Bulls and Leinster battle for United Rugby Championship crown
South Africa's Bulls play a third United Rugby Championship final in four seasons but the scars of past failure will haunt them when they meet Irish powerhouse Leinster in this year's decider at Croke Park in Dublin on Saturday.
The Bulls lost to compatriots the Stormers three seasons ago, and were stunned by Glasgow Warriors in the decider in Pretoria last season, a game they were heavily tipped to win.
They return to the final again, this time as underdogs against a Leinster team stocked full with Irish internationals, and two of the world's best players in South African lock RG Snyman and New Zealand centre Jordie Barrett.
Bulls coach Jake White took the Springboks to the Rugby World Cup title in 2007, but has found trophy success with the Pretoria-based side hard to come by, with several near misses.
"We are aware that we've played three finals, but we're also aware that we've surpassed expectations, and hopefully, in this game, we get to show what we learnt from the other finals," White told reporters as he named his side on Thursday.
"We are going to have to put the opposition under pressure. Leinster is a quality, well-coached team that is revered by many in this competition. My message to my players for the last four months was to try and match Leinster's consistency, and we have, and now we're in the final."
White has made one enforced change to his match-day 23 from the semi-final win over the Sharks, with Marco van Staden into the side for the injured Cameron Hanekom. Marcell Coetzee switches from flank to number eight.
Leinster coach Leo Cullen has kept faith with flyhalf Sam Prendergast despite some jittery performances in recent weeks, and has recalled centre Garry Ringrose and loose-forward Josh van der Flier after they recovered from injury.
They are the only two changes to the starting team, with Snyman on the bench against his former side.
Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan believes his side will have to match the Bulls' brawn and impose themselves on the game.
"I think everything comes off the back of physicality," he says. "You can have the best game plan in the world and it won't go well if your physicality is not right.
"The Bulls have the best scrum in the league stats-wise. They are very hard to play and I'm sure they will have a plan to disrupt our scrum and try and get over the top of us and we'll do similar and bring energy too."
Leinster are record eight-time winners of the URC and its predecessors, but last claimed the title in 2021. REUTERS
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