Tomorrow’s Absa Currie Cup final will see the best of the north travel to the Cape to try and blitzkrieg the Newlands faithful. It doesn’t get any more provincial then Western Province versus the Blue Bulls. Newlands is sold out and a great atmosphere is guaranteed for those in the stadium and watching on TV.
The Blue Bulls, and their Super 14 uncles the Bulls, are a fine rugby team. Using power, precision and clever tactics (with altitude being one of their trump cards) the Pretoria boys have been the pre-eminent force in South African rugby for the 2000s or Oozies etc.
While they have scaled new heights on the rugby field, and beaten all in sundry on their way to stampeding to several Currie Cup titles plus two Super 14 titles (the one was stolen but they all count) there dominance has proved to be the breeding ground of another South African rugby past time: Bull-baiting.
Ever since Pretoria blue became a familiar standard on South African rugby trophies, other provinces and franchises have been taking the mickey out of the Blue Bulls. There is even a “I hate the Blue Bulls” on Facebook. Though it is most likely envy and green-eyed rugby followers venting some steam, they do make it rather easy don’t they?
For starters, they play what non-Bulls folks like to call “Bulls rugby”, a euphemism for 10-man rugby, aka boring-kick-the-shit-out-the-ball rugby. Though this judgement isn’t exactly 100% true, they are the team to chirp for it aren’t they? Bulls supporters are also resolute and completely sucked in by the Bulls collective.
To fight this, I posted my Facebook status yesterday as “Adam predicts a WP victory over the weekend. The Blue Bulls can suck it … “. Though this is said in jest, I do have a feeling that WP are going to surprise everyone this weekend, even their own supporters who understand they are facing most likely one of the best ever assembled Currie Cup teams. This is a list of the Springboks in that side: Zane, Bryan, Jaco, Wynand, Morne, Fourie, Pierre, Victor, Bakkies and Guthro. I received 5 people “liking it” and 15 comments to-ing and fro-ing about the result of the game. The majority said I was deluded.
One of the comments, which had me “hosing” was “Die Blou Bulle weet nie van verloor af nie”, made by a friend I was at varsity with who is a Bulls devotee. Then chatting to my digs mate, from Pretoria, online this morning and though she isn’t the biggest supporter of rugby, said exactly the same thing to me. Talk about a Blue Bulls collective consciousness. These guys assume victory is assured.
This Bull-headed (get it?) approach to their rugby fan earns BB fans the ire, and respect, of every other rugby supporter in South Africa. I’m a Lions fan and that earns me lots of respect and as such I dislike the boys across the Jukskei. That’s a rather tribal way of looking at things but rugby is a bit tribal anyway. Still, as my list above shows, I know their whole side virtually on a first-name basis, without actually knowing any of them (especially Wynand, said “Wynaaand”, the new Percy of SA rugby with those flowing locks).
Tomorrow’s clash is going to be an excellent game, a true showcase of why people dig their rugby in this country. As much as I like making fun of the Bulls, the vast, vast majority of BB supporters take such musing in an excellent spirit knowing that at the end of the day it is about the rugby and making it as enjoyable as possible. When the stakes are raised due to provincialism, everyone gets on board.
My prediction? The game is going to be close, especially if WP hope to win. I believe they will (my head is saying have a plan-B prediction in place but I just have that feeling). If the Blue Bulls win, it’s going to be by a large margin but let’s hope that doesn’t happen.
Can’t wait! The other semi is tough to call but I would say the Sharks, but it will be close.
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