group taking part in RotoVegas' Champion Made schools programme.

The scheme sees RotoVegas head coach Aaron Warren teaching students about fitness, boxing techniques and skills which help them learn self-control and boost self-esteem and confidence.

Warren said the Bulls were an inspiration for the children to watch.

"It's awesome - to see the size and condition of some of these guys is absolutely amazing," Warren said. "To have them meet some champions that's what it's really about."

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Warren admitted he would still be supporting the Chiefs on the weekend but hastily added no sabotage would happen over the week.

"I'll still have to support the Chiefs - I'm loyal to the country," Warren said. "But these lot [the Bulls] are nice guys."

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