As the only coach who took the Bulls to Super Rugby glory, it is to be expected that Heyneke Meyer would back the men from Pretoria to be victorious in their decisive all-South African derby against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.

However, it is the reasons he gives for his belief that the Bulls will triumph that are worth listening to.

Meyer, the 2007 championship coach of the Bulls, told iafrica.com that the Bulls have shown in recent years that they the ability to win big games - otherwise referred to as BMT.

"I'm never fond of predictions," Meyer said, when asked to make a call on the outcome of Saturday's game - which is likely to determine the final place in this year's play-offs.

"The toughest game to play in the last week of league action is a local derby," Meyer told this website.

"It makes no difference if the Sharks will be out afterwards, they will play for honour and they also play for places in the Bok team to face the British and Irish Lions," he said, adding that it is an away game for the Bulls.

Meyer pointed to the Bulls' impressive track record in recent years - most notably in 2005, 2006 and 2007 - when they had to win by large margins in the final league match just to get into the play-offs.

"We had to beat the Stormers by 31 points [winning 43-10 at Newlands in 2006] and in 2007 we put 90 point past the Reds [after needing to win by 72 points] just to get into the play-offs," Meyer said.

The Bulls also beat the Stormers 75-14 in Pretoria in their last league match in 2005, which also saw them reach the semifinals.

"Most of these guys know what it requires to win a big game in the final round and they have the experience to remain focussed on the task at hand," Meyer told iafrica.com.

"There is no doubt it will be a very tough game, as the Sharks - despite having lost some form - remain a very strong and dangerous team.

"It is going to be a very tough game."

The Bulls, currently on a three-match winning streak, had to overcome a mid-season slump - having lost three of their four matches between rounds seven and 10.

However, Meyer said he knew it was just a matter of time before they found their form again.

"It is understandable that if you win the Super 14 [as the Bulls did in 2007] that people would expect you to be among the top two or three teams again [the next year]," he said.

"We were in the play-offs for three years in a row and won it in 2007, so there was the expectation that the Bulls would be there again last year.

"However, it is always tough during transition periods," he said about Frans Ludeke taking over as head coach from him, Meyer, last year.

"Frans [Ludeke], the management team and myself do have informal discussions from time-to-time and they deserve all the credit for turning it around after last year.

"It also helped that Victor [Matfield] has returned, that they have become a more settled unit and are playing to a pattern that they are more accustomed to.

"They are also close to being the most experienced team in the Super 14. I have always said you need about 12 Springboks in your team, you need a No.10 and No.12 that are of international standard, you need five strong leaders, as well as have about 10 players who have played 50 Currie Cup and Super 14 games.

"Then you have a team that can finish first or second and they are back there now," he said of the table-topping Bulls.

"Most of those guys have been there and they have a lot more experience, so there is no reason why they can't dominate the Super 14 for the next few years."

  • Do you agree with Meyer? Who do YOU think will win? Leave a your comments below!

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