“The Springboks Being Back Is Unbelievable” – Jake White

 

The Vodacom Bulls celebrated their first match back at Loftus Versfeld from a four-week tour with a brilliant 53-27 bonus-point victory. Director of Rugby Jake White said at the post-match interview that being able to field a team full of Springboks is a big ticked box.

“The Springboks being back is unbelievable,” White said after the match. “I was saying to the players before the game, that every guy in the forward pack, except for Reinhardt Ludwig, who has captained the SA U20s, had played for South Africa. That’s incredible. It’s a great step for the Bulls.

“Having World Cup winners back and Springboks in your team is something I have been pushing since I got here. The Bulls need to have international players playing for South Africa because it makes it so much better for the audience and the product."

“As you saw, you don’t just score 50 points against Connacht, I don’t know when last they conceded that many. So there’s a lot of confidence you are going to get out of that.”

White also said that he does not doubt that Willie Le Roux will be a big hit in Pretoria.

“I can’t believe he gets all the flak that he does. It was the first time he had played for the Bulls, but he looked like he had been here since I started here four years ago."

“He is very skilful and clever. I am really happy he has come to the Bulls. You can see the impact he has on our wings. It’s like having a coach on the field. I do not doubt that as long as he stays healthy, he will make it very difficult to kick him out.”

On the possible loss of captain, Ruan Nortje who left the field in the 45th minute due to injury, White said: “I am hoping maybe there’s a miracle and he’s fine, but if he’s not there, it’s a massive loss. It’s like having two guys, he runs the lineouts, his defensive capabilities, his work rate, he is incredible.”