22 October 2026
Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann has challenged his squad to eliminate errors ahead of Saturday’s United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against Ulster at Loftus Versfeld. Despite a recent run of home games, Ackermann emphasised that a repeat of their recent sluggish starts will prove costly against the Irish province.
The Pretoria-based franchise is aiming to turn Loftus into an uncompromising fortress for northern hemisphere tourists. Ackermann demanded a sharp technical reset following a mixed European performance, urging his players to enforce their own tactical standards from the opening whistle.
“Against Stade Francais in the first half we weren’t clinical, and our discipline wasn’t good,” Ackermann said at Thursday’s team announcement. “It’s a reset mindset: take the positives out of that performance and back it up with another one.”
The visitors arrive in South Africa after an indifferent start to the season, recording one defeat and two draws from three fixtures. However, the recent inclusion of eight Ulster players in Ireland’s Nations Championship squad underlines the test-level threat they pose. “The players know we’re playing a quality team,” Ackermann warned. “Ulster are definitely a better team than their results show.”
A bolstered squad depth and rigorous conditioning program drive the hosts' campaign this season. High-intensity training blocks with nearly 30 fully fit players have sharpened the squad's competitive edge, even with an All Blacks fixture jammed into their pre-season schedule.
“Last year we only trained with 14 to 17 players, but now we have close to 30 who can train every time, and that automatically lifts the intensity,” Ackermann explained. “This competition is a marathon, so to maintain that momentum and focus, you reset on a Monday.”
Ackermann also praised the physical output of his pack, driving his selection choices ahead of the weekend. The coaching staff remains intent on pushing the squad's boundaries during this home stretch.
Ackermann concluded that he wouldn’t be seduced by many of the tournament statistics which his side is leading. “This competition is a marathon, so to maintain that momentum and focus, you reset on a Monday.”