The Vodacom Bulls’ Kurt-Lee Arendse says his team owes Leinster a good challenge when the two meet in Friday’s semi-final of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship at the RDS Arena.
The last time the Vodacom Bulls played Leinster in Dublin in September 2021, Arendse was coming back from injury and watched from the bench as the Pretoria side were beaten 31-3 in their first match of the new Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
Practising with the team in Dublin on Tuesday, Arendse – with a strapped hand for his injured thumb – said there was very much a feeling in the camp that they wanted to ensure a better contest than that last one.
“We do owe Leinster a challenge and the boys are ready and want to win,” said Arendse. “I’m really excited for this match. Leinster are a good team and I really want to play against them. It’s Leinster. Every team wants to beat Leinster and it will be a great challenge to compete against the best team in the competition.”
Arendse paid tribute to his time with the Springbok Sevens as having given him that desire to conquer a challenge and adapt to anything thrown his way.
“I learned with the Sevens team that you have to go and face that challenge if you want to win. You’ve got to say yes to the challenge. You have to adapt when things don’t go your way. I put myself through this for people who have maybe given up on their dreams, and to show them that if you really want to, you can make it and fulfil your dreams.”