Bulls forwards coach Russell Winter believes it was the right decision to field an understrength team in last weekend’s Champions Cup encounter against Exeter Chiefs.
The Pretoria-based outfit’s director of rugby, former Springbok head coach Jake White, left several of his first choice players at home for that fixture as he kept them fresh for Saturday’s clash with the Stormers in a repeat of last season’s United Rugby Championship (URC) final.
Set to benefit later in the season
There has been some criticism about that decision after the Chiefs cruised to a comfortable 44-14 win, but Winter feels they could benefit later on in the season.
“It’s not a gamble, everybody plans a certain way, and the proof will be in the way we perform on Friday night against the Stormers, whether the plan worked or not,” he told TimesLive.
“It was hugely important to make sure that rotation happens and players who were left behind get a chance to recover because there are so many games this season.”
Due to the Champions Cup, which has added to the URC and the Currie Cup, South African sides will be in action during the Christmas break, and Winter explained the reasoning behind their decision to rest some of their star players.
“There are potentially 32 games left in the season, but it feels like we are midway through. It is the festive season, and it is the first time we have been in this situation where we have to play over the Christmas period,” Winter said.
“Last year, we had more time off because we were not in the Champions Cup, but this season is a challenging time because each union has planned accordingly. We have to see which plan works,” he added. “Everybody backs the plan, and everybody is confident we will put our best foot forward.
“The Stormers as well, maybe another approach works better, but we are confident in what we are doing, and hopefully the rest helps the boys, and they are not rusty for the two weeks off.
“These two weeks doesn’t feel like the guys really had a break because they were training through that period. We are trying to manage their bodies and get fit players on the field.”
Shot in the arm
He also revealed that Bulls received a boost with the news that loose forward Cyle Brink has regained full fitness and is back at training.
“Cyle is fully fit again, but unfortunately we lost David Kriel in that last game we played. He [Cyle] is on the field and trying to get back in the mix,” said Winter. “I am not sure if he will be fully fit for Friday night in Cape Town, though he has been running with the boys.”
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