Vodacom Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann stated that facing Leinster in the United Rugby Championship (URC) Grand Final is a "privilege but a massive challenge against one of the best teams, if not the best team, in this competition and in Europe".
“It’s still a bit surreal. It’s a privilege to play, but it’s a massive challenge against one of the best teams, if not the best team, in this competition and in Europe.”
Speaking on Thursday, ahead of the final at Croke Park, Ackermann stressed that his team cannot afford another slow start like last year's decider and must match Leinster's early intensity from the opening whistle.
“We have to be much more accurate than we’ve been. We have to match Leinster’s intensity at the start.”
“Whatever we’ve done in the past isn’t going to count for much. We have to repeat what we’ve done well and be much better tomorrow.”
“Leinster are too good a side to take anything for granted. We have to work hard in every facet of the game.”
Despite much pre-match chatter around Leinster’s front-row injuries, Ackermann refused to turn the Vodacom Bulls’ formidable scrum into a singular game plan.
Yes, they pride themselves on their set-piece. But leaning too heavily on it? That’s a trap.
“If you think things are just going to happen, you’ll get a wake-up call,” he said. “The scrum is only a small part of the game. There’s so much outside of that.”
One subplot heading into the final is the form of flyhalf Handré Pollard, who endured an uncharacteristically off day from the tee in the semifinal. Inside the Vodacom Bulls camp, there is no panic.
“Every golfer’s got a bad round somewhere,” Ackermann quipped. “Hopefully he had his last week.”
Coetzee backed that up, highlighting Pollard’s broader influence beyond goal-kicking.
“We sometimes just focus on that main strength, but what he did in the game was brilliant.”
Ackermann acknowledged that his side remains a work in progress, still blending styles and adapting to the demands of the VURC after his return from Europe. But that evolution has brought them here, to a final, against the best.
“We’re still in a development process, but for now, we’re just happy to be in the final.”
If there is one thread running through the Bulls’ message, it is this: they are not burdened by history, nor intimidated by reputation. They see opportunity.
“We don’t sit on a couch wondering what could have been,” Ackermann said. “We get this opportunity to play.”