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The Herald
05-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald
Jake White leaves the Bulls by mutual consent
Having consulted with the shareholders, White stated his decision was based on a desire for the team to find a new voice. 'I have made the decision to move on. With many years' coaching experience, I felt it would be difficult to get the squad to perform to the next level. Therefore, in the best interest of both myself and the Bulls I feel it's time for a new chapter. It's time for this group to have a new voice. 'I have enjoyed my time in Pretoria. I met some wonderful friends. I believe that rugby is like life — you win some you lose some. You learn as you grow. You need to be strong and courageous and, most importantly, it isn't always fair. 'I would like to thank all the loyal supporters, the Bulls staff that worked tirelessly, and to the players for their hard work and dedication. I wish BBRU president Willem Strauss and the amateur game lots of success in the future. 'To the shareholders, I will always be grateful for all the support and financial backing they gave, far and beyond any other club. Thank you for the privilege. To the board for their support and CEO, Edgar Rathbone, coaches and management, it was great to be part of this winning culture. To be part of Bulls rugby history has been an absolute honour. I wish Bulls rugby all the best. Hou die blou bo!'
News24
12-06-2025
- Sport
- News24
Coetzee at No 8, Van Staden at flank as Bulls name team for URC final
Bulls director of rugby Jake White has named his team for Saturday's URC grand final against Leinster in Dublin. White made one injury-enforced change to the team that beat the Sharks 25-13 in the semi-finals in Pretoria last weekend. Stalwart Marcell Coetzee moves from openside flank to No 8 in place of Cameron Hanekom, who suffered a hamstring injury against the Sharks. Springbok Marco van Staden moves up from the bench to take Coetzee's No 6 jersey, with another Springbok, Nizaam Carr, coming in on the bench to provide loose forward cover. READ | 'It's D-day for us': White hoping Bulls have learnt from past URC final failures Elsewhere, the Bulls will field the same match-day squad that fended off the Sharks. Saturday's clash at Croke Park kicks off at 18:00 (SA time). Bulls team: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Ruan Nortje, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels Substitutes: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Keagan Johannes, 23 Devon Williams
Irish Times
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Bulls stalwart Willie le Roux urges teammates to seize moment in Croke Park showdown with Leinster
There is a temptation to describe Willie le Roux's thoughts on Saturday's URC final at Croke Park as bullish, but a fairer expression is forthright. The Bulls have come to play and to win. The 35-year-old fullback has never shirked a confrontation on the pitch. He is occasionally spiky, but with that temperament comes a player of sublime attacking instincts. When the Bulls beat Leinster in last year's URC semi-final at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, Le Roux helped pick the Irish province apart with his cross-field punting. It is his running game, though, for which the double World Cup-winning Springbok is acclaimed. He has never shied away from a counterattack, irrespective of field position. It is a course of action that carries its own tariff when things go awry. He preaches this gospel, especially to younger players. 'The bit of advice I can give younger guys is that it (a final) is the same as playing the first game of the season,' he said. 'It's not to put this (final) on a pedestal and make it that much bigger that you go into your shell, you don't want to try stuff, you don't want to run from your own half and you don't want to try something. READ MORE 'That is not what got us here in the first place. We got here through taking chances. We see an opportunity, we take it. That is what you must do in those big games as well, whether you make a mistake or not. It's about putting yourself out there, putting yourself in the battle. You must be able to pull the trigger and take that because you might not get a lot of chances — Willie Le Roux 'You might lose a few battles, but you might also win. That's just the little things that I tell the guys. Try and ask for the ball, get your hands on the ball and do as much as you can. You might lose a few battles but it's about getting back up and putting yourself into as many as you can. And have no doubts.' He pointed to the disparate strengths of players and the importance of not being overwhelmed by the occasion. 'You shouldn't wait,' said Le Roux. 'If you're a winger, you don't wait outside on the wing to get the ball; you come in and you work off your wing and you get your hands on the ball as much as you can, because it doesn't help not putting yourself into battles.' Bongi Mbonambi of the Sharks tackles the Bulls' Willie le Roux during last weekend's URC semi-final in Pretoria. Photograph: Steve Haag Sports/Inpho/Christiaan Kotze In continuing the theme, Le Roux spoke about the fine line in game management when it comes to putting the team in the right areas of the pitch and being swift in the decision-making process. 'I think the balance is knowing when to attack and when to kick,' he said. 'In these types of games, you might only get one or two [opportunities]. That might be a turnover on your try line and that is the time to take your chance. 