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High Performance Manager leaves Bulls days before the start of the Super Rugby season - reports

Could the Bulls' days of snapping up the likes of Pollard, Kriel and Gelant be over? (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

With the 2019 Super Rugby season just days away, most teams are in the final stages of preparation for those opening games.

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The Bulls are set to host the Stormers at Loftus Versveld on Saturday, with the two franchises intent on chasing down the Lions and Sharks, both of whom made the Super Rugby playoffs in 2018.

Having lost former director of rugby John Mitchell to England last year, the Bulls appointed Alan Zondagh, who has a wealth of coaching experience, including stints at Western Province, Eastern Province and Saracens, among others.

According to a report by Netwerk24, however, the franchise has parted ways with High Performance Manager Xander Janse van Rensburg, who has been with the franchise since 2012, overseeing the side’s talent identification and academy structures.

Janse van Rensburg reportedly handed in his resignation and the franchise are likely to release a statement on his departure in the imminent future.

Zondagh has been vocal on carrying on the good work started by Mitchell last year, whilst also focusing on player development at the franchise.

“I’ve worked with young players for many years and I think the most important thing at a union or franchise like this is the Super Rugby team. And if we get young players into our system, we have to develop them in such a way that they are knocking on the Super Rugby door every year.

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“I speak to a lot of unions across South Africa and they agree players might win U19 and U21 competitions, but there isn’t really a player who came through that system and is knocking on the door of Super Rugby. It’s no use winning at U19 and U21 levels every year, but you’re not really making progress in Super Rugby. We have to look at our systems and get it to where our young players break into the Super Rugby squads. That is my main job.”

The Bulls have welcomed veteran stars Schalk Brits and Duane Vermeulen to the franchise this season, both of whom will be influential in mentoring through the next generation of players in Pretoria.

Watch: Duane Vermeulen pre-season interview

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Nickers 22 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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