Devon Williams: Bulls won’t ‘go into shell’ for Bayonne Challenge Cup playoff

Should the Bulls adopt a more conservative approach in Saturday’s Challenge Cup last-16 playoff against Bayonne?

That is the major issue that the Pretoria side will have to grapple with at the Stade Jean Dauger (1.30pm start).

On the one hand, a ‘knockout rugby’ style often dictates that teams must be wary of chancing their arm in case of making an unnecessary mistake that could cost them the game.

But what about the type of rugby that got you to the playoffs? Shouldn’t that be the blueprint for success all the way?

Well, for someone like Bulls fullback Devon Williams, you would think that he would want an all-out attacking game-plan against Bayonne on Saturday.

The 32-year-old has been in excellent form for the Bulls this season, making vital incursions with ball-in-hand in the backline and being solid in defence and clearing any difficult situations with his trusty left boot.

But having developed consistently in a lengthy career that has taken him from his home in Pniel near Stellenbosch to Western Province, the Pumas and now Bulls, Williams has a measured approach to the game.

“We can’t complain about the weather yet, so hopefully it stays like this (clear, without rain) through to the weekend,” he said this week.

“It’s knockout rugby, and we’ve touched on it in our meetings as well. We have to go with an approach in both competitions in a playoff mindset.

“If it comes down to a three-pointer, then it must be so. But we won’t be scared to play rugby, so if we have to go to our set-pieces and lineouts for five-pointers or get a bonus point, then it is a bonus.

“You can’t go into your shell. You are still playing rugby, and still need to get points.

“So, I think it’s understanding the balance of a three-six-nine game versus a seven-14-21 game – when to take a risk and when not.

“It’s getting the balance right between when to go for poles, but at the end, it stays important that when you enter the 22, is to get points.”

Williams was one of the stand-outs once more in the Bulls’ 63-24 drubbing of Zebre at Loftus Versfeld last weekend.

The No 15 combined well with wings Sergeal Petersen and Stravino Jacobs as the hosts ran in nine tries.

But sunny Pretoria is very different to the south-west of France, near the Spanish border, where Bayonne’s fanatical supporters will hope to drive their team to victory.

At the moment, there is also some rain forecast for Saturday, but the Bulls will be confident that they can build on their Zebre performance.

But Bayonne have a number of internationals, including former Springbok loose forward Uzair Cassiem and England centre Manu Tuilagi, and are a streetwise side who are fourth on the French Top 14 log as well.

So, the Bulls will have their work cut out for them, and will hope to continue their good away form to reach next week’s quarter-finals.

“Everybody went out with the correct mindset (against Zebre), and stuck to our game-plan. The forwards gave us front-foot ball, and the backs took the space. So, it was a great collective effort,” Williams said.

“The confidence has always been there. There was maybe a last pass that doesn’t stick, but we’re going into the playoffs now, and hopefully everything starts to gel for us.

“We haven’t addressed or singled out any player. Week in and week out, we get different types of bruisers in the backline.

“But Manu Tuilagi is a big name, so I guess we’ll have a plan going in for him. But we are playing for the Bulls, so I don’t think we’ll stand back for anyone.”