The Bulls know they can't rely on altitude alone if they want to secure five points against Zebre this weekend at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
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The Bulls are not expecting altitude alone to carry them to victory when they take on Zebre Parma in a crucial United Rugby Championship (URC) clash on Saturday, with the focus instead firmly on delivering an accurate and controlled performance.
While Pretoria’s highveld conditions have often been spoken about as an advantage for South African sides, the Bulls believe modern teams are far too professional to be caught out purely by the thinner air.
They are dead set on executing their game plan without relying too much on what the altitude challenge could present to their Italian opponents. However, there is the prospect of opening the game in the second half should the Zebre players tire out, and the Bulls have control.
“Well, I hope it’s still a thing,” assistant coach Neil De Bruin said about the altitude factor and if it can help the Bulls.
However, he added: “No, I reckon the teams are so professional these days that they acclimatise well, and there’s much thought that goes into managing the game in high-altitude circumstances.. So, if we play sloppy rugby, it can’t just be a high-tempo, high-energy, high ball-in-play game. It’s about controlling yourself first.
“Altitude definitely doesn’t win games. Handré Pollard always says that, and I find it fascinating. We’ve got to do the job first. Hopefully, if we play good rugby and the teams aren’t used to the conditions we get to train in week in, week out, then it should definitely be a benefit.
“But you’ve got to do your part first and make sure that you’re on the mark. Otherwise, as I said, it can be a slow, stop-start game if we don’t execute.”
That message has become central to the Bulls’ approach for the final two matches. Rather than relying on conditions to wear opponents down, the emphasis will be on accuracy, discipline and ensuring they dictate the tempo of matches from the outset.
The coaching group is well aware that if execution slips, the game can quickly become fragmented, which would suit the visitors far more than an intense, fast-paced encounter.
There is also plenty of interest around the wider URC picture, with the Bulls keeping a close eye on the other South African franchises as the race for playoff positions intensifies. The Stormers play Ulster on Friday, and the Lions face Leinster on Saturday.
The prospect of several local teams finishing strongly in the standings is something the Bulls would welcome, particularly if results elsewhere end up helping their own push towards the top of the table.
“We’ll have a close eye on it, and will definitely be supporting the South African franchises. How good would it be to have lots of teams up at the top end of that table? So, hopefully they go well, and I’m sure those teams have prepared really well, too. And if they can do us a favour along the way, then that’ll be really helpful.”