Rugby: Flak over Bulls B is Stormers in a teacup

Richie McCaw. Photo / Getty Images

What a load of Bull has been delivered about the Super 14 top qualifiers "tanking" their last game against the Stormers.

It has been puke-inducing listening to some of the nonsense about the shame the Bulls have brought on the series by altering most of their side to play the Stormers in the final round.

Enormous outrage has flown out of the Waratahs who have forgotten how they rested the bulk of their team in 2002 against the Crusaders. Perhaps they need to forget after they were subsequently belted 96-19.

Similar bilge has been delivered by some commentators this side of the Tasman.

How quickly we forget. Only last year on the end of year tour, the All Blacks changed 13 of their starting XV for the test against England from the group which started against Italy.

Any mention of "tanking"?

At the last World Cup the All Blacks continued their rotation policy with 11, 12, 11 then 10 changes for successive internationals but the biggie came the year before.

The All Blacks changed their entire starting XV for the test in Buenos Aires against Argentina.

Waratahs chief executive Jim L'Estrange is outraged the Bulls have swapped their selections and is muttering about it not being in the spirit of rugby. His unspoken sub-text is probably a gripe about that tactic upsetting the Waratahs' chances of hosting a semifinal.

Perhaps they should concentrate on trying to beat the Hurricanes. And at this fatiguing stage of the season who is to say that a fresh Bulls B side is not much inferior to their top collection.

The point is though, the Bulls are top qualifiers, they cannot be overtaken and can do what they like. They have earned that right. It may backfire but by consistent play throughout the season they have earned the freedom to tinker with their choices.

The Bulls do not have to win the match so they can change their side. It may not suit the spectators or fellow competitors but they have earned that advantage.

In contrast the All Blacks have to win every game and when the selectors choose to rest and rotate their players they risk criticism of their philosophy if results are unfavourable.

Half of the Crusaders and Hurricanes' players are in the frame for international selection as they head for their sudden-death matches tonight in Christchurch and Sydney.

Success for both will continue fringe candidates' All Black call-up aspirations while defeat will mean names scrubbed from the list.

The Crusaders are up first, confident they can repel a three-game losing streak to spike the Brumbies and continue their great playoffs run.

The game features the final duel between two great flankers, Richie McCaw and George Smith, with the latter quitting Super rugby after this campaign for rugby life in Japan.

Ben Franks and Sam Whitelock have come into a Crusaders side confident it can rediscover a victory in the nick of time.

Meanwhile, goalkicking Hurricanes halfback Piri Weepu has been cleared from ankle damage to start a game where the Canes' defence in-close will have to be much tighter than a week ago when the Reds sliced them up.