Jake White’s candid revelation on gift he ‘would like to give this group’ as Bulls prepare for URC final with Leinster

Bulls director of rugby Jake White is quietly confident ahead of his team’s eagerly anticipated encounter against Leinster in the 2024/25 United Rugby Championship (URC) final at Croke Park on Saturday.

The men from Pretoria are contesting their third final in this competition but are yet to lift the trophy as winners after coming off second best to the Stormers in the inaugural tournament in 2022 and against Glasgow Warriors last year.

Leinster’s first final

The Bulls face a tough task against Leo Cullen’s troops who will be involved in their first final after losing in three successive semi-finals.

After coming off second best to Glasgow Warriors in last year’s URC final at Loftus Versfeld, White feels his troops are better prepared than ever.

“One thing I am very proud of is how we have made changes to our squad — bringing in new guys all the time — and have still won big games,” he said. “That makes me positive about what is coming this week.

“My job is to channel the positive energy of where we are in the season and what we have achieved; the calibre of players we have to play Leinster; and the leadership growth we have seen.

“A lot of the players have beaten Leinster in big games.

Why Jake White feels his Bulls ‘don’t need to be told what they need to do’ against Leinster

“We did not have Cameron Hanekom when we beat them there in 2022 — in a URC semi-final. We had Marcell (Coetzee) and Marco (van Staden), to name just two, and we will have them again.

Importance of preparation

“The thing we can control is who is going to Dublin. Then it is the coaching staff’s job to ensure they are well prepared — mentally, physically, and, importantly, in terms of excitement and motivation.”

The man who guided the Springboks to Rugby World Cup glory in 2007 admits that a URC final triumph would be a “massive” personal achievement but feels a victory would hold extra significance for his players.

“A big reason why you coach is because you want your team to know what it is like to win something big,” said White.

“It is a gift I would like to give this group after all they have put in over the last four years. And they have come close.

“It would be nice for them to taste what it is like when you get over the line.”

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