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'It's not about revenge' - Bulls name team for URC Final
By Ian Cameron
DoR Jake White has named an unchanged Bulls side for United Rugby Championship Grand Final against the Stormers.
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White has stuck with the same team that shocked Leinster last weekend in their boilover semi-final win in the RDS.
The Bulls, who started the year in 15th place on the log table, have made steady but inexorable progress over the previous four months. The Stormers, on the other hand, qualified for the final with a win against Ulster, in the second semi-final at home in Cape Town.
“It’s been an incredible season in our first one participating in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. We have measured ourselves against some of the best sides and players in the world,” said Vodacom Bulls director of rugby, Jake White, ahead of the game.
“So, to be able to play in the final is an incredible feat. I am very proud of the Vodacom Bulls players, coaches and staff for the hard work and role they played in getting this far.
“We are up against a deserving and strong DHL Stormers side that has shown throughout the season how competitive and hungry for success they are. We expect another tough challenge against a team we have not managed to beat this season.”
Bull skipper Marcell Coetzee said: “It’s not so much about revenge (for the two earlier defeats), but a final will be personal on both fronts and it’s always 50/50 on the day. We will approach the final with the humility and respect it deserves.
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“Our job is not done yet, there’s still a lot for us to fix. Our plan worked to perfection but then we let Leinster back in the game at the end. But the Stormers were able to keep their composure towards the end of a tight contest.”
The match will kick-off at 18.30 UK time/19.30 SA time.
BULLS TEAM: Canan Moodie (Pretoria), David Kriel (Tuine), Cornal Hendricks (Northam Rhinos), Harold Vorster (Northam Rhinos), Madosh Tambwe (Pretoria), Chris Smith (Harlequin), Zak Burger (Tuine); Elrigh Louw (UP Tuks), Arno Botha (ABE Midas Naka Bulle), Marcell Coetzee (ABE Midas Naka Bulle, CAPT), Ruan Nortje (ABE Midas Naka Bulle), Walt Steenkamp (Tuine), Mornay Smith (Betway Centurion), Johan Grobbelaar (UP Tuks), Gerhard Steenekamp (ABE Midas Naka Bulle).
REPLACEMENTS: Bismarck du Plessis (Betway Centurion), Simphiwe Matanzima (ABE Midas Naka Bulle), Robert Hunt (Harlequin), Janko Swanepoel (Pretoria), WJ Steenkamp (Tuine); Embrose Papier (UP Tuks), Morne Steyn (Tuine), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Betway Centurion).
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Big difference that Jake missed out on was that Andy Robinson had never really achieved much with England in the several seasons he was head coach. In fact, he struggled and struggled pretty consistently. Jones has had multiple successes with England and the RFU would be fools to think that getting rid of him will be a silver bullet for England's RWC chances. That said, I agree that the players will have a massive influence on the final call - if they have lost faith in him then he is done. The criticism of Jones's selection isn't valid in my opinion, he calls a lot of players into the England squad with no intention of picking them, he brings them in, gives them a taste of the action and then he assess whether or not they improve when they go back to their clubs. If they can't improve their game after he has thrown them an incentive, why would they improve consistently over the next several years as England regulars - which is the type of player he wants and every international team needs. It may just be that the players he has called up, who showed promise, just aren't good enough. One final thing on Jake White, the guy was real lucky to win a world cup. RSA were a long, long way from convincing in the 2007 tri nations and truth be told, they were fortunate to beat the Wallabies in RSA in the lead up to the RWC. A couple of long distance Francois Steyn drop goals got them home by the skin of their teeth. And in the RWC, they really never played a decent team. I suppose South Africans will disagree, but that's rugby isn't it.
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