KEY POINTS:
From afar, former captain Victor Matfield offers some confidence the Bulls can rescue their shabby defence of the Super 14 crown.
If the lock was still involved and not playing in Europe, his forecast might have sounded warnings for the Blues when they host the series champion tonight at Eden Park. The Blues will be well tuned into the visitors' rugby mentality but should be better equipped to deal with the last of their South African foes this season.
Matfield would have made a difference to the cohesion of the Bulls pack, which has some imposing credentials but has played with splintered aggression this season, problems which have been aggravated by the lack of midfield impact.
Append an antipathy towards the experimental laws from senior men like Fourie du Preez and Bryan Habana and it is not a recipe for a potent title defence.
Even Matfield concurs.
"We've always liked to control the tempo of the game. Especially against New Zealand teams we slowed down the pace to limit the danger their backs pose," he said.
Some of that tactical approach has been pared away because free kicks, quick throw-ins and the gap between backlines at scrums have encouraged a faster pace in the Super 14.
Matfield pledged allegiance to the Springboks again but he is missed by the Bulls while on duty with Toulon.
"The Blues play a physical game but they don't enjoy it when you're in their face all the time. We have to stop the ball carriers in their tracks and tackle them back, ball and all," he said.
The Sharks, Force and Stormers have offered versions of that tactical theory in the past three weeks as the Blues have struggled to build on their rousing start to the series. For their part, the Bulls have withered on their offshore expedition.
They do not have someone like Nick Evans, who is picked to return from his concussion, which should ramp up the Blues' momentum and, as coach David Nucifora explained, their direction in phase play.
"It is really important to us. Our backline is obviously a lot stronger with Nick at 10 and Ice [Isaia Toeava] back out there at 13, and hopefully that is reflected in our performance," the coach said.
The Blues have picked two openside flankers, Daniel Braid and Justin Collins, which suggests they want to boost the pace of the game to exhaust the Bulls' defensive resistance. They have their strongest front five and, if the lineout functions, this is a match the Blues should win comfortably if they can put enough width and mistake-free recycling on their work.
"Desperate teams are always dangerous, there is no doubt about that," Nucifora offered as a cautionary note. "They have probably got their strongest team running out there this weekend against us. They have a massive back five in their scrum ... and having Habana and their first choice fullback [Pierre Spies] will give them confidence so we are expecting an improved showing from them this week."
A logical forecast after two ragged Bulls defeats, but Nucifora should also look for progress from the Blues, who have lacked the necessary clout, precision and authority in their play.
* Blues v Bulls, Eden Park, 7.35pm tonight
