Vodacom Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann has a simple wish list ahead of Friday’s pre-season derby against archrivals the DHL Stormers in Paarl, and at the top of it is not the scoreline.
"It’s not that we want to go out there and damage each other," Ackermann said, half-joking about a fixture that rarely needs extra needle. "First and foremost, hopefully getting through 80 minutes with no injuries; that would be the top priority."
Beyond survival, Ackermann wants answers. He views the exhibition match as a critical opportunity to see how their lineouts, general play, and attacking structures translate from the training ground into a match situation.
The Bulls boss knows exactly how this result will be read by the outside world, regardless of what he says on the touchline beforehand. However, he is paying no attention to the scoreboard.
"I know people will look at the result and draw conclusions: if we win it’s going to be a good year, if we lose it’s going to be a long season, but that’s definitely not one of our goals," Ackermann stated.
The pre-season has been a careful build, following a deliberate wind-down period at the conclusion of the previous Vodacom URC campaign. While Ackermann admitted he would have liked a bit more time to build a conditioning foundation, he remains pleased with the immense effort his squad has put in.
Friday’s clash offers a genuine examination that internal training sessions simply cannot replicate. Facing different opposition in Paarl leaves nowhere to hide, making it the perfect platform to hand out game time and test various strategies and combinations.
Crucially, squad selection remains entirely up for grabs. With no player guaranteed a position, Ackermann has explicitly challenged his squad to put their hands up and use this high-profile friendly as a shop window to force the coaching staff's hand.
The Bulls head into the new campaign having shed significant experience over the off-season, losing key figures like Ruan Nortje and David Kriel to overseas clubs. While Ackermann acknowledged the loss of team cohesion, he remains highly bullish about the calibre of their new arrivals.
He singled out high-profile signings Hanro Liebenberg, Thaakir Abrahams, and Curwin Bosch, praising them as quality individuals who bring elite experience from the Premiership, Champions Cup, and French Top 14.
This influx of fresh talent will be vital as the Bulls navigate the perennial headache of mid-season Springbok call-ups. It is a disruption Ackermann accepts as part of South African rugby, trusting the strong character of his international stars to seamlessly reintegrate when they return from a brutal four-Test series against New Zealand.
Looking further down the road, the Bulls are bracing for a brutal opening to their Vodacom URC season with consecutive away fixtures against Zebre and Munster. Ackermann warned that a revamped Zebre side under a new captain will be incredibly dangerous in round one, requiring a full 80-minute performance to secure a win.
Following that, a trip to Limerick to face Munster presents what he labels one of the most hostile challenges in world rugby. Despite the looming pressure and the weight of expectation that comes with coaching in Pretoria, especially following last season's heartbreaking final defeat, Ackermann is confident his side is logistically and structurally in a better place to chase their ultimate championship dream.