Football forcing Bulls Super 14 shift
BY DUNCAN JOHNSTONE
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The table-topping Bulls will be forced to give up home advantage if they make the Super 14 playoffs after signing a deal to play the knockout phases in Soweto.
The change comes about because their beloved Loftus Versfeld is being used for football's World Cup and is out of action under Fifa rules.
There is no other appropriate venue in Pretoria so the Bulls will take their game down the motorway into neighbouring Lions territory but more interestingly into the football hotbed of Soweto.
They have negotiated to play any finals matches at the revamped Orlando Stadium there.
It's good news for the Bulls opponents.
Loftus has become the most daunting ground in the championship in recent times. The Crusaders and Chiefs were overwhelmed there in last year's playoffs as the Bulls swept to their second title.
Orlando Stadium holds just over 40,000 compared to Loftus' 50,000.
The Bulls are currently unbeaten after six weeks of this year’s Super 14. They have won four matches at Loftus and one in Bloemfontein and are still top of the table despite sitting out a bye.
They now get to test their mettle on the road with games against the Western Force, Blues, Chiefs and Reds.
Three of their final four matches will be at Loftus.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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Best team? HAHA! Four home wins, thanks to the bias ref in the Canes game and an away win against the pussy cats? Come on! Can't wait until they play away. The real teams at the moment are the Stormers and the Crusaders, they have had hard opponents and played home and away.
@NZEd - cant play in Polokwane mate, that stadium is also booked out by FIFA. Bulls will battle in Soweto - not sure how many of their fans will make the trip.
ha ha rugby! Maybe if tew and his sanzar buddies ring sepp blatter they will be able to change his mind.
More likely sepp will say "WHO ARE YA! WHO ARE YA!"
True moving to a different stadium should not affect thier performance but thats as bad as winning but not being allowed to hold the trophy. And really i don't care how great Football is it's not a competition between between football and Rugby it's simple principle, how much support have the bulls genreated for South Africa let alone Pretoria now they being jumped to some horrible second rate field in the middle of soweto which will mean a very small fan base for rugby. how about we throw a party in the morgue next should be as much fun.
PLAY IN POLOKWANE!!!!!!!!!!!!! They will get FAR more supporters in the seats there than in Soweto - FACT!
I was looking foward to a marvelous Super 14 Final, the Crusaders spoil Bulls party at Loftus!
Just cause our sport (rugby) is a minor sport we shouldnt have to move for a massive global sport (football).
And thus proves Football is greater than rugby
Unlucky for the Bulls - lucky for everyone else.
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Johannes, have you been or seen Orlando stadium? why are you calling it second grade. its people like you how are giving this country a bad name with your baseless conclusions. The match if it goes ahead will be great occasion for soweto and Sowetans will attend in huge numbers.