Can Bulls avoid Zebe upset after Jake White’s ‘stupidity’ comments?

BEWARE, Bulls: Saturday’s clash against Zebre looks, feels and smells like a banana-peel game.

- ASHFAK MOHAMED

The Loftus Versfeld showdown (2.45pm kick-off) has all the makings of an upset.

Zebre may be languishing in the second-last spot on the log, but they have won three out of their 13 games, and nearly smoked out the Sharks in Durban last weekend.

That 35-28 defeat was as close as it gets, as the Italian outfit will travel to Pretoria confident that they can go one step further and slay the Bulls at Loftus. Jake White’s teams almost had a Jake-like weekend as well after an under-strength Leinster side missing their full Six Nations players.

But the likes of RG Snyman and Jondie Burger inspired them to put up an almighty fight, and the Bulls needed a post-hooter scrum penalty and David Kriel’s sudden well skill to gain a 21-20 triumph.

Some players may have taken umbrage to White’s comments about “stupidity” and “being smarter” in the post-match press conference, in reference to the red and yellow cards conceded, as well as a number of penalties that allowed Leinster into the game.

But the only way they can prove their coach wrong is by responding in convincing fashion against Zebre.