SPOTLIGHT: Bulls hooker Akker van der Merwe believes that his side’s first United Rugby Championship win over the Stormers last season makes this weekend’s clash an equal playing field.
The Bulls snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Stormers last season in their previous meeting, and Van der Merwe believes that makes the two sides equal heading into the North-South derby.
“I just arrived last season, but I felt it was more a mental block than anything else.
“I believe that win at Loftus made it an equal playing field.
“We’re very confident heading into the weekend.”
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der Merwe feels that the Bulls were unlucky to lose four matches in a row in the Champions Cup and URC combined, but felt they had turned the corner following back-to-back wins over Stade Francais and the Lions.
“I feel we were unlucky to lose four games in a row,” the 33-year-old said.
“It’s just something that had to click and I think that’s what happened in the past two games. It gives you a lot more confidence.”
He outlined where he felt the Bulls fell short in those four defeats and what the difference was in their last two victories.
“It’s fine margins, we created a lot of opportunities but couldn’t execute properly and turn the pressure into points.
“The difference in the past two games was that we converted better.”
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The 33-year-old also outlined the difference between playing local derbies in comparison to facing overseas opposition.
“Every derby game is a completely different beast to playing an overseas team.
“There’s a lot more emotion, pride and heritage going into derby games so it’s going to be a massive battle.
“We prepare the way we do for every single game, there isn’t anything different.
“We focus more on ourselves than the opposition.”
