Bulls under fire thanks to Jake

Bulls under fire as anti-SA sentiment grows The Bulls’ decision to field a second-string side in the Champions Cup could have far-reaching consequences.

by Craig Lewis

The Bulls fielded a weakened second-string side for the Champions Cup quarter-final, against the Northampton Saints on Saturday, and it will apparently now be investigated by EPCR organiser.

Jake White named a Bulls team missing a host of Springboks, including the likes of Johan Goosen, Canan Moodie, Willie le Roux, Marcell Coetzee and Kurt-Lee Arendse, bu tthe coach did cite a number of injury worries. In the end, as expected, the Pretoria side suffered a heavy defeat.

BULLS BACKLASH

A local rugby boss notably also told Rapport that the French will apparently use the Bulls B-team selection “to try to kick us (South Africa) out of the competitions [Champions Cup and Challenge Cup] in 2026.”

Meanwhile, The Times’ sources in South Africa fear backlash from the EPCR, concerned about damaging the Champions Cup’s credibility as the Bulls opted to prioritise the URC.

It was always believed that the Bulls’ decision could risk their standing in the competition, while a SA Rugby source acknowledged they were “expecting a backlash” for disrespecting the tournament’s integrity.

Thanks Jake you self serving petulant twat - sack the useless lump of shit.

That article is a load of bollocks. Not a chance the SA teams will get kicked out of the Champions Cup.

There has been countless teams that have sent weaker or B teams in the Champions Cup because their focus has been on the domestic league. Hell Lyon sent its B team to SA to face the Bulls a week before.

And yes the Bull's got trashed but so did a full strength Exeter Chiefs by an even bigger margin the next day.

It was the English that where most behind the constant reformatting of the tournament. We have this stupid round of 16 that needs to be got rid of.

Bring back the old format of 6 groups of 4, 3 matches home and away. Top 6 go through and the 2 best runner ups. This will cut out a whole load of matches where B teams are sent to away games because its simply too easy to get out of groups.

The French and the English should look at themselves in the mirror when they take about devaluing the tournament.

The Bulls have been let off without a sanction. It’s been put down to the travel situation. 

Strav are you saying that other clubs have sent B teams to contest a QF of a competition?

The travel situation that was never a situation in the first place?

Long COVID is nothing… the Watson snub has now been scrambling Dave’s brain for 18years. 

Geez Strav seriously? No difference between a pool game and a QF?

You are wrong regarding the travel - wanker Jake threw his toys out of the cot saying 8 different flights would be required. SA rugby had it covered with one flight. You don’t acquire a single flight after discovering 8 would be required by a later source

Wrong Moz, Jake has always been an average coach, prone to petulant outbursts

His latest call just confirms how crap he is

Let’s hope the Bulls sack the disrespectful, useless fool

Geez Strav seriously? No difference between a pool game and a QF?

Emm...last 16 is not a pool game. 

You are wrong regarding the travel - wanker Jake threw his toys out of the cot saying 8 different flights would be required. SA rugby had it covered with one flight. You don’t acquire a single flight after discovering 8 would be required by a later source

Nope I'm not. According to the Supersport their own reporter viewed the list of flights that the Bull's where due to fly out on and confirmed there was originally 8 different flights for the team before it was changed.

https://supersport.com/rugby/super-rugby/news/86566eec-eac3-46ab-93f3-02dee6122a97/sa-rugby-solve-bulls-travel-nightmare-with-new-flights

Its quite possible that Jake felt that the original 8 flights would kill any chance the Bull's had against Northampton and by the time it was changed he had already announced the team that was going and didn't want to change it back.

Thanks for the context Stav...interesting and much appreciated. 

Yes Jake bitched about 8 separate flights the only available flights to get his side to England

But SA rugby must have already booked a single flight for the whole side for you don’t find a single flight after the only option prior to that was 8 separate flights

Sounds like a bullshit story to me - that’s £5000 a ticket to England

A lot of money being spent on a B side knowing they are in for a hiding

Sounds like a Jake move

All I can say is that I’m sure Northampton would have fielded their strongest side had they been the ones to travel. 

SA Rugby themselves that's how much it cost.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/sa-rugby-statememt-bulls-travel-arrangements-champions-cup-northampton/

The  fact is  that the flight costs would have eben R11 200 for a returrn flight to London - for a touring party like that (ie 36 people maximum) .    I can remember flying back to SA  on the same flight from Perth to Johannesburg  used by the Springboks.   The suppot staff and even the President of SARU flew - were in ecionomy class seats the players were all in business class.

In any event even if the situation is the same with the Bulls players - it would cost a fraction fo the R4,1 million refered to above. 

I think if there is one thing that is going  to count here is that 74,5% of the  Bulls franchise shareholding is held  by a partnership between 2 of the richest people in the country - namely Rupert and Montsepe,    They fund the franchise and even has an employee Brits - who looks after their rugby interests.    They are not going to be happy about this issue - Rupert especially have enough influence in the sports world to have White given at least a lecture or being fired.

I suspect the latter is on the cards. in this case.          .