VIDEO - Jake White: 'We are good enough to beat those teams'
VIDEO: The Bulls’ destiny is now in their hand as two semifinals in two competitions loom in the distance, says Jake White, Director of Rugby at the Bulls.
The Pretoria-based side is currently second on the United Rugby Championship log while they have qualified for the Round of 16 in the Challenge Cup, currently in second spot in Pool 1.
They leave for Wales on Tuesday afternoon where they will face the Dragons in Newport on Saturday and a week later log leaders Leinster at Lansdowne Road in Dublin.
White was very optimistic ahead of their departure and pointed out the win over the Stormers a fortnight ago has put them on the trajectory they need to continue their winning ways.
“It’s quite a nice place to be. I said to the players, in the next month we play our best rugby, say we play our best rugby, we beat Leinster away, Dragons away, Lyon here and then the quarterfinal away,” he said at training on Tuesday.
“You are almost guaranteed to make two semifinals in two competitions. That’s a hell of a nice place to be as a club. It’s not a given, I’m not jumping the gun.
“We’ve got our destiny in our hands and I know we are good enough. I know if we play well enough and I know we can beat those teams because we’ve done it before.
“It’s a nice exciting time and run of games. There is a lot to be playing for,” he explained.
White said they’ve created a nice buffer and an opportunity to play for big things.
“I would like us to play in the next month like a team that is happy to be in that situation.
“We went to Wales last year and we lost to the Scarlets there, and no one expected us to win as well.
“To be fair, look how close these games have been. Look at Benetton, how well they have done this year. At the beginning of the year, other teams would’ve thought that’s probably one game they could target, and they’ve lost it.
“Look at the Stormers, they went on a four-game tour to Europe in the beginning and they lost all four games. Now that’s a team that has played in two finals, won one and lost one narrowly,” the coach continued.
He was adamant that the Bulls will not disrespect the Dragons this weekend, a team that is second last on the log.
“So what has happened in the URC is there is no game where you can generally think, listen we just arrive and win.
“And they would’ve had a lot of time to prepare as well, don’t kid yourself. They knew they’ve got us, they’ve had three weeks to prepare, and they know they don’t have whatever players they don’t have due to international duty.
“I have no doubt that they will be prepared, as well prepared as any team we play against.”
He confirmed that Elrigh Louw will travel with the team although he will not be considered for the game against the Dragons. He injured his shoulder against the Lions at Ellis Park.
Cameron Hanekom, still struggling with a hamstring injury, will stay behind and White said hopefully he would be ready in time to play against Lyon at home.
