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The URC attendance record the Bulls are chasing on the cheap
Jake White’s Bulls have slashed ticket prices to R25 (£1.30/€1.55) in the hope of setting a URC attendance record for the 2021/22 season when they host Ulster this Saturday in Pretoria. After two years of pandemic restrictions, relaxed rules now allow for South African stadiums to be filled to 50 per cent capacity.
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This development has piqued the interest of the Bulls who are looking to attract the biggest crowd to a sporting event in South Africa since 2020. Their ambition is to get 25,000 in through the gates at Loftus Versfeld, a figure that would surpass the 19,419 benchmark set by Leinster when they hosted the Bulls in their round one game in Dublin last September.
Rather than attempt to cash in now that fans are allowed back in large numbers to stadiums, the Bulls are selling the majority of tickets for just R25 with the director of rugby White leading the marketing drive to get fans back to live sport.
He explained earlier this week: “We are hoping to get a big crowd. The government has given us the go-ahead to open up to 50 per cent of the capacity, which is 25,000 for us at Loftus. Hopefully, we will try to get those numbers up this weekend.
“Let’s make sure that we get 25,000 people at Loftus. I’m committing that we will make it start from R25 a ticket, and we are hoping that all the schools, clubs and supporters of rugby in the area will come.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the crowd back. I don’t see a reason why this cannot be achieved. I have met a lot of Bulls supporters who have been saying they want to come to watch the team. I’m sure this will be a great initiative. If we can get 25,000 at the stadium, it will just show how much we love our rugby.”
Hooker Johan Grobbelaar reckoned the reduced ticket prices would make for a ‘lekker’ vibe at the stadium. “We want to call on all the fans, near and far, to please come out to support us. The support really makes a big difference. There will be a lekker vibe at the stadium.”
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The Bulls are currently in seventh position on the URC table, 13 points the second place Ulster following a run of four successive victories. Since defeating Zebre in Italy on February 25, the Bulls have picked off Munster, Scarlets and Dragons in the last three weekends in front of restricted Pretoria crowds of 2,000.
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments