Paige expecting same old Cheetahs

The last time these two team met in a Super Rugby match, it was the team from Bloemfontein who emerged victors with a 42-29 win at the very stadium they are playing at on Saturday.

The Cheetahs scored six tries on that day and Paige said they are wary of their opponent's ability with ball in hand.  

"They [Cheetahs] always try and play a quick tempo game against the Bulls," Paige told rugby365.

"They beat us last year - they gave us a hiding at Loftus so we know it's going to be a very tough game for us. 

"We know they are going to throw the ball around. It's going to be a really intense game so we need to be up for it."

While the Cheetahs are known to thrown the ball around, Paige feels that the Bulls are also evolving into a team who can mix it up out wide.  

"From a team perspective I think we played some good rugby at times, which is a massive positive for us.

"I think we brought something different. I think we moved the ball reasonably good into the wide areas.

"Obviously we are nowhere close to the type of rugby we want to play, but I think we have done reasonably well.

"Sometimes we have not been that good, so this the game on the weekend is a massive one for our campaign," Paige added.

After their meeting with the Cheetahs, the Bulls' next five matches will see them play the Southern Kings (away), Reds (home) and Western Force (away) before two tough meetings with Australia's best in the Brumbies (away) and Waratahs (away). 

The Bulls don't play any of the high-flying New Zealand teams this season in the league phase, which many pundits feel is an advantage. However, Paige does not think so. 

"People will make up their own assumptions. 

"We still have to travel to Australia. We still have to play the Brumbies, who are one of the top teams in Super Rugby. We also have to go to Sydney to play the Waratahs, who are also one of the top teams. 

"Every team you play against in Super Rugby is going to be tough. Super Rugby is the toughest competition and every weekend you need to be up for it," said Paige.

The Bulls will play in pink jerseys on Saturday against the Cheetahs to help raise funds and awareness for the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) as part of the #GetYourPinkOn campaign.

By Warren Fortune

@rugby365com