Bulls don't fear the Soweto factor
Mon, 17 May 2010 23:41
Rampaging bull: Springbok prop Gurthro Steenkamp - Pic: Rian Botes
Rugby remains a game that is played between four white lines on green grass, with both teams always playing in exactly the same conditions.
That is why, according to the Bulls' Springbok prop Gurthrö Steenkamp, they have no problems with playing the Crusaders in a Super 14 semifinal at Soweto's Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
Speaking to rugby365.com in the build-up to the Bulls' fifth semifinal appearance in the past six years, Steenkamp said they are excited about the prospect of playing in the 40,000-seater soccer stadium.
Much has been made, especially in the Australasian media, of the fact that the Bulls won't be playing at fortress Loftus - where they have an 18-match winning streak going back to April 2008, bettered only by the Crusaders' 26-game run between 2004 and 2007.
The Bulls have also not lost in a play-offs match since their semifinal loss to the Crusaders in 2006.
However, all this, according to Steenkamp, will be meaningless come Saturday.
"Yes, it is great and it is something new," the burly Bulls prop told rugby365.com, when asked about the first-ever rugby game to be played at the majestic Orlando Stadium.
"However, at the end of the day it doesn't matter where we play.
"What is important for us is to play in a semifinal and hopefully get into the Final.
"Yes, for our supporters it will be something new and a great experience, but it is not an issue where we play.
"Loftus will always be Loftus, but at the end of the day it is important that we are playing in another semifinal and we have an opportunity to play in another Final."
He also dismissed the notion that results and events of the round robin matches could have an influence on Saturday's game.
"It doesn't matter what happened off the field, or what you have done the past 14 weeks - whether you were top of the standings or not," he said, adding: "None of that count for any points in the play-offs.
"All the achievements earlier in the season counts for nothing.
"Both teams are playing in the same conditions and the team that best uses its opportunities to put points on the board usually wins.
"The thing about play-offs is that you don't have another chance next week to fix things ... you simply have to win this one."
By Jan de Koning
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