The Vodacom Bulls are leaving nothing to chance ahead of their URC quarter-final against Munster at Loftus Versfeld next weekend, including the possibility of a dramatic penalty shootout.
While the Bulls will back themselves to finish the job within 80 minutes, assistant coach Neil de Bruin has revealed the Pretoria side have already mapped out a plan should the play-off clash go all the way.
The prospect is far from far-fetched.
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Munster have built a reputation as one of the toughest knockout teams in the competition and were involved in last season’s dramatic quarter-final against the Sharks in Durban, which was eventually decided by a penalty shootout after extra time failed to separate the teams.
De Bruin admitted the Bulls began preparing for a similar scenario more than a month ago.
“We actually spoke about it before our Champions Cup quarter-final against Glasgow,” he said.
“You end up scrambling around a bit and the guys start looking at each other asking: ‘Can you kick? Can I kick? When last did you kick at goal?’
“I’m very glad we already went through that exercise a few weeks ago where we had to identify the players we could rely on if things ended in a shootout.”
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De Bruin added that experienced Springbok fullback Willie le Roux had strengthened his case with some impressive goal-kicking displays recently, while scrumhalf Embrose Papier and centre Harold Vorster are also capable options from the tee.
Despite the extra planning, the Bulls are not introducing specialist shootout sessions during the build-up to the clash.
De Bruin warned that overdoing kicking practice with players who are not regular goal-kickers could create unnecessary injury risks.
“We’ll make sure they have a few shots at goal during the week, but you can’t suddenly have guys kicking randomly all the time,” he said.
“You can pick up a groin injury or other niggles. These aren’t dedicated kickers, so if it comes down to that scenario, you’re relying a bit on faith.”
Photo: Kian Abdullah/Gallo Images
