Jake White says the Vodacom Bulls will “not die wondering” in their URC semi-final clash against a Leinster side stacked with Ireland internationals.
White has made minimal changes to the lineup for the much-anticipated Vodacom URC semi-final in Pretoria. Marco van Staden, Devon Williams, Cornel Smit and Sergeal Petersen come into the matchday 23 for what has been billed as a club ‘Test match’.
Leinster, meanwhile, have named a starting lineup that is comprised of a full contingent of Ireland internationals, with centre Garry Ringrose making a timely return from injury to partner Robbie Henshaw in midfield.
In total, Leo Cullen’s side boasts 1522 caps in their starting lineup and a further 1088 on the bench, making them the most experienced provincial team to visit Loftus Versfeld.
Comparing their opponents to the Crusaders, White said the Vodacom Bulls are seeing Saturday’s clash as an opportunity to show what they can do, even though they will be without Bok stars Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie.
“We are going to have a go. We are not going to die wondering,” White said. “If I sit here and say, ‘jeez, we’ve lost Canan and Kurt-Lee and Marcell is not playing’ then we’ve really got no chance.
“Maybe Devon scores the winning try tomorrow and ends up becoming a household name. That’s how quickly sport changes.
“So I’m comfortable. This is the best we’ve got. We’ve prepared as best we can. We know the challenge.
“I am not being naive or unrealistic in saying that this is the biggest club game we’ve had in a long, long time. Especially because they are coming here in two weeks to play a Test match.
“It’s a little bit like playing the Crusaders and in two weeks the All Blacks are coming here and two-thirds of that All Blacks team are playing for the Crusaders.”
White added that while he is happy with the progress that the Bulls have made this season, he is still eager to see his side come out on top.
“One thing about sport, which is fantastic, there are no givens about who should win. That’s why sport is such an amazing thing.
“You’ve been in situations and stadiums where you thought the guy didn’t have a chance and he ended up winning.
“We are playing at home and we’ve done all the hard yards. If I offered that the Bulls came second and ended up playing Benetton in the quarter-finals and Leinster at home in the semi-finals, there’s not many at this club that would’ve said no.
“We’ve improved where we are as a group. But we want to win. I don’t want you to hear my voice and think that I’m content, that if we lose to a very good Leinster team that everything’s fine. I want to win.
“I am sure we’ve improved. We don’t really have much to lose, do we? We are playing against a quality team, but that’s also a blessing because we can actually play like we want to and enjoy it.”
Photo: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
