No holding back for Blue Bulls

The Blue Bulls know that they will have to put the Leopards to the sword in their Currie Cup clash at Loftus Versfeld on Friday and then hope that a few more results go their way if they are to secure a semifinal spot.

If Western Province, who are expected to be bolstered by a few returning Springbok players, manage to beat the Pumas at Newlands on Saturday then the Currie Cup dream will be over for the team from Pretoria.

Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar said that although they would have to depend on the result at Newlands, his team would try their utmost to focus on the task at hand.

"This coming weekend against Leopards we have to focus on ourselves; we are not in control with what happens with the Province and Puma game. It was the same principle we had against Griquas," he said.

Pienaar understands the position his team is in after their loss to the Griquas in Kimberley last week and he explained that his team have no option but to play this weekend's game as if it is their last.

"We can only blame ourselves for the past weekend against Griquas. We did not do well, and conceded too many turnovers. That is the position we put ourselves in and again we have to focus on this weekend, our last game at home.

"We have no option but to chase the game. We need to score four tries and that will dictate the way we play. After that we still need to wait for other results. We have no option but to play as if it is our last game of the year and wanting to go out on a high, we need to produce a special performance," Pienaar said.

The Blue Bulls boss has provisionally included Springbok fullback Zane Kirchner in the starting line-up even though he has not yet returned from New Zealand, and the exciting Jurgen Visser will take his place if he is not available with Gerhard van den Heever, who covered in the last line against Griquas moving to the bench.

Pienaar said that the fact that Kirchner has not trained with the team this week will not hold them back as he has featured regularly in the Currie Cup for them this season.

"He [Kirchner] did not train with us yet, but should slot in without problems. If he does not make it back in time, Jurgen Visser will start, as he has recovered from his broken nose and is good to go," Pienaar explained.

Kirchner was the only returning Springbok available for selection for the clash which should see the Blue Bulls throw absolutely everything they have at the bottom-dwelling Leopards as they look to squeak into the Currie Cup play-offs.

Blue Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser/Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Louis Fouché, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha (captain), 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Dustin Jinka, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Jurgen Visser/Gerhard van den Heever.

Date: Friday, October 14
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Joey Salmans, Attie Buitendag
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee