Bulls v Glasgow Warriors: Sell-out Loftus Versfeld to drown out Scottish hopes as Jake White’s men claim URC title

Yet another record-breaking season is coming to an end with just two teams left in the fight for United Rugby Championship (URC) immortality as the Bulls host Glasgow Warriors at Loftus Versfeld in the Grand Final.

The Bulls have enjoyed one of their best seasons to date in the URC and deserved to finish in the top two, which has resulted in hosting a final and that could be absolutely critical to their chances of hoisting the trophy.

Director of rugby Jake White will feel the time is now for his team that has grown tremendously from being losing finalists in URC I. The veteran coach will also feel his side will be battle-hardened from their win over Leinster in the semi-finals but will be conscious to avoid a drop after such a strong performance.

The visitors have been trending very nicely and under Franco Smith have developed this fearlessness on attack and never-say-die attitude on defence, both of which helped them defy the odds and beat Munster last time out.

Smith has got the culture right in a group of very talented players who are quite frankly a joy to watch. The diversity of attributes amongst the group makes them a very interesting team and the fact they have toured South Africa and Loftus specifically during the back end of the regular season makes for an enticing clash.

It has all come down to this, from 18 teams to just two. All the travelling, all the squad management, all the injury concerns, all the wins and painful losses – it all culminates in a mouth-watering final at one of rugby’s great cathedrals.

Buckle up because it is set to be a final for the ages.

Where the game will be won

It is almost the same conversation when the Bulls play, they will try to scrum you off your feet to leverage penalties and monster the collision area. Glasgow have to be ready for an onslaught in the set-piece after the Bulls dominated Leinster. If the Bulls can use the scrum as a penalty machine it could end up being target practice for Johan Goosen. Their line-out and maul is another point of focus and the hosts will be looking to leverage this as well on Saturday. Altitude is also a factor but Glasgow has a better understanding of this having played there recently.

Glasgow needs to achieve at least parity at scrum-time to try to depower the Bulls because the Scots have plenty of quality across their backline. Of course, the Bulls do too but Glasgow are at their best when Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones and Kyle Steyn get the ball in their hands. Smith will be quietly confident because last time out the Bulls shot out to a big lead but left the door wide open in the last 20 and Glasgow got within seven. So if Glasgow does go down there will always be hopes of a comeback.

It is brute force against pace and finesse in many ways. Glasgow must match up to the Bulls physically to win this final or the light blues will bully their way to glory in front of a boisterous home crowd, provided they can perform for 80 minutes not 60 as they have done a lot of this season.

Last time out

What they said

Bulls back-row Marco van Staden unpacked what winning the tournament would mean, underlining it would be more than just the players benefitting.

“Winning [the URC] will mean a lot for us, and it’s not just for the players; there’s so many people involved, from the guys not playing to the people working behind the scenes – the coaches, those working at the stadium, and the fans coming out every weekend,” the openside flanker told reporters.

“It will mean a lot to them, and that’s why we have a bigger purpose than just lifting a trophy; we’re playing for a lot more people than just the 23 guys [selected].

“But my mindset is also about not making the game bigger than it is. It is a big occasion and will be a full Loftus, having all our fans for a home final.”

Meanwhile, despite the travel complaints on social media, Glasgow boss Smith refused to make excuses and is ready to go for the challenge ahead.

“We watched the first half of the [Bulls versus] Leinster semi-final. It is going to be a good challenge. We didn’t train this hard and work this hard to come up short. We’re going to give it a full go,” he said after last Saturday’s win.

“In this competition, travel forms part of the challenge, but we’re not going to use that as an excuse. We know that it is going to be challenging but we’ve got a plan and we’ll see how we can recover as quickly as possible and get ourselves physically and mentally ready for an important game.”

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Players to watch

Just like Antoine Dupont in the World Cup, Kurt-Lee Arendse has overcome a facial injury to return just in time. The Springbok is easily one of the most dangerous ball carriers in the game right now and is a consistent Bulls performer. His hot-stepping and spatial awareness could well be the difference between winning and losing in a knockout. Arendse needs to have a big game with the playmaking Willie le Roux ruled out.

David Kriel at 13 has been a box of tricks all season long with so many try involvements and the Bulls will be desperate to get him on the ball as much as they can. He is another player who needs to stand up as a playmaker in Le Roux’s absence. Kriel makes Johan Goosen’s life a lot easier giving the fly-half options to play. Goosen will need to bring his kicking boots as he did last time out.

Van Staden will be discussed lower down but his back-row partners, Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom, will be massive for the Bulls. The duo lead the physical charge on both sides of the ball and the more they win collisions the better chance their side have of winning the game. It’s a big moment for both players at the end of a wonderful season.

There certainly is some ‘fine I’ll do it myself’ energy about skipper Kyle Steyn at times for Glasgow when he is looking to get his team out of a slump or build pressure on the opposition. Steyn will absolutely empty the tank and run back at the opposition relentlessly and never count out his beautifully instinctive finishing qualities. Glasgow needs big things from their captain.

One of the most likeable centre pairings for a long time ‘Huwipulotu’ will be absolutely crucial. The playmaking qualities of Sione Tuipulotu and the pure line-picking abilities of Huw Jones make them a lethal pair for club and country. Glasgow benefits greatly when they fire in the midfield.

Jack Dempsey at number eight is one of the chief carriers and physical presences for Glasgow, which are both critical aspects of any game against South Africa opposition. The former Wallaby and now Scot has become an impressive player over the last couple of seasons and has to show it against the URC’s best on Saturday.

Main head-to-head

While the physical battle is oh so important it will mean little if the breakdown area is not won, making Marco van Staden and Rory Darge our battle.

Van Staden has matured brilliantly thanks to his time with the Springboks. He has a lovely balance in his decision-making around when to attack the breakdown and when to defend. He is built like a pit bull and once he is set over the ball he won’t be moved. Glasgow have to be neat at the breakdown or he will punish them.

On the other side, Darge has been a colossus for Glasgow as the leader of breakdown disruption, handy on both sides of the ball and a physical presence. There is a strong chance the Bulls will be dominant up front which is where Glasgow will need Darge to wreak havoc at the breakdown and prevent quick ball going to the dangerous outside backs.

Prediction

Glasgow are an impressive side and a growing one at that. However, not only do they come against a Bulls side primed and ready to make the next step but they do so at a packed Loftus. It is hard not to feel it is the Bulls’ time with most of the group having suffered heartbreak in URC I. Bulls to win by 10 points and claim the URC III title.

The teams

Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Cornel Smit

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Steyn (c), 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Jamie Bhatti
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Oli Kebble, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Euan Ferrie, 21 Henco Venter, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Duncan Weir

Date: Saturday, June 22
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 18:00 local (17:00 BST, 16:00 GMT)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Frank Murphy (Ireland), Craig Evans (Wales)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)

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