The Bulls’ limp and largely aimless performances of the past 18 months suggest that something is profoundly wrong at the once proud franchise, writes JON CARDINELLI.

We need to talk about the Bulls. It’s a conversation that’s been put off for far too long.

The ongoing decline of South Africa’s most successful franchise is reason for alarm. There may be more pressing issues in South African rugby just now – such as the Springbok coaching staff fiasco, the mess in the Eastern Cape, as well as the financial loss that was recently confirmed by SA Rugby – but the question needs to be asked: why aren’t steps being taken to put things right at the Bulls?

There was a time when the Bulls were considered the epitome of professionalism. The brutal yet effective game plan, the band-of-brothers team culture, as well as the overall set-up in Pretoria was the envy of players and coaches throughout South Africa.

The Bulls won three Super Rugby titles between 2007 and 2010, and did so with a style that embraced running rugby as much as South Africa’s traditional strengths of physicality and strategic line-kicking. In 2007, the Bulls finished the Super 14 league stage at the top of the try-scoring pile.

In short, the Bulls commanded respect both on and off the field.

The opposite is true in 2017. The Bulls qualified for the playoffs in 2012 and made it as far as the semi-finals in 2013 (as South African conference winners). Since then, they’ve been consistently mediocre, finishing ninth on the combined log in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

The Bulls are no longer the golden standard in South African rugby. On the basis of the Super Rugby and Currie Cup results of the past six years – they haven’t won the domestic title since 2009 – they don’t warrant a mention in the Super Rugby trophy contender conversation.

Four games into the 2017 tournament, and the Bulls have lost three and won one. Given their poor start and challenging schedule, one wouldn’t bet on them qualifying for the playoffs from here. Indeed, the Bulls may struggle to finish higher than the Stormers and the Cheetahs in the Africa 1 conference.

The brutal truth is, that once proud aura of the Bulls is fading. The class of 2017 have shown no desire to live up to this reputation, and have been physically outplayed in each and every one of their four matches.

While the Sunwolves lost 34-21 at Loftus Versfeld two weeks ago, they earned respect by winning the collisions and breakdowns. The Japanese side also managed to stop the Bulls from claiming the try-scoring bonus point. To put things in perspective, this was the same Sunwolves side that leaked 13 tries and 83 points against the Hurricanes in Tokyo earlier in the tournament.

This past Saturday, the proud reputation of the Bulls took another hit. The Blues dominated the gainline battle and eventually romped to a 38-14 win in Albany. The result wasn’t met with much surprise – the Bulls haven’t won in New Zealand since 2013 – and yet the quality of the performance suggests that the coaches are out of their depth and that the players aren’t sufficiently committed to the cause.

Call it what it is: a crisis. It’s plain to see that the Bulls aren’t getting any better.

WATCH: Highlights of Blues vs Bulls

Earlier this year, Nollis Marais said as much himself, following the defeat to the Stormers at Newlands. At the post-match press conference, the Bulls coach admitted that the players were making the same mistakes, and that the loss was almost identical to the defeat sustained at Newlands in 2016. Marais made excuses, and didn’t appear to realise what these statements said about his coaching abilities.

It’s believed that the Bulls players aren’t sold on Marais’ philosophy and that there is a lot of unhappiness within the camp. It’s easy to believe such rumours when you watch the Bulls run out on a Saturday and deliver such tired and uninspiring performances.

That physicality and bloodymindedness that defined the Bulls teams of the past is just not apparent. The inability to win the gainline battle has impacted on the attack, and the defence has been shambolic.

In four matches, the Bulls have conceded 17 tries and 130 points. That’s an average of four tries and 32 points conceded every match. One shudders to think how this disjointed side will fare against the four other New Zealand teams and an outfit like the Lions.

There needs to be an intervention, and sooner rather than later. The Bulls in their current guise are on the road to nowhere.

Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images