The Cheetahs, who managed to make the Super Rugby playoffs for the first time last year, are hoping to repeat the success of last year’s campaign. Things certainly looked promising for the Bloemfontein franchise with a very nice draw, starting with two home fixtures, and what was supposed to be an easy 5 points against the Lions in their opening game.
Unfortunately for them, their Super Rugby Campaign did not start off as they were hoping it would. With a heart-breaking last minute defeat against the Lions, resulting in The Cheetahs losing by 1 point, thanks to a last minute drop goal by Lions flyhalf, Marnitz Boshoff. Watch out for his name in the future, the young Lions flyhalf certainly looks like a bright young prospect for South African Rugby.
The following in-depth analysis by Super Rugby Predictions
With the above said. The Cheetahs will want to forget about last week’s disappointment, and will be looking to start afresh against a rebuilding and unpredictable Bulls side in Bloemfontein.
The Bulls, on the other hand, suffered a demoralizing defeat against the Sharks. The three time South African Super Rugby Champions’ weaknesses were badly exposed in Saturday’s Super Rugby match against the Sharks. They will have to turn things around quickly, if they wish to make the Super Rugby semi-finals like they did last year.
However, like the Cheetahs, the Bulls would want to forget about last week’s result and they have had a week to make things right.Let us start our Super Rugby Prediction for the Bulls vs the Cheetahs by comparing the two squads.
The Bulls
It is hard to know what to expect from the Bulls in Super Rugby 2014, with the Pretoria based franchise currently in a rebuilding mode after having lost many of their core group of players who brought them so much success over the years.
That being said The Bulls super rugby franchise still boast with an array of Internationals and big name, quality players. However rugby is a team sport and how well these players will click as a unit will be interesting to watch during Super Rugby 2014.
The Bulls Game Plan
Last week when the Bulls took on the Sharks, at Kings Park, in the second match of round 1 in Super Rugby 2014 they certainly looked undercooked. The Bulls lacked any rhythm on attack, and always looked like losing against the Sharks.
The Bulls are historically known for their huge bulldozing forwards and 10 man style of rugby. Meaning they kick for possession. Try to force a penalty or either try to steal or turn over the opposition ball, in the oppositions half of the field, and then either kick for goal with their usually deadly accurate flyhalf placekicking or use their massive forwards to pick up and drive from the base of the ruck or take the crash ball or set up a rolling maul when kicking for touch.
The Bulls primary method of attack last weekend against the Sharks was the rolling maul along with the above mentioned game plan. The comeback of Bulls and Springbok veteran Victor Matfield further suggest they will be using this game plan throughout the season.
Bulls using the wrong game plan?
The problem with this style of play for the Bulls was well highlighted against the Sharks super rugby team which is must more an attacking team.
The problem for the Bulls Super Rugby franchise and game-plan in short is that:
• They no longer have a deadly accurate flyhalf in Morne Steyn, which will greatly affect their 10 man style of play.
• They lost a lot of their veteran forwards and it can be argued that their pack is no longer the dominating force they used to be in Super Rugby.
• Historically known in the Super Rugby tournament for their powerful front row. The current Bulls super rugby team is rather thin in the front row, Deon Greyling is their main scrummager, although strong and powerful he leaks a lot of penalties and should he get injured who is there to back him up? The Bulls 1st choice hooker, is Callie Visagie who is not known for his accurate lineout throw-ins or powerful scrimmaging which further indicates their game plan might not work for them
• As showed in last week’s Super Rugby match against the Sharks, if you kick away possession, especially against an attacking team they will punish you on the counter attack.
The Positives for the Bulls
Although no points were scored through the Bulls, primary methods of attack, the rolling maul, in last week’s Super Rugby match against the Sharks. The Bulls had a few good chances with their rolling maul and executed it to perfection on many occasion, had it not be for the Sharks and Jake Whites excellent defensive pattern against the rolling maul the result may have been a lot different.
Unfortunately for Bulls Super Rugby supporters I cannot think of any other positives the Bulls can take away from their first Super Rugby match against the Sharks.
