VIDEO: 'Next time, take the scrum': Ackermann on Bulls' costly mistakes
REACTION: Johan Ackermann admitted the Bulls were second best across the board in Friday night’s United Rugby Championship final but believes execution rather than tactics was ultimately the decisive factor in their defeat to a clinical Leinster side in Dublin.
The South Africans arrived at Croke Park determined to erase the memories of previous URC final heartbreaks but instead found themselves outplayed by a Leinster team that was sharper, more accurate and more ruthless in every department.
The Bulls struggled to gain any meaningful foothold in the contest. Their lineout malfunctioned at key moments, the scrum failed to establish the dominance many had anticipated, defensive lapses were ruthlessly exposed, and Leinster’s relentless accuracy ensured every mistake was punished.
*Also read: Heartbreak for Bulls as Leinster go back-to-back
While Ackermann conceded there were tactical areas the Bulls could review, particularly around their lineout approach, he felt the bigger issue was an inability to execute the plans they had prepared throughout the week.
“I think we probably could have looked a little differently at our lineout plays,” Ackermann reflected afterwards.
“Maybe they contested well and perhaps we needed a bit more variation on our seven-man lineouts.
“But I don’t think that’s the main issue.”
Instead, Ackermann pointed to a series of small moments in the game that swung momentum heavily in Leinster’s favour.
One such moment came when the Bulls enjoyed a numerical advantage after Canan Moodie’s yellow card in the first minute of the game. Rather than opting for a scrum following a knock-on, they chose to continue playing.
In hindsight, Ackermann believes that decision proved costly.
“For me, when you’ve got a yellow card and the opposition knocks the ball on, you take the scrum,” he said.
“There was only about a minute gone on the yellow card and I thought our chances of earning a penalty from the scrum were good.
“But we kept playing, made a mistake two phases later and they went and scored.
“That’s the lesson. Next time, take the scrum.”
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The Bulls never recovered from the early setbacks. A lost lineout shortly afterwards led directly to another Leinster score as the hosts raced into a commanding lead.
“If they don’t score that first one, maybe for the next five or ten minutes it’s 0-0 and not 0-7,” Ackermann said.
“Then we lose the lineout and they score again and suddenly it’s 0-12.”
Despite the disappointing performance, Ackermann resisted the temptation to blame the game plan.
“We just didn’t execute our plan,” he explained.
“It’s difficult afterwards to say what we would have changed tactically.
“Some of the areas we wanted to play into were available, but before we could get there there was a fumble or the ruck wasn’t as quick as we wanted it to be.
“So, it’s not necessarily the tactics; it’s more the execution that we lacked tonight.”
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— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) June 19, 2026
The Bulls coach also reserved praise for Leinster, who produced one of their most complete displays of the season.
“Leinster were so accurate in that first half,” he said.
“Every opportunity they got, they got points. You have to give them credit.”
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