Rugby: Bulls shake laws their way

Captain Victor Matfield is a key figure in the Bulls. Photo / Getty Images

It wasn't too long ago they were being called the "Terribulls" or the "Beatabulls" in Australian media circles but that description couldn't be further from the truth for Victor Matfield's team in this year's Super 14.

The Bulls are not only defending champions but also have started the competition on such a high that, before this weekend, they ruled the Super 14 table by a point with a game in hand. They played the Force overnight.

Yet not even the five unbeaten games tells the real story. The Bulls are undefeated in 11 straight Super 14 games, stretching from last season.

At their home base - Fortress Loftus as it has become known - their unbeaten run is an incredible 15 matches.

Built on a successful recruiting drive by high performance manager Ian Schwartz, coach Heyneke Meyer then laid the foundations for a squad which in 2007 would become the first from South Africa to lift the trophy.

The 2008 season the Bulls will want to forget, as the absence of Matfield (to Toulon) and the first year of coach Frans Ludeke in charge presented a number of challenges. Last year the Bulls produced a late-season run to take the trophy in style.

Even though they demolished the Chiefs in the final, this year's Bulls side looks tougher, more mature and complete, bringing backline flair to bear with forward grunt in a style seldom displayed by South African teams.

While the Bulls insist a better assessment will come after their current tour of Australasia, the difference in mindset; in attacking play; is clear.

One of the biggest factors has been the introduction of former Springbok winger Pieter Rossouw as backline coach. The lanky Rossouw was an exceptional attacking weapon in his time and over the past 18 months has crafted the backline to run more directly, attack space and find the tryline.

Add Meyer's return to the Bulls in a developmental role, giving them two Super 14 winning coaches, and the brains trust couldn't be stronger.

Then, and probably most importantly, it comes down to the players, with Matfield providing the key reasons why the Bulls are so successful this year.

"In 2008, there were a lot of factors," the Springbok vice-captain admits, "but one of the biggest was that the side initially was negative about the changes in the laws at the time.

"By the time we embraced the laws, it was too late. There were other factors but that played a major part."

Matfield talks about extensive planning for this season, by both players and management, to ensure the same mistakes weren't made again.

"The first thing we did this year was to work very hard on our planning for this season and there we were spot on - so far.

"We decided we weren't going to fight against the changes in the laws as well but rather to embrace them," Matfield explains.

"We studied them to see what advantage we would be able to get out of the changes and we realised it could work in our favour to keep the ball for more phases but that we would have to become more patient as a team."

With the love of the new laws came a different mindset and Matfield has often touched on how the Bulls want to play "an attacking brand of rugby".

Ironically, Meyer's vision so many years ago was part of the basis for this philosophy. The coaching staff back then were not happy winning domestic Currie Cup trophies and Meyer continually hammered home that the Bulls team "wanted to compare themselves to sides like the Crusaders".

Since Ludeke has taken over, that success has been elevated to new levels, with Matfield now one of the principal praise singers for the way the laws are currently being refereed.

"It is a very positive development for the game, especially in comparison to how the laws were. In the past few seasons, the free kicks meant that teams tried to cheat more and referees allowed very slow ball to come to the attacking team.

"This time around, our approach is working. We have given away the fewest penalty kicks and we know by playing inside the laws and being positive, we can be successful."

The Bulls have put up three 50-pointers this season, with a fourth just shy of the half century when they scored 48 against the Waratahs.

Against the Hurricanes, they showed they can go back to their old forward-based game to grind out a win if things don't work out for them. But the expansive game has meant they have let in more points than they would like.

"Sometimes we're a bit hard on ourselves. We don't want to concede so many points but, once we have got the bonus point, sometimes we make defensive errors and let our concentration slip. Against the Hurricanes, there was little wrong with our defence."

While the laws play a part, it should not be forgotten that the Bulls side form the massive core of the current world and Tri Nations champions.

Matfield is the world's foremost lineout jumper, Fourie du Preez the best halfback in the world with a deadly tactical boot and Morné Steyn is the form first five-eighth in the game over the past year.

That isn't even mentioning the likes of Pierre Spies, Wynand Olivier and Danie Rossouw, or the injured trio of Bakkies Botha, Chiliboy Ralepelle and Akona Ndungane.

Yet the youngsters have benefited just as much from the confidence boost. Flankers Dewald Potgieter and Deon Stegmann represent the future of Springbok forwards - agile, fast and tough - while speedster Gerhard van der Heever put fears over Bryan Habana's departure to rest with a magnificent 70-metre try against the Highlanders.

The backline is young, with Du Preez the oldest at the age of 28 (his birthday was on Wednesday, as the Bulls arrived in Perth.)

"I don't think we should get too ahead of ourselves at the moment," Matfield offers. "The top three teams currently haven't toured abroad yet and this is where we all will be tested. Things could look different in a month."

Maybe but a betting man would wager a fair amount that with this mindset, the Bulls are going to be very tough to beat this year.