All Blacks centre Anton Lienert-Brown has flagged Willie le Roux and Curwin Bosch as key threats ahead of Saturday's clash with the Vodacom Bulls, warning that New Zealand must be prepared for a physical contest against the Bulls' forward pack as well as the aerial and kicking game of the two backs.
All Blacks wary of Le Roux, Bosch kicking threat and Bulls physicality
Anton Lienert-Brown has singled out Willie le Roux and Curwin Bosch, along with the Bulls' physicality up front, as the primary threats New Zealand must manage on Saturday.
Gavin Rich: Boks, Bulls, Barbarians — and a season full of promise (and problems)
Gavin Rich previews a packed Springbok season, with sharp criticism of the Baltimore leg undermining the All Blacks series concept, scepticism about the Nations Championship's credibility, and cautious optimism for the Bulls ahead of the URC final.
Le Roux: Bulls must survive the Leinster blitz to have any chance in Dublin
Le Roux flags the opening 20 minutes as make-or-break in Dublin, revisits last year's early-try meltdown, and explains why the Pollard partnership and the Bulls' hard-luck resilience story give them an outside shot — but only if they survive the Leinster blitz.
Jake White: Henry's All Blacks return is a 'masterстroke' — and he's no ordinary selector
White calls Henry's return a masterstroke — not because of his selector credentials, but because of the psychological and cultural weight he brings to a rebuilding All Blacks camp. White also makes a pointed broader argument about the game's failure to learn from history, using his own 2007 World Cup experience as a case study.
Keo & Zels: Stubborn All Blacks policy make Boks smile
The boys love that New Zealand keep picking their second-best, long may it continue.
Bulls face Benetton without Coetzee and Arendse as Pollard, Le Roux return
The Bulls face Benetton on Saturday without flu-stricken Marcell Coetzee and Kurt-Lee Arendse, with Pollard, Le Roux and Louw returning to a reshuffled side. A bonus-point win could move them into the top four and earn a home quarterfinal. Willie le Roux plays his 400th first-class match; Stravino Jacobs earns his 100th Bulls cap.