Steyn backing Bulls for URC glory

Morne Steyn expects the Vodacom Bulls to defeat the Glasgow Warriors on Saturday and claim the URC trophy. www.inpho.ie

Morné Steyn says the current Vodacom Bulls team reminds him of their team in the glory days of 2007-2010 when he was part of a hat-trick of Super Rugby titles, and he’d love nothing more than to see the union add a Vodacom United Rugby Championship trophy to its list of silverware.

“Looking at the Vodacom Bulls now makes me think of our team in that period of 2007 to 2010 where we won those Super Rugby trophies. Looking from the outside now, I feel like this current team is like that. They have so many great players now. I think this is the year for the Vodacom Bulls to win the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. I think it’s a massive tournament. As former players it’s just great looking on from the outside at how well the Vodacom Bulls are doing now,” said Steyn ahead of Saturday’s URC Grand Final at Loftus Versfeld, where the Bulls will take on the Glasgow Warriors.

“Winning Super Rugby trophies was massive for the union. Winning a Currie Cup is always massive in South Africa. To add the Vodacom United Rugby Championship would be a great achievement.”

The darling of Loftus Versfeld also said the capacity crowd will definitely play a huge part for the Bulls as they look to claim their first URC trophy.

“For any Vodacom Bulls player, the crowd definitely makes a difference. Especially the Loftus Versfeld crowd. They’re a special bunch of supporters, and a packed Loftus definitely made a difference for me when I was playing.”

Having pulled off more than his fair share of match-winning moments in epic finals, Steyn’s advice to the Bulls is to stick to exactly what brought them this far in the competition.

“The big thing as a team is to not look at it any differently to all the other games. A lot of teams want to change what they’ve done the whole season and suddenly play a differently style of rugby in the final. My advice would be to not do something different to what got you to the final. Don’t try and do too much now. This is where you don’t work harder but rather just try and sharpen things a bit. Don’t go out and put in more kicks in training than before. Stick to what you did in every game before this.

“I’d also tell the team to enjoy the moment because it goes by so quickly. When you look again 80 minutes is done. Enjoy every moment because this is why you have worked so hard in training.

“I looked forward to finals because that’s exactly why you work so hard – for the chance to win a trophy. That’s why you put yourself under pressure in training – to have that chance to kick over the winning kick.”

Vodacom Bulls starting XV: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse; 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier; 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden; 5 Ruan Nortje (capt), 4 Ruan Vermaak; 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Cornel Smit.

Glasgow Warriors starting XV: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Steyn (capt); 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne; 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson; 5 Richie Gray, 4 Scott Cummings; 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Jamie Bhatti. Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Oli Kebble, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Euan Ferrie, 21 Henco Venter, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Duncan Weir.