Bulls look to turn Loftus into a statement against Stade Français

Loftus Versfeld has long been a difficult place for visiting teams, and Keo says the Bulls want to make that point again when Stade Français arrive for their Investec Champions Cup opener on Saturday. The Pretoria side come into the match after a convincing win over the Lions, and the mood around them is that this is an early chance to set the tone in Europe.

According to Keo, the Bulls are not only chasing a home victory. The bigger aim is to produce a performance that tells the rest of Europe that Loftus remains a ground opponents do not enjoy visiting. That idea sits at the centre of the discussion around Johan Ackermann’s team, which Keo says needs to turn recent momentum into something more imposing against French opposition.

The Bulls’ recent form has helped create that expectation. Their dismantling of the Lions gave them a strong platform heading into the Champions Cup, and Keo believes that kind of result should now be backed up against Stade Français. The challenge is to show that the Bulls can carry their domestic rhythm into a competition that tests whether a team can really match Europe’s strongest clubs.

There is also a wider question of mentality. Keo points out that the Bulls have previously come up short in major matches, including URC finals, where promise has not always become silverware. He argues that Ackermann’s arrival has brought fresh confidence and a stronger sense of purpose, and this match offers a first real chance to see that translated into a convincing European showing.

On the Keo & Zels Show, both Keo and Zels backed the Bulls to beat Stade Français, although they differed on how large the winning margin might be. Keo initially suggested a win by as many as 30 points before settling on about 20, while Zels suggested something closer to 40-25. The common thread was that they expected the Bulls to control the contest at home.

One of the players generating the most interest is Cameron Hanekom. Zels highlighted his resurgence after an explosive showing against the Lions, describing it as one of the Bulls’ most encouraging developments. Hanekom’s carrying power and physicality stood out in that match, and Keo believes another strong run against elite European opposition could help strengthen his Springbok prospects ahead of the Nations Championship.

That said, Zels also noted that competition for back-row places in Rassie Erasmus’ squad remains intense. Jasper Wiese, Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit already have established positions, so Hanekom’s challenge is not only to play well for the Bulls but to keep pushing in a very crowded race. For this weekend, he starts at No 8 alongside Marco van Staden and captain Elrigh Louw in a loose trio that looks designed to bring both energy and physical presence.

The Bulls also have experienced control in key positions. Handré Pollard starts at flyhalf with Paul de Wet at scrumhalf, giving the home side a halfback pairing that can manage territory and tempo. Keo pointed to Pollard’s tactical kicking, composure and big-match experience as especially valuable against French opposition, while Willie le Roux adds further playmaking depth from the bench.

Out wide, the Bulls have attacking options too. Cheswill Jooste and Sebastian de Klerk are named on the wings, with Luan Giliomee at fullback. But Keo stressed that the set piece may be just as important as anything in open play. With Wilco Louw no longer there, he said the Bulls must establish themselves as a strong scrummaging unit, and their display against the Lions gave an encouraging sign that this area can still be a weapon.

That responsibility falls first on the starting front row of Alu Tshakweni, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Khutha Mchunu, who will be expected to provide the base for everything else the Bulls want to do. If they can do that, the rest of the side has a platform to play with more authority.

For Keo, the equation is straightforward: winning at Loftus matters, but winning in a way that makes people take notice matters even more. Against Stade Français, the Bulls are not only trying to open their Champions Cup campaign with a result. They are trying to show that they belong among the competition’s serious contenders.