Vodacom Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White outlined the troubling travel schedule they will face after booking their place in the Champions Cup Round of 16.
Jake White said that even the best-case scenario is a tough one, and rotating their squad will be massive in how successful they will be.
In the Round of 16, they will host French outfit Lyon Olympique at Loftus, whereafter they will need to travel to Europe for their quarter-final match if they beat Lyon Olympique. The Northampton Saints will host them at the Cinc Stadium or host Munster in Pretoria in the quarterfinal.
“I love a home game at Loftus in the Round of 16, but we actually play Dragons and then Leinster in Dublin on 29 March,” White said to the reporters.
“We have to come back home, after being on tour for two weeks,” White said of the Round of 16 encounter with Lyon.
“If we win that game, we go back overseas to play in the quarter-finals as you are unlikely to get a home quarter-final, then we’ve got to come here and play Munster in the URC."
"Basically, our schedule would be Dragons away, Leinster away, back home for a last 16 against Lyon Olympique, away for a quarter-final, and then back here for Munster on 20 April.
“I don’t want to underplay anything, but that is a hell of a tough task for a group of players, with the depth of our squad and the age profile of our players.”
White said that having home-ground advantage in the Round of 16 means they have a chance of improving on last year, when they got knocked out by Toulouse in an away match in the Round of 16.
"Better than last year but now the real test begins."
“At least there is growth and development,” the Bulls boss said, adding: “There are learning we have put into place.”
With a bit of luck and a series of bizarre results, the Bulls could end up hosting Munster at Loftus on consecutive Saturdays, in the Champions Cup quarterfinal and URC league match.
