Assistant coach Andries Bekker has challenged the Vodacom Bulls to replicate the belief and togetherness of his former side DHL Stormers when the rivals clash on Saturday.
All four SA teams take to the field in round 11 of the Vodacom URC, but spicing up the north-south derby in Pretoria is the Stormers looking to make it eight consecutive wins against the Bulls in the competition.
Bekker’s tactical acumen and lineout prowess for the Stormers between 2005 and 2013 made him an invaluable commodity, and speaking in the buildup to this week’s meeting on the Highveld, the 104-capped former lock recognised where the Bulls can take a leaf out of the Capetonians’ book.
“You can see this season, they’re [Stormers] are one team. Everyone is fighting for that same purpose,” he told reporters. “It’s not to say that we are different, but you can definitely see that there is something special going on there – and that’s why they haven’t lost to a SA team in quite a while.
“That’s our challenge: to bring our special thing to the pitch on Saturday.
“I will take it back to when I started … We lost 75-14 at Loftus, and then the following year we lost again with 50 points. Then the year after that, it was 40 points.”
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Bekker added: “The first time that our Stormers team beat the Bulls was 2011, if I remember correctly. Then it’s like, ‘OK, everything is off your shoulders.’
“That is how the week worked out, and this is the follow-up, of seeing what worked for us in previous games.
“We must just get our special thing for Saturday, and we are working hard on that. The guys have the same feeling of, ‘it’s getting closer and closer’. We are getting there, and we must just fine-tune it and everyone must bring their personal beliefs and what’s important to them.”
The 40-year-old joined Jake White’s support staff this season from Japanese club Kobe Steelers, primarily looking after the forwards and breakdown department.
“We were away for 10 years, so it was long and good for us. But it’s good to be back in the country and be able to work with our own people,” Bekker said.
“To be honest, I never thought that one day I would be anywhere else but WP. But it has been good, my family is happy, and you learn a lot from Jake.”
Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
