Johan Ackermann, the head honcho of the Vodacom Bulls, is preaching the gospel of discipline as the countdown to the URC final ticks on. With the showdown set for next Friday night at Croke Park against Leinster, Ackermann has made it crystal clear: discipline from the get-go is critical.
The Bulls, famed for their comeback spirit, recently turned a dire 21-3 situation against Glasgow Warriors into a thrilling 22-21 victory at Murrayfield. But Ackermann is not looking for a repeat of that nerve-wracking scenario. "Discipline is important," he emphasized.
"We failed that test on Saturday against Glasgow with those two yellow cards in the first half and we gave them that lead of 21-3. Leinster almost always win the games they start fast in, so we can’t afford that kind of discipline against them."
Despite the rough and tumble of their last game, the Bulls appear to be heading into the final with all hands on deck. "It looks good, we got through the game," Ackermann noted with relief. Minor injuries like Marcell Coetzee's sore shoulder and Elrigh Louw's sore foot aren't ringing any alarm bells for the medical team, setting the stage for a full-strength Bulls squad come game day.
While their resilience against Glasgow drew praise, Ackermann acknowledged that there’s room for improvement, particularly in set-piece defense and tackling. "We just need to get some clarity on our roles in our set-piece defence, and our one-on-one tackles are not where they’re meant to be," he admitted. The coach also pointed out that their breakdown work in the first half was lacking, though it improved as the game went on.
The Bulls’ path to the final has been a narrative of transformation and tenacity, significantly influenced by the players' belief in the new strategies introduced by Ackermann and attack coach Neil de Bruin. "Credit to Neil who came in and brought a new energy and a new excitement. But I think the spark came when the players kept believing in the plans we wanted to implement," Ackermann reflected, highlighting a pivotal match against Pau in the Champions Cup pool as a turning point.
As the final approaches, the Bulls are not just playing for the title but also for redemption, making this clash at Croke Park one not to be missed.