Jake White promises a 'wow factor' after BIG debrief
The Bulls are in the market for more experienced ‘muscle’ up front and X-factor players in the back.
Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White is White convinced they will get it right and he is “already in the process” of getting aspects of the ‘massive changes’ in place for the next season.
“When we walk into pre-season, there will be a wow factor,” White signed off after their European campaigns for the 2022-2023 seasons.
White was revealing the way forward in the aftermath of his team’s departure from both European competitions in the early stages of the play-offs – the Stormers beating them 33-21 in the United Rugby Championship quarterfinal this past weekend and Stade Toulousain winning 33-9 against the Bulls in the Round of 16 in the Champions Cup last month.
Even in the Currie Cup, the Bulls are struggling – currently sitting in a second-from-last position with just three wins (17 points) from nine starts and having a battle on their hands to make the top four (play-offs) – with just five rounds remaining.
White said they are busy with negotiations to sign some ‘explosive’ players.
(Article continues below the Jake White interview …)
“Next season, with Wilco Louw coming as a tighthead prop, he is a bit more seasoned,” he said of the well-documented announcement of the impending arrival of the 14-times capped, 28-year-old Springbok on July 1.
The Bulls boss said the Stormers – who have beaten his team constantly for the last few years, seem to have the winning recipe – a good scrum, an efficient line-out, solid defence and the ability to punish you on the counter.
“I have to find who we need in order to have a good set-piece, a bit of X-factor and play that style – without copying them,” the Bulls’ boss said, adding: “It is obviously something that is working in this competition.”
He spoke of a ‘massive’ number of new recruits.
“It is time for change,” he said.
“Some of the guys have been with the Bulls for a long, long time.
“We are in line for some changes – new energy, new ideas.
“We do need something different.”
He promised there will be a ‘wow factor’ when the Bulls start the new season.
“[There are] a lot of things we can still improve on,” White said, adding: “I said to the players, we will get it right.
“We will have a big debrief on what we need.
“I am lucky that I work for an organisation that will buy into that.
“If we e need some [more] X-factor players and we have to find them.
“Maybe we need to look at changing our pre-season training.
“We have to find a way to win a URC.
“We are not there yet and it is not a reflection on the players at all, but we will get there.
“I have been in this [coaching] job for 41 years and I can tell you that we will get it right.”
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