Bulls lose Fiji tour opener
February 1, 2001

The Bulls' tour of Fiji didn't get off to an ideal start when they lost 35-27 against a Development side on Thursday. And now the race for places in the starting line-up for the Bulls' first Super 12 game - against the Sharks on February 23 - is heating up.

Bulls coach Phil Pretorius apparently saw red after the defeat. According to the SuperRugby website, the Bulls squad gathered immediately after the match for a meeting that lasted more than two hours.

Pretorius said after the meeting on Thursday there were probably many reasons for the loss, but most of all it was that the team played "without passion and had no pride - exactly like against the Blue Bulls".

It was his shadow team's second consecutive loss in a practice match after they were beaten 36-30 by the Blue Bulls in Nelspruit on Saturday. His "B" team then beat the Pumas 45-12. Pretorius said his team again controlled the match, but threw away scoring opportunities and allowed the opposition to score by making silly mistakes.

What irked him even more, was that the Fijian team consisted mainly of young, untested players. "The real hard tour games are on Saturday when we play the Fiji Warriors and on Wednesday when we play their national team."

Now Pretorius has thrown down the gauntlet to the players. The team to play the Fiji Warriors in Suva on Saturday was initially seen as the "B" team, but after the shocking performance of the first-choice side, the door to the "first team" is suddenly wide open.

Pretorius said after the defeat no one can be sure of a place in his Super 12 starting line-up. "There are a number of players in Saturday's side that can play themselves into my 'A' team, but I will even go so far as to say that players from outside of the touring squad also have a definite chance of still playing in the Super 12."

He added that he wants players that will play with passion and pride. "It's not all about winning, but when you lose you at least have to go down fighting. We won't be led by reputations when we finally identify our 22 top players. Merit will be the only criteria."

Asked if any of the players kept their reputation intact in the match against the Fiji Development side, Pretorius answered: "No one really played well." Good news for Bulls fans, however, was that all the players came through the fixture unscathed - except for a dent in an ego or two maybe.

Friederich Lombard (2), Joost van der Westhuizen, Anton Leonard and Frikkie Bosman scored the Bulls' tries.

The side for Saturday's match against the Fiji Warriors is: Casper Steyn; McNeil Hendricks, Chris Kruger, Adrian Jacobs, Frikkie Welsh; Boeta Wessels, Hakkies Husselman; Janneman Brand (capt), Pierre Uys, Jaco Booysen; Braam Els (if fit), Gerhard Laufs, Johan Human, Jannie Brooks, Gunder Williamson. Substitutes: Gavin Passens, Franco Smith, Joost van der Westhuizen, Anton Leonard, Ralf Schroeder, Frikkie Bosman, Naka Drotske.

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