Despite a recent URC final loss and upcoming player departures, Vodacom Bulls' coach Johan Ackermann remains optimistic about the team's prospects. Lingering in the aftermath of a tough defeat in Dublin against Leinster, Ackermann sheds light on the relentless challenges of the tournament.
"It’s a very tough competition," Ackermann emphasized. "If you win it, you deserve a lot of credit. You have to deal with travel, different conditions, international call-ups, and squad depth. You need to play well at home and away. I hope people realize what an achievement it is to win this competition."
"We never gave ourselves a chance"
The Bulls are set to lose several key players: Ruan Nortjé is heading to Kubota Spears, Wilco Louw to Stormers, Kurt-Lee Arendse to Mitsubishi Dynaboars, and David Kriel to La Rochelle. "It’s quality players who are leaving and obviously we’ll lose a lot of experience," admitted Ackermann. Yet, he remains unfazed, "But rugby is an opportunity sport. When a player leaves or gets injured, somebody else gets an opportunity and often that player becomes a star."
In response, the Bulls have been active in the market, securing talents like former Springbok flyhalf Curwin Bosch from France, wing Thaakir Abrahams from Ireland, and former Junior Boks captain Hanro Liebenberg from England. Young prospects Luan Giliomee, Hakeem Kunene, and Mawande Mdanda have been recruited from the Sharks, along with Dylan Maart from Griquas.
The Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has also named 12 Bulls players in his 46-man Nations Championship squad, further impacting the team's preparations. "That’s something we simply have to deal with," the coach stated. "It’s time for the younger players to step up and make a good account of themselves."
The scheduling complexities don't stop there, as Ackermann pointed out, "We have to adjust our entire pre-season because of the Springbok programme and the All Blacks’ tour of South Africa. We don’t have three uninterrupted months to prepare for the URC. We have to plan around the All Blacks game as well, and that’s the challenge."
The Bulls are slated to host the All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld on August 15, before the opening Test at Ellis Park. "Now we have to cut our rest a bit shorter and build the players back up so they’re physically ready for contact in that All Blacks game, before tapering down again. Otherwise, the season becomes too long to keep everyone training at the same intensity," Ackermann explained.
While the immediate aftermath of the season might be tinged with disappointment, the future holds promise. "We're disappointed now, but we'll reflect, learn from it and move forward. The future of the Bulls is still very exciting," Ackermann concluded, setting a resilient tone for the seasons ahead.