Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann says his side cannot afford a slow start in Friday night’s URC final against Leinster at Croke Park. LINDIZ VAN ZILLA reports.
Leinster stormed into a 19-0 lead after 22 minutes of last season’s Dublin decider against the Bulls and never relinquished control on their way to a 32-7 victory.
“We have to be much more accurate than we’ve been,” Ackermann said on Thursday. “We have to match Leinster’s intensity at the start.
“Whatever we’ve done in the past isn’t going to count for much. We have to repeat what we’ve done well and be much better tomorrow.”
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Five battles that will decide URC final
Captain Marcell Coetzee agreed that the opening exchanges will be crucial.
“In last season’s final, they started very, very well and that helped their momentum throughout the game,” he said. “We went out of structure once the pressure started mounting.
“This is a new final and a new opportunity, but we learned from that experience.”
TEAM: Furlong returns for Leinster, Porter ruled out
Much of the build-up to the Croke Park rematch has focused on the Bulls scrum, particularly with Leinster missing injured loosehead prop Andrew Porter.
However, Ackermann warned against viewing the set-piece as a silver bullet.
“In every game you aim for set-piece dominance, but you have to earn the right,” he said. “Leinster have a pipeline of talented players and they’ll pride themselves on that area as well.
“You can’t go onto the field thinking only about the scrum. Defensively we have to be strong, our lineouts must function and our attack must be good.
BIG VIC: It’s Bulls scrum vs Leinster attack
“We pride ourselves on our scrum, but it’s not just going to happen. We have to work for it.
“It’s pointless if you scrum well but the other parts of your game aren’t good enough.
“Leinster are too good a side to take anything for granted. We have to work hard in every facet of the game.”
MATFIELD: Moodie the man to shut down Leinster
Ackermann has backed the team that beat the Glasgow Warriors in the Murrayfield semi-final as the Bulls chase a first URC title in their fourth final appearance in five seasons.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
The post Ackers: Bulls must match Leinster’s early intensity appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Vodacom Bulls coach Johan Ackermann says his side cannot afford a slow start in Friday night’s URC final against Leinster at Croke Park.
The post Ackers: Bulls must match Leinster’s early intensity appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