The Cheetahs
The Cheetahs are one of those teams that are always on the short end of the stick, they produce so many quality super rugby players, but because of a lack of funding these players gets snapped up by the bigger Super Rugby Unions. (I won’t even go into the list of players they have produced over the years who have been snapped up by larger unions, as the list is why too long and it makes for a whole new topic.)
Yet despite this the Cheetahs super rugby team continues to remain competitive and make the best of what they got. The Cheetahs Super Rugby franchise is so good in developing players just look at what they did with the likes of Willie Le Roux over his two years at the Cheetahs. We at Super Rugby Predictions analyzed the Cheetahs current super rugby squad and came to the conclusion that they have a very well balanced and strong squad.
The Cheetahs Game Plan
It can be said that the Cheetahs super rugby game plan is exactly the opposite of the Bulls super rugby game plan. We at Super Rugby Predictions analyzed the Cheetahs game plan as follows:
The Cheetahs are an attacking team, they love to draw in defenders with their bulldozing runners in Adriaan Strauss and Connie Oosthuyzen, and then suddenly give the ball width and spread it to their outside backs.
The Cheetahs were without a doubt the most exciting team in Super Rugby 2013 and will be hoping to keep up that style of play, despite the disappointment of their first Super Rugby game
The Worrying Signs For the Cheetahs – Key Players not firing
We at Super Rugby Predictions, like everyone else, had high hopes for the Cheetahs, super rugby, flyhalf Johan Goosen. However the young flyhalf who first appeared in Super Rugby with a bang in Super Rugby 2011, with deadly accurate goal kicking, good decision making and excellent attacking play had since suffered a string of injuries over his short career. However the Cheetahs flyhalf is back for Super Rugby 2013 and fully fit. However the worrying sign for the Cheetahs Super Rugby team and supporters is that the young flyhalf, Johan Goosen, had a shocker against the Lions in their first Super rugby game.
We at Super Rugby Predictions do not like to criticize or blame individuals for a loss but the Cheetahs lost with 1 point against the Lions in Super Rugby 2014 round 1 and that was largely due to Johan Goosen missing some penalties he could have kicked with his eyes closed 2-years back.
Willie Leroux like Johan Goosen was also not even close to his best, but in his defense he did managed to create 1 or 2 opportunities which unfortunately was not capitalized on, but he also made some poor decisions.
The usual hardworking Cheetahs, Super Rugby captain, Adriaan Strauss and stalwart prop Connie Oosthuzen were also not their usual selves.
The Positives for the Cheetahs
As we mentioned above when we at super rugby predictions analyzed the Cheetahs playing squad for Super Rugby 2014, it indicates that they have a very well balanced Super Rugby squad.
• The Cheetahs super rugby team boasts with an all Springbok frontrow.
• They also have an inspirational skipper in Adriaan Strauss and off course the tanker known as Coenie Oosthuyzen, one of the hardest players to stop in Super Rugby.
• The rest of the Cheetahs pack can compete with the best of Super Rugby teams.
• They have a superb young flyhalf in Johan Goosen. (Should he get his form back, we at super rugby predictions are keeping our fingers crossed)
• They Cheetahs Super Rugby team has a solid midfield pairing in Johan Sadie and Francois Venter, who is also the Cheetahs vice-captain.
• Apart from all of the above they have the most exciting backline player currently in Super Rugby, and arguably in international rugby, Willie Le Roux.
• Sarel Pretorius, or “Super Sarelâ€, as he is known is also there to make his quick runs around the fringes and inject tempo to any game.
• Finally add into the mixture lighting fast wingers and the Cheetahs Super Rugby team can certainly compete with the best.
Bulls vs. Cheetahs Super Rugby Prediction, Round 2
With the above said and a detailed analysis on both teams squads, strengths, weaknesses and gamelans done by super rugby predictions chiefs tipster. Let us now take a look at some statistics between the two Super rugby teams who both managed to make the playoffs of Super Rugby 2013. As you know we at Super Rugby Predictions just love using statistics when predicting the outcome of a super rugby match and that is part of why we are so accurate and successful as Super Rugby tipsters.
Reading into the super rugby statistics between the Bulls and the Cheetahs, on super rugby predictions – statistics page, paints a very, detailed yet straight forward picture so we are going to keep it short and to the point.
