The Vodacom Bulls’ URC final collapse against Leinster has again raised questions about their ability to deliver on the biggest stage, writes MARK KEOHANE.
Writing for the Sunday Times, Keohane says Johan Ackermann’s side arrived in Dublin with momentum and belief after a superb second half of the season, only to produce a performance that was “more hopeless than hopeful” on the biggest stage.
It was their fourth final defeat in the league’s five-year history.
Keohane believes the most troubling aspect was not the result itself, but the manner of it. Leinster had effectively settled the contest within 30 minutes, racing into a 19-0 lead as the Bulls failed to match their opponents’ accuracy, discipline and intensity.
“Ackermann will be as perplexed as the supporters by his players’ inability to be disciplined and accurate,” he writes.
“Mostly, he will be left wondering why his big-name players chose Friday night in Dublin to turn the potential of delight into a fearless paralysis.”
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Many of the Bulls’ leading players will now join the Springbok squad carrying the scars of a final in which they failed to deliver.
Keohane argues that Rassie Erasmus may ultimately benefit from that disappointment, inheriting a humbled group rather than one burdened by overconfidence.
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Keohane also has a warning for South African rugby.
The Hurricanes’ record-breaking Super Rugby Pacific title run, culminating in a 60-5 thrashing of the Chiefs, showcased the tempo and attacking intensity likely to feature prominently in Dave Rennie’s first All Blacks squad on Monday.
For Keohane, the Bulls’ failure to handle Leinster’s speed and intensity should serve as a timely reminder of what may await the Springboks later this year.
Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Gallo Images
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The Vodacom Bulls’ URC final collapse against Leinster has again raised questions about their ability to deliver on the biggest stage, writes @mark_keohane
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