SA Rugby's Bulls intervention raises questions over support for other franchises

GOVERNING body SA Rugby have confirmed that Springbok assistant coaches Felix Jones and Jerry Flannery, SA Rugby Mobi-Unit coach Duane Vermeulen, and Head of Athletic Per-

- MIKE GREENAWAY

formance Andy Edwards will provide short-term support to the Bulls, following a request from the franchise for assistance in specific technical areas.

It seems a strange request, given that the Bulls are hardly a stricken franchise, even if they are currently on a five-game losing streak.

It was only a few months ago that they contested the United Rugby Championship final.

All of South Africa's franchises have endured difficult runs in the URC at some stage, yet no national coaching assistance has been extended to the Lions, Sharks or Stormers. More pertinently, why has there been no support for the struggling Cheetahs?

Perhaps it is simply a case of the Bulls being the only team to ask - and

won't be easy because of the rivalry between neighbours. We had the upper hand in the qualifiers, yet tomorrow won't be easy. But if we bring our A game and focus on the match at hand, we will definitely go through.”