Fatigue will not be a factor when the Blue Bulls host the Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup Final in Pretoria on Saturday.

Victor Matfield, and a substantial number of his Bulls teammates, have already featured in almost 30 first class games this season — 15 brutal Super 14 matches, including the Final, nine Test matches and a handful of Currie Cup games. For those not involved in the international season, you can replace the Tests with Currie Cup games.

In fact Sharks coach John Plumtree bemoaned the poor 'energy levels' displayed by some of his team's returning Boks, after they got knocked out in the semifinals, but Matfield is convinced there would be no such problem in the Bulls camp.

"I don't think it will play any role in a Currie Cup Final," Matfield told iafrica.com in an interview, as the Bulls stepped up preparations for their battle with the Cheetahs.

"Often, on the year-end tour, people complain about how tired the players are and how poorly we are playing," Matfield said, adding: "As I have said in the past, I don't understand why [they complain], because a week earlier in the Currie Cup Final everybody played their best rugby.

"The motivation won't be lacking [for the Bulls this Saturday] and none of that [fatigue] will come into play.

"We also had the break last week [after the semifinals] and everybody will be fresh and ready for a big game," the 32-year-old second row forward said about a game he described as "very special".

"Yes, every Final is special, but this one is at home, so it will be an unbelievable occasion for us," Matfield said.

One would think that for a team that has players who have won the Super 14 (some twice), claimed the Tri-Nations, having beaten the B&I Lions and some even with World Cup winners' medals, a Currie Cup Final would pale in significance.

"The Currie Cup remains the No.1 competition in South Africa," Matfield told this website.

"Obviously, winning the Super 14 carries with it a lot of prestige, but there is so much history and tradition attached to the Currie Cup that it holds a very special place for South Africans."

Matfield said another motivating factor for the Bulls is that they can claim a rare double — the Currie Cup and Super 14 in the same year.

"In some ways it is not different from other finals, but for us at the Bulls — especially those who have been with the Springboks — this can become a very special year if we can add the Currie Cup crown to it.

"In the end it is a Final and the expectations from the Blue Bulls supporters are high — they expect us to be there and do well."

With the Bulls and Cheetahs very familiar with each other's game plans and both unlikely to change much this week, Matfield feels the key to victory is about who can force their game onto the opposition.

"As we all know, in a Final it is about creating opportunities, then go out and use the chances.

"In the pressure cooker that is a Final, the opportunities are far more limited, so it is all about those 80 minutes and which players make the correct decision under pressure."

Matfield acknowledged the role that his Bok teammate and poacher extraordinaire Heinrich Brüssow could play in the Final, as one of many game-breakers in both teams.

But he felt that the Bulls have the perfect foil.

"Both teams have great game breakers and he is one of the players who has done very well for the Cheetahs this year," Matfield said.

"However, in the end, it is more important that we focus on our own game and what we need to do.

"If our ball carriers do their job, with the supporters close to those ball carriers, then we can keep him out of play.

"So it is all about how we implement our game plan and execute on the day."

365

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