Bulls coach Johan Ackerman is all too aware that one moment of ill-discipline can cost his team the United Rugby Championship trophy.
The Pretoria franchise is set to contest their third URC final against Leinster in Dublin next Friday. Finals are played on a knife-edge and Ackerman has implored his players to walk that fine line carefully.
The Bulls’ transgressions almost cost them the semifinal last week , but they came back strongly in the second half to clinch a memorable win. Later in the second semifinal, the Stormers were in the contest with 15 minutes to go, but were ultimately reduced to 13 men, and that sealed their fate.
“We failed that test on Saturday against Glasgow Warriors if you look at the first half with those two yellow cards and giving them a 21-3 lead,” reflected Ackermann.
“Analysing Leinster – they mostly win every game they start fast and build a healthy lead, so we can’t afford to have that ill-discipline.
“Either or – be it at the start or the back end of the match, especially if it’s a close contest.
“It’s something we need to ensure we get right in this Final to give ourselves a chance. It’s unnecessary to put yourself under that [pressure] because we know what the law states regarding tackling, and we need to try and stay in that laws.
“Also, most of the time, if a player goes for an interception, if you don’t get it right, you’ll be penalised for a deliberate knock-on.
“So we’ll try to play within the laws and hopefully, with so much at stake in such a high-pressure match with so much emotion involved, we can keep calm and have good discipline.”
Last year, the Bulls went down 32-1 to the indomitable Leinster in front of 46,000 fans. This year, the men in blue dare to dream.
