Former Ireland forwards coach Gert Smal was still rumbling over the lack of discipline shown by experienced hooker Bismarck du Plessis in the Bulls' weekend United Rugby Championship win over Munster.
The Bulls won 29-24 but had been 29-3 up at one stage of the game. Munster scored three straight tries to at least get a losing bonus point. Du Plessis did not help his team's cause when he came off the bench and flipped Munster No.8 Alex Kendellen in a move one would be more likely to see in WWE.
On House of Rugby URC[LISTEN from 59:30 below], Connacht flanker Conor Oliver joined Greg O'Shea, Megan Williams and Jason Hennessy, and spoke about how fired up and focused the South African sides are for their home stands.
South African sides targeting big scalps in URC
"These sides are targeting their home games [in South Africa]," says Conor Oliver, "as they know the away games will be so hard to win. They have been away for multiple games, and weeks in a row. They are away from their homes and families, and having to go in and put in massive performances.
"They are massively targeting these games, and you could see how [all three] won so well at the weekend... they have their internationals out now, the Sharks had Siya Kolisi out, the Springbok captain."
Bismarck du Plessis has 79 Test caps with the Springboks, last playing at the 2015 World Cup. He has more than enough games in the bank to know better than his rash flip and tip tackle on Alex Kendellen:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbKbhnbqWJP/
Gert Smal far from happy with Bismarck du Plessis
Ahead of their midweek Currie Cup meeting with the Sharks, Gert Smal said he had been considering using the veteran Springbok for at least some of the match. Clearly unimpressed with du Plessis, he told News 24:
"I'm definitely not happy about it. I mentioned right at the beginning that we would want to see the players being accurate in a lot of things.
"Discipline is one of those. We've implored ourselves not to give away unnecessary penalties and even focused on not remotely being shown yellow or red cards. That's really something we have to start actively managing.
"It's definitely been a priority for us over the past week, and hopefully, we can deliver some quality rugby."
Smal was Ireland forwards coach during the Declan Kidney era and is back in South Africa looking after the Bulls' Currie Cup squad. Du Plessis is facing the disciplinary panel today and is set for an extended spell on the sidelines.
WATCH HOUSE OF RUGBY HERE:
