Wynne Gray: Prelude of things to come in World Cup

Richie McCaw. Photo / AP

Fast forward to October. The All Blacks want to play a fast-paced, ball-in-hand style of rugby at the World Cup.

The Springboks will favour muscular confrontation and an aerial bombardment if they adhere to recent comments from coach Peter de Villiers, who wondered why his side should vary much from the attritional, combative style the Springboks had used with success in annexing two World Cups.

Late-night kickoffs, greasy conditions, rugby under increased sudden-death pressure and lights - they are conditions favouring a kicking game unless your interplay is spot-on.

The Bulls favoured their regular kick-chase template at Napier on Saturday night when they surged to a handy halftime lead which allowed them to withstand the second-half rush from the Hurricanes.

The spine of the Boks side was on show - Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez and Pierre Spies - the brains-trust and hub of their formula backed by the muscular power of Bakkies Botha and aerial genius Victor Matfield.

Tack on a belligerent defensive attitude and you are not far short of the Springbok template.

Add in the best players from the unbeaten Stormers and the feisty Sharks, tweak the patterns and the Boks become a rugged unit.

The Stormers have yielded just four tries in their six matches to show their sting, while the Sharks have men such as JP Pietersen and the du Plessis brothers to add some starch.

But it is the Bulls who are under the immediate microscope in New Zealand.

They cleaned the Hurricanes' clock at the weekend and head for Timaru this Saturday and their next game against the Crusaders.

Remember them, the free-wheeling champions of the modern game who exported their brand so strongly to Twickenham.

They earned a bye to give them time to tot up their airpoints before they return to action against the Bulls side which beat them in last year's semifinals and continued on to the title.

The Bulls had a mixed start this season, three expected wins inflated by twin victories against the Lions inside six weeks.

Work out that schedule.

Sandwiched between that lot they fell to the Highlanders and Stormers before they rediscovered their rhythm at Napier.

Boom-Boom Steyn kicked dropped goals, penalties, up and unders and enormous touchfinders, and when he wasn't doing that du Preez chipped in with his searching punts.

They welded a doublestack midfield runner to thrusts from Jaques Olivier and some offensive tackling.

It was too much for the Hurricanes who looked bewildered and uncertain - hardly the portents for a successful outcome.

The pack, apart from Jack Lam, Victor Vito and Andrew Hore seemed ineffective and the heat was transferred to their backline. They earned little change as well.

The back three of Cory Jane, Hosea Gear and Julian Savea underwent many catching tests with varying rates of success, not really the impression they want to deliver in their quest for All Black honours.

Gear looked likely on his return after a lengthy injury, Jane appeared uncertain and Savea has not started with any great accuracy.

The heat this week from the Bulls will go on three more contenders for the black uniform - Israel Dagg, Zac Guildford and Sean Maitland.

Dagg and Jane are in a mighty scrap for international fullback-wing duties while Guildford and Maitland are well placed to make statements this weekend.

And they won't die wondering. If anything is as certain as death and taxes, it is the kicking focus from the Bulls.