Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Where Jake White ranks the Bulls' win over Leinster

Vodacom Bulls head coach Jake White speaks to Schalk Burger and Gcobani Bobo of Supersport after his side's victory in the United Rugby Championship semi-final match between Vodacom Bulls and Leinster at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo By Shaun Roy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White is a formidable coach with many conquests, including a World Cup gold medal.

ADVERTISEMENT

He rates the Bulls’ United Rugby Championship semifinal victory over Leinster at Loftus Versfeld at the weekend as one of the best in his long and illustrious career.

White was forthright when asked at the post-match media debrief what the win over Leo Cullen’s Leinster meant to him.

Video Spacer

Jake White talks about what the semifinal victory means to him

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      Jake White talks about what the semifinal victory means to him

      “This is one of the biggest wins I’ve ever had as a coach,” he said without hesitation.

      After coaching the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2007, White held several roles. He worked with the International Rugby Board (now World Rugby) between 2008 and 2012. He returned to coaching and had a spell with the Brumbies in 2012 and 2013.

      At that time the Brumbies recorded an historic win over the British and Irish Lions. He followed that up with a Challenge Cup win at French club Montpellier Hérault in 2016.

      “I was lucky enough at the Brumbies to beat the British and Irish Lions,” White said.

      “I was lucky at the Bulls to beat South Africa A in Cape Town [17-14 in 2021].

      “But I would say man for man and with the pressure that comes with a game like this and especially because Ireland are coming here in three weeks.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      “That’s probably the bonus that I feel that this would rank this as one of the best club [franchise] results I’ve had.

      “And I say that because the Brumbies must come close.

      “You’ve beaten the British and Irish team with a Brumbies team without their Wallaby players, because all the Wallabies were away on camp.

      “But in the modern game, and I’m talking now in the modern game with the way professionalism and the way the game has gone and what Ireland has achieved.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      “This Irish team has beaten the All Blacks and the Springboks.

      “So for a club [franchise] team, and I say club team [meaning] no Canan [Moodie], no Kurt-Lee [Arendse], no Marcell Coetzee.

      “It must rank for me as one of the best wins we’ve ever had,” White exclaimed.

      He lauded the defensive efforts of his side, saying if a South African player decided this was the day that he was going to tackle, no one would get through.

      “It’s like a school game in Pofadder.

      “They might not score a lot of tries, but they tackle the hell out of each other.

      “And today [Saturday] it looked like that.

      “It looked like everyone was never going to let you through.

      “That’s a credit to the fact that Leinster can attack,” the Bulls boss said.

      White credited everyone in the Bulls system for the victory.

      “The game plan has been spot-on.

      “We got it right. We played in a way that Leinster never expected us to play.

      “And that’s what you need to do when you get to these games.

      “If you just do the same things, you end up running into a wall.

      “The board, the CEO, the coaches – we all understand what kind of players we want and who want to get to the club.”

      Related

      ADVERTISEMENT

      HSBC SVNS Singapore 2025 | Day Two Men's Highlights

      HSBC SVNS Singapore 2025 | Day Two Women's Highlights

      Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

      Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

      Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry? | New Zealand & Australia | Sevens Wonders | Episode 5

      Kobelco Kobe Steelers vs Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

      The Rise of Kenya | The Report

      The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      3 Comments
      C
      Craig 293 days ago

      From school level SA boys are big into big Defence it’s a culture commitment thing.
      They are judged on big tackles

      m
      matt 294 days ago

      There really is something about a SA team when they lock in and defend. Really no better defending rugby cultures in the world.

      Load More Comments

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      H
      Hack wizard recovery cyber services 3 hours ago
      Ex-All Blacks left confused after bizarre game strategy

      hello

      4 Go to comments
      LONG READ
      LONG READ Mick Cleary: 'Can we have our Champions Cup back, please?' Mick Cleary: 'Can we have our Champions Cup back, please?'
      Search