'It might be in the first minute. You must be able to pull the trigger and take that because you might not get a lot of chances.' Le Roux emphasised the importance of players making decisions on the pitch. 'You've got a senior group making the calls. It's about making the right calls at the right times, the plays: 'Should we go [for the] posts? Should we go for a lineout?' Do you feel you have them under pressure or do you feel they have the pressure on you? 'So, it's a big thing about making the right calls at the right times as well, and taking chances. And I think that it's a good core group of guys making decisions on the field together, knowing the roles, knowing when to do what. 'I think we are very tight as a group and we understand what our plan is. You can't not go out there, put a smile on your face and go enjoy it on the biggest stage. So, yeah, we're looking forward to it.' [ Six of the best games between Leinster and Bulls ahead of URC final Opens in new window ] The Bulls, who have lost two finals in three years, are hoping it's third time lucky at Croke Park. Scratch that. They are not going to be paralysed by the pressure to end that sequence. It is not a hope thing. Le Roux points to a simple focus, to embrace and enjoy the experience and play for your brothers, one of whom is missing but not forgotten. He played alongside Cornal Hendricks in several teams . Hendricks, who died of a heart attack last month aged 37, was a friend as much as a teammate. 'He would light up a room when he walked in,' said Le Roux. The Bulls might have taken a little umbrage with the phrase 'mission impossible', which has been used in some quarters to describe Saturday's assignment. Bolstered by a strong belief in their ability, uncertainty shouldn't be a factor. Leinster know that from past experiences.
Irish Times
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Leinster's Dan Sheehan says it is time to get physical in Saturday's showdown with Bulls
Dan Sheehan was in no mood for mixed messages this week. There are a hundred things to get right on Saturday against the Bulls but if it can be distilled down to one thing against an impressively aggressive side, it is to meet them with more than what they hit you with. 'I think everything comes off the back of physicality,' he says. 'You can have the best game plan in the world and it won't go well if your physicality is not right, whereas if you have a poor game plan and get your physicality right sometimes a lot of the time it works, so that's definitely one.' Set pieces and the Bulls' powerful scrum will come into the equation but if Leinster can start against them as they did their semi-final against Glasgow, that will set a mood and the Bulls might just feel some of the frustration Leinster have recently experienced. READ MORE There is no doubt the Bulls have come to Dublin to win the competition for the first time. They have lost two finals – against the Stormers in 2022 and Glasgow last season – whereas Leinster won it four years in a row but have had nothing to show for their efforts since 2021. In a demonstration of intent, the Bulls flew all the players they could get on business class flights to Dublin on Sunday night. It sent the right message. Teams usually leave South Africa on a Tuesday night and arrive in Ireland on the Wednesday. 'Obviously, the Bulls have the best scrum in the league stats-wise,' says Sheehan. 'They are very hard to play and I'm sure they will have a plan to disrupt our scrum and try and get over the top of us and we'll do similar and bring energy too. 'It's physical. You have to be brave and put yourself in front of these big fellas. They'll try to test you. They'll push buttons, it's chat after the ball goes out. It's rubbing your head in the dirt, but you know they get you both sides of the ball and I think people enjoy it. 'When you get it right it's incredibly rewarding to get a win over a South African team. We've experienced it over the years, I think it's a good battle and it's a good spectacle and I hope there's good excitement building through the week and we get a good crowd there.' [ Is Dan Sheehan the best hooker in the world? Opens in new window ] Personally – a word the players generally shy away from using – Sheehan last week almost scored another hat trick and twice came within inches of completing it, only for a committed Glasgow defence to knock him back reaching for the line. 'If Jamo [Gibson-Park] wants to pick me out five times in a row ... I was almost wishing he didn't towards the end of the first few minutes,' he says. 'That's a part of my game that I enjoy, being part of the attack, carrying, our set-plays. It just falls that way.' The sense is the Bulls will pose a different challenge than the European teams. Having lost to the South Africans in two semi-finals in recent years (2022 and 2024), Sheehan is well aware of this. But he is confident that if Leinster focus on their own game, and play to their potential as a group – and that means being better than last week – they have enough to get over the line. 'We need to make sure we get our stuff right,' he says. 'I think that's probably where we fell off last time, not getting our own stuff right rather than dealing with some of their stuff.'
News24
07-06-2025
- Sport
- News24
Bulls v Sharks' URC semi-final: A battle of haves who want what the other has
MIRACLE MAN: Bulls flyhalf Johan Goosen has recovered from what was thought to be a season-ending knee injury to play in the URC semifinal against the Sharks.
