Bulls aim for third-time luck in United Rugby Championship final against Leinster

Will it be a case of third time lucky for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship final?

The Pretoria side are in Dublin for Saturday’s title decider against Leinster at Croke Park (6pm South African time kick-off), and are hoping to finally get over the line at their third attempt.

Coach Jake White’s team went down 18-13 to the Stormers in a Cape Town final in 2022, and last year, the Bulls lost 21-16 to Glasgow at Loftus Versfeld.

But Irish province Leinster are clear favourites for Saturday’s showdown, as they boast a powerful side with several Test stars in their midst, including James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park and Josh van der Flier.

They are also hungry for a trophy after losing in the Champions Cup semi-finals a few weeks ago, and are in fact taking part in their first URC final since the South African franchises joined the competition in the 2021-22 season.

There is sure to be a thrilling atmosphere at the 82,300-capacity Croke Park arena, and White doesn’t feel that there is extra pressure on the Bulls due to their prior final defeats.

“It’s massive. We have football stadiums like this, but I’ve heard a lot about Croke Park,” White said.

“It’s, it is magnificent, it’s wonderful. I just hope, I suppose like all players and supporters that, and people involved, that (on Saturday), it will be as full as it can be because it’s a great stadium to have so many people here.

“Every year it’s a new year. This Saturday is a new game, a new final, so I don’t think we take anything into account of what happened the previous years.”

Bulls captain Ruan Nortjé and his team have beaten 2023 champions Munster and 2024 winners Glasgow away from home this season, which will make them quietly confident of pulling off an upset against Leinster.

While the South Africans are missing injured stalwarts such as Springboks such as Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw and Gerhard Steenekamp – as well as star wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, who returned too late from a sabbatical at a Japanese club – the Bulls still have a strong outfit.

Apart from Nortjé, other current Boks include Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie and Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who will spearhead their quest to stop the slick Leinster squad in what is expected to be wet conditions in Dublin.

“I think we can just go on what we’ve been doing this year,” White said.

“I think like I said, we’ve been really good away from home. For some odd reason, the group has really been getting together quite well, especially on tour.

“We really enjoy each other’s company, really have a good time together, and that camaraderie just gets better and better.

“So, we’ll just definitely go out this weekend and give it everything we’ve got. I think that’s the only thing we can do.”