It's Ireland versus the Bulls in URC final but Jake White says his team have a lotto ticket

IOL News

5 hours ago

Bulls coach Jake White and his team will already be in Ireland on Monday. Photo: Itumeleng English Independent Media
Image: Itumeleng English Independent Media
If you haven't got a lotto ticket, you can't win the lotto. That is how Jake White feels about the Bulls' chances of beating Leinster in Saturday's United Rugby Championship final in Dublin.
White said the challenge in front of his team is enormous but 'if you are in it, you can win it.'
'The wonderful thing for us is that we have a lotto ticket. You can't win the lotto if you don't have a ticket. We have a 50% chance of winning on Saturday. That's how sport works.'
The 2007 World Cup-winning coach said his team will be playing a match akin to a top level Test match. And when asked what it would take for the Bulls to be third time lucky in a final, White said divine intervention would help.
A few words from your @Vodacom #URC MOTM 🫡
THANK YOU for all the support 💙 onto the next 🏆 pic.twitter.com/oKqgTFKiqg — Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) June 7, 2025
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'Prayer. Prayer is what we need,' White said.
'I don't say this lightly. We need prayer.
"We have to travel to play an international team. It is going to be tough. It is going to be like Ireland verses the Bulls. I'm not underplaying it.
"Ireland have beaten the All Blacks and many big teams.
'So we have to work hard; get things to work in our favour; recover well from bumps and bruises. Then we have to play very well.
"Look at what Leinster did to Glasgow (in the semi-final) and look at what Glasgow did to us last year. They did not struggle to beat Glasgow and will be on a high now going into a final at home.'
White says he will emphasise to his players how special the occasion will be.
'It will be different in that the British and Irish Lions assemble while we are over there and the next week they play a warm-up game. I'm glad because the whole of Dublin will be rugby crazy.
'Our young players will experience something unique and special. I will work hard for the guys to enjoy it and be ready. People travel the world to hopefully see the underdogs win. That is what happens in sport.
'On Friday night, I was watching Djokovic play Sinner (in the semi-final of the French Open). Most folk thought Djokovic would win, but Sinner beat him. Upsets in sport get people talking.'
It will be the first time that the Bulls have played Leinster in a final and it is the Irish team's first appearance in a final since South Africa joined the URC.
'For both sides it is a completely different challenge,' White said.
'It doesn't matter that we beat them last year in a knockout game. It is all immaterial. It is now a final.
'It doesn't matter what went before and we proved it tonight (in the semi-final) — we lost twice to the Sharks but won the playoff game.'
The Bulls left for Dublin on Sunday, three days earlier than is the norm in the URC. White said that travelling early was essential in giving his team a fighting chance.
'I want to thank our board members. We are not leaving on Tuesday, we will be there on Monday and we have a full week to prepare. There are extra costs but the reality is that we are at the time where we have to take things very seriously.