PRETORIA — The Vodacom Bulls have successfully navigated a challenging campaign to reach the United Rugby Championship final, marking an impressive fourth final in five URC seasons. Despite a rocky start to the year, team leadership remains highly confident as they prepare for a massive rematch against Leinster.
The road to the championship match has been a roller coaster for the Pretoria-based franchise. Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone reflected on the team’s early struggles, noting that on January 3, the squad was sitting 11th on the log. The following weekend, the team suffered a heavy defeat, conceding 60 points at Loftus. However, the momentum shifted following a gritty away victory in tough conditions, decided by a single turnover. Since that turning point, the team has gone on a remarkable 12-game run, securing 11 wins.
Rathbone highlighted the unwavering trust placed in head coach Johan Ackermann during his first season at the helm. Ackermann had to weather early storms, which ultimately led to difficult mid-season adjustments. Rathbone explained that tough decisions were made just two days before Christmas to restructure the coaching setup. This move was designed to free up Ackermann to be more hands-on with the squad and brought Neil into a new role to assist the team’s path forward.
This revamped setup culminated in a massive semi-final victory over the Glasgow Warriors at Murrayfield. Ackermann, who was experiencing the historic stadium for the first time and sitting in the royal box, issued a bold challenge to his players. He told the squad they needed to be the next team to score at the venue, a message they executed perfectly in an exceptional second-half performance. Ackermann described the match as edge-of-your-seat stuff, expressing immense pride in the players and stating that his only wish is for them to finally secure the trophy.
Now, the Bulls are setting their sights on Croke Park in Dublin next week Friday. It will be a repeat of last season’s final against Leinster. Rathbone acknowledged that there is a sense of desperation within the Bulls camp to get over the line after falling short in previous finals, but he emphasized that the team now has seasoned veterans who understand what it takes to win.
The CEO also recognized the formidable threat posed by Leinster, who will be equally desperate to defend their title. Leinster is looking to bounce back after a painful defeat to Bordeaux, but they remain a massive challenge after lifting the URC trophy last year at Croke Park, a venue Rathbone described as a spiritual home for the Irish province.
Admitting that the Bulls head to Dublin as definite underdogs, Rathbone remains hopeful that the team’s resilience will pay off, as they hope for “fifth times a charm” to bring the championship home.
