It was like watching a horror movie says Jake

REACTION: Some folks enjoy a horror movie, and others have to watch through their fingers or from behind a pillow.

The Final of the United Rugby Championship had the same effect on the Bulls and South African fans on Saturday night as they were well and truly beaten by Irish giants Leinster at Croke Park.

This was a comprehensive defeat of the Bulls that had made light of any pre-match concerns that the South Africans were primed to claim the trophy themselves and end their hoodoo in this competition.

Even the loss of influential scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park on the morning of the game did not derail Leinster.

For Jake White, the Bulls’ Director of Rugby, it truly felt like he was watching a horror movie unfold in front of him, and he didn’t want to see how it was going to end.

“We got the 40 minutes the Leinster supporters were waiting for the whole season. It was like watching a horror movie, and you hope the ending will be different. This was Test-level rugby. It was like everything was played in fast forward.”

“You have to understand, this is not a normal rugby team,” White calmly stated during the post-match press conference.

“We are naïve when… I made a note in my book, they are 19-0 up, and they bring on RG Snyman.

“It’s just a different league altogether, and that’s why Leinster supporters are probably so disappointed. Because they were waiting for that performance the whole year, and we just happened to get the 40 minutes that they were waiting for the whole year.

“We couldn’t get our hands on the ball. They started well. After 17 minutes, they are 19-0 up, and that is after everyone says ‘Don’t let them start well’.

“I say again to all the Irish, I don’t think they give the credit to that Leinster team. They are well coached.”

🏆 The moment @leinsterugby were crowned #URC Champions!

James Lowe has the final word, kicking the ball into the packed stands at Croke Park – hear that roar 👏#BKTURC #URC | #LEIvBUL pic.twitter.com/nmQIXd7zjk

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) June 14, 2025

Asked why the Bulls could not fire back, White’s reply was simple: they hadn’t been allowed.

White praised the work of former Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber and pointed out that Leinster’s defence was phenomenal in the ten minutes before half-time.

“Credit to Jacques and the defence. We were a little bit one-off instead of running with numbers, people around the ball, but that’s what happens when you’re under the pump against a good team. You have to give credit where credit’s due. Out of the three finals, this is by far the toughest final we’ve had.

“Make no bones about it, they’ve gone another level up. That was Test rugby. It’s like everything is in fast forward.”

For the Bulls, it is back to the drawing board now.

*Read the full match report HERE

Part of that means sitting around a table with the decision-makers to plan the future.

Players already signed and sealed for next season include centre Jan Serfontein and Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, both from Montpellier, as well as Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers).

What the Bulls need is to fight fire with fire, says White.

“Since I started at this level with URC, they are the benchmark, and tonight they showed it again.

“The lesson I’ve taken from that is we need more international players to play in our province,” said White.

“I need what Leinster has. I need to be able to fight fire with fire. Leinster, Toulouse, La Rochelle, what do you need to win those games? Academy players or seasoned internationals?

“I keep banging the same drum. I’ve coached some of the best players in the world, players who have won player of the year twice. If you’re playing against 23 internationals, I think today Leinster were short with only 22, there is a complete difference.

“That’s a phenomenal provincial team. That must be the best Leinster team, I know that’s going to be the headline, but that must be one of the best Leinster squads they’ve ever had.”