Cheetahs vs Bulls at Bloemfontein from 2009 – current
The Bulls and Cheetahs Super Rugby teams have played each other 4 times in Bloemfontein, home of the Cheetahs, with the Bulls winning all of the fixtures. Yes, you read right the Cheetahs has not once in 5-years won a game against the Bulls at their Super Rugby home field, Bloemfontein. Herein lies some value which I will talk about soon.
Points Difference for Cheetahs vs. Bulls at Bloemfontein reads as follows:
Average points per game by Bulls when playing at Bloemfontein 39.25
Average points per game by Cheetahs when playing at Bloemfontein 25.25
The above super rugby statistic tells us that there is a -14 points difference for the Cheetahs when playing at Bloemfontein.
It makes for some grim reading if you are a Cheetahs Super Rugby fan.
However herein lies some more great value when placing your super rugby prediction for super rugby 2014 round 2 which I shall touch on shortly.
Cheetahs vs Bulls at Loftus from 2009 – current
When the Cheetahs played the Bulls at Loftus, the spiritual home of the Bulls Super Rugby Team. Things don’t get much better for Cheetahs Super Rugby supporters. The Bulls and the Cheetahs met each other 4 times at Loftus Versveld in Pretoria, home of the Bulls Super Rugby team. Out of the 4 super rugby fixtures between the Bulls and the Cheetahs from 2009 – 2013, the Cheetahs have not managed to win a single game! So to recap out of the 4 Super Rugby fixtures, played at Loftus, the Bulls won all four Super Rugby games. This brings us to our next, obvious, Super Rugby statistic.
Cheetahs vs Bulls Across All Venues From 2009 – 2013
If you read the above two super rugby statistics you would immediately come to the conclusion that the Bulls and the Cheetahs met each other 8 times during Super Rugby from 2009 – 2013. Out of those 8 super rugby fixtures between the Bulls and the Cheetahs it reads as follows:
Played: 8
Bulls: 8
Cheetahs: 0
Here is another interesting little fact for you, courtesy of Super Rugby Predictions. The Bulls is the team in Super Rugby which the Cheetahs has the worst Super Rugby record against.
We at super rugby predictions believe herein again lies great value for Super Rugby punters and we are going to touch on that now.
Summary of all the above super rugby analysis and statistics
To conclude both these teams who will meet on Friday in game 2 of Super Rugby 2014 suffered losses in Super Rugby round1. We at Super Rugby Predictions are certainly not biased and we believe it is not biased when we say that the Bulls defeat against the Sharks was a much more comprehensive and demoralizing defeat than the Cheetahs defeat against the Lions. Although no loss can be justified, what I mean by the above is that both the Bulls and the Cheetahs are currently still in the process in binding as a unit and getting into their playing rhythm.
The Bulls are currently in a rebuilding phase, and struggling with their game plan, or if not struggling using the wrong tactics completely.
Whereas we at Super Rugby Predictions believe the Cheetahs are just a bit rusty and it is just a matter of time before they will find their straps and we, at super rugby predictions, got a feeling Naka Drotske and Os Durant (Cheetahs coaching staff) will make sure it will happen this weekend.
The fact that the Cheetahs have never won a game against the Bulls in Super Rugby can give the Bulls a slight physiological advantage come Friday, but the Cheetahs are a different team they were 3 or 4 years back.
Super rugby prediction for Cheetahs vs Bulls
Numerous times throughout the analysis of super rugby predictions statistics in this article, I mentioned there lays value in certain statistics, and here is what I meant.
Bookmakers make use of statistics more than anything else to determine their odds, which mean they will open the, currently rusty yet unpredictable Bulls as significant favorites since the Cheetahs have never in the past 5 years won a game against the Bulls.
However as the chief super rugby tipster at Super Rugby Predictions this is one of the few times where I won’t be going with statistics.
The Cheetahs will be ready come Friday and looks a more settled unit than the Bulls. Their squad also looks better on paper and the Bulls game plan is going to play straight into the hands of the Cheetahs. If ever there Cheetahs had a chance to finally break their winning drought against the Bulls in Super Rugby it will be on Friday.
Super rugby predictions Recommended Bet: Cheetahs to win
Confidence: 90% +
Cheetahs vs Bulls (Bloemfontein), Friday 21 February