Bulls preparing for knockout rugby at business end of the season

The United Rugby Championship and Challenge Cup seasons are coming to a head over the next eight weeks and the Bulls plan to be standing there at the end of it all.

The Pretoria franchise kick off their lengthy tour with a Challenge Cup Round of 16 clash with Bayonne in France on Saturday. Following that, they have the unenviable task of travelling to Muster and then Glasgow for top-of-the-table URC matches.

Should the Bulls defeat Bayonne, a Challenge Cup quarterfinal awaits the following week. Seven days later, they face Cardiff in Wales in the URC. No rest for the wicked, as they say.

As such, Bulls speedster Devon Williams revealed it's time for the team to engage Knockout Rugby Mode - and stay there.

"It is knockout rugby and we touched on it in our meetings as well. We want to approach both competitions with a play-off mindset," said the fullback this week.

"If it has to come down to a three-pointer, then it comes down to that, but we are not going to be scared to play rugby as well.

"If we have to go to our set-pieces and line-outs for a five-pointer, then we will do that.

"It's about understanding the balance of a three, six, nine game versus a seven, 14 and 21 game - when to take a risk and when not to.

"It's getting the balance right in terms of when to go for poles, but in the end, it is still important to get points when you enter the 22."

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