The Bulls are determined to bounce back from their 'bad day at the office', when they tackle to defending champion Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday.

Having topped the table through the first five weeks, the team from Pretoria came unstuck against a determined Highlanders outfit last week - losing 12-36 and dropping from first to fourth on the table.

However, the return of regular captain and world class lock Victor Matfield - along with 2007 International Rugby Board Player of the Year Bryan Habana - have lifted the mood in the camp.

"In the Super 14 you know that there will be games that you should have won, but lost, and games that you should have lost, but won," Matfield told us in an interview from the team's base just outside Christchurch.

"Very few teams have gone through an entire season unbeaten," he added - pointing to the fact that an 'unbeaten season has occurred only twice: the Crusaders with 11 wins from 11 starts in 2002 and the Blues with 10 wins and a draw from their 11 league matches.

On both occasions the Crusaders and Blues went on to win the tournament.

Loss is history

The Bulls have put last week's loss behind them and, according to Matfield, are in the right frame of mind to secure their first ever win in Christchurch.

"You will have your bad days," he said, adding: "The key is how quickly you recover.

"It is important to believe in what you do and that is the great thing about this team, all the players have bought into it and believe in what we are doing. "We are all on the same page."

Matfield is also not too concerned that as the Bulls - since the franchise system was introduced in 1998 - they have not won in Christchurch.

In fact only two South African teams have beaten the Crusaders on New Zealand soil - Northern Transvaal, the Bulls' predecessors, did so in Christchurch in 1996 and the Cats achieved a win in Nelson in 2001.

"It is a big challenge for us, as they are the defending champions and as the Bulls we've never beaten them here [in Christchurch]," Matfield said, adding that after last week's loss it is vital that the Bulls collect the points (for a win) to ensure they don't drop out of the play-off race.

"We will go out there and give it our best shot," the Bulls captain said.

Ready to rumble

A refreshed Matfield said his return to the team, after spending the last five weeks on the sidelines with a shoulder injury sustained in Week One against the Reds, is as if his season is only just starting.

"It [the shoulder] feels good, as I had a lengthy rehab and only started doing gym work in the last fortnight," he said, adding that he took an extra week last week and missed the loss to the Highlanders so he could get some extra rehab and gym work in and ensure the shoulder is 100 percent.

"The good thing is I was able to run all the time, so the core fitness is there and that aspect should not be a problem."

The Bulls captain said he can't wait to get out on the field.

"I was only involved in the first game and missed the last five weeks. It is great to start a game and being able to work with the team through it all," he said of the build-up to Friday's showdown with the Crusaders.

He admitted to feeling some frustration at having to watch from the sidelines, especially last week's loss.

"That is why we play rugby, because we enjoy running out on a Friday or Saturday to play the game.

"At least I was able to stay with the team and stay involved through the wins and share the disappointment of last week's loss," he added.

"The one positive is that I am hungry to get out there and play, certainly more keen than if I had been playing every game. I'll be fresh, because it is as if I'm only starting my season now."

He said the players have already put last week's loss behind them.

"It is all still going well and the players are still very relaxed," he said, adding that they have been preparing at a small place just outside Christchurch on a golf estate.

"The guys are keen to get out there and set the record straight after last weekend's loss, by getting a good win on Friday."


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