After a streak of four consecutive losses the Force will have another tough encounter, in their first game in the Republic.
Theirs will be second encounter between an Aussie and a South African team in the 2015 Super Rugby season, and will get underway in the early hours of Sunday. In the first, on Friday evening, the Rebels will host the Lions in Melbourne.
Bulls in Perth in 2014 – they have the form in 2015
The form
The season started on an high note for the Western Force with an unexpected win against the reigning champion Waratahs, but after that the injuries took the toll on Foley’s team and four consecutive losses followed, including two at home against the Hurricanes and the Rebels.
On the contrary, the Bulls’ season started slowly, with two defeats – against the Stormers and the Hurricanes. But their season picked up after that, and two wins followed: first at home against the Sharks, then on the road against the Cheetahs.
Last week the Bulls had a bye and they come into this game refreshed and ready to take another scalp.
Steve Mafi – a welcome addition to the Force .
The key players
The Western Force have built their 2014 season around the forwards, as was seen against the Tahs.
Whilst Ben McCalman is no surprise to the Super Rugby audience, Tongan international Steve Mafi has been a welcome addition. His strength and running have impressed, and he is forming a powerful second row with acting captain Sam Wykes, his cousin.
Like most South African teams, the Bulls are forwards-driven, but they also have plenty of talent in the back line, starting with the Springbok fly half André Pollard.
The South Africans have lost winger Akona Ndungane and hooker Callie Visagie due to injuries.
The lineout will be a crucial set piece: the Force had an 100% success rate against the Brumbies, though they dropped to 75% against the Rebels; their opponents will have the lineout guru Victor Matfield. Enough said.
Victor Matfield – lineout guru managing a maul .
Prediction
The Bulls will enter the game as favourites: they are stronger and more complete than the Force and they have fewer critical injuries. They had a light load in their bye week, whereas the Force had their training interrupted by intercontinental travel.
Bulls by 10
Bulls v Force
 |  | 
|
|---|---|---|
| Dean Greyling | 1 | Pekahou Cowan |
| Adriaan Strauss | 2 | Nathan Charles |
| Marcel van der Merwe | 3 | Tetera Faulkner |
| Jacques du Plessis | 4 | Sam Wykes (c) |
| Grant Hattingh | 5 | Adam Coleman |
| Deon Stegmann | 6 | Steve Mafi |
| Lappies Labuschagne | 7 | Kane Koteka |
| Pierre Spies | 8 | Ben McCalman |
| Rudy Paige | 9 | Alby Mathewson |
| Handrè Pollard | 10 | Sias Ebersohn |
| Bjorn Basson | 11 | Nick Cummins |
| Jan Serfontein | 12 | Luke Burton |
| JJ Engelbrecht | 13 | Kyle Godwin |
| Francois Hougaard | 14 | Marcel Brache |
| Jesse Kriel | 15 | Luke Morahan |
| Reserves | ||
| Jaco Visagie | 16 | Heath Tessmann |
| Mornè Mellett | 17 | Chris Heiberg |
| Trevor Nyakane | 18 | Oliver Hoskins/GuyMillar |
| Victor Matfield | 19 | Wilhelm Steenkamp |
| Arno Botha | 20 | Angus Cottrell |
| Piet van Zyl | 21 | Ian Prior |
| Tian Schoeman | 22 | Zack Holmes |
| Jurgen Visser | 23 | Solomoni Jnr Rasolea |
| Location: | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria | |
| Kickoff: | Sun 22 Mar 2:05 | |
| Referee: | Nick Briant | |
| Assistant Ref 1: | Jason Jaftha | |
| Assistant Ref 2: | pro Legoete | |
| TMO : | Shaun Veldsman |
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