Bulls centre, David Kriel says this weekend’s European Champions Cup showdown between the Pretoria side and Saracens in London is exactly the calibre of match he wants to be a part of to test himself. Saturday evening’s clash is a stand-out fixture among many blue chip encounters featuring the best teams from the United Rugby
Bulls centre, David Kriel says this weekend’s European Champions Cup showdown between the Pretoria side and Saracens in London is exactly the calibre of match he wants to be a part of to test himself.
Saturday evening’s clash is a stand-out fixture among many blue chip encounters featuring the best teams from the United Rugby Championship, England and France.
Also in action in round one will be the Stormers versus Toulon and the Sharks against the Exeter Chiefs.
Saracens are three-time winners of the Champion Cup, and after last season’s meeting against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, the two powerhouse clubs are hardly strangers.
On that occasion, the Bulls won at home 27-16, and Kriel relishes testing himself against the best in England.
He says, “Ja (yes) Saracens their name stands for itself, they have got a rich history and have shown in the last couple of years why they are where they are, one of the best teams in England. We are expecting a very tough battle, but one that the whole squad is excited about and it is one of those games you want to be a part of to see where you are as a group and as an individual player.”
The Bulls travel to London to face Saracens after beating Connacht in Galway in round seven of the United Rugby Championship, that 28-14 win earned the Pretoria side a bonus point and gave their confidence a shot in the arm.
Kriel says, “The win has been a huge one especially the bonus point win away from home in atrocious weather so the confidence in the squad is at an all-time high.”
Performing well in Galway also saw the Bulls beat the dreaded Northern Hemisphere conditions. They now believe they are ready for the weather in London.
Kriel says, “We are expecting wind rain especially from last weeks’ game against Connacht. We expected the worst weather and be prepared accordingly, so if it is anything better than that obviously we’ll just adapt our game towards that but we are expecting the worst weather imaginable.”
A week after facing Saracens, the Bulls will be back in Pretoria to face another English club, the Northampton Saints, in round 2 of the Champions Cup.
