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The Bulls go into the final of the United Rugby Championship for a third time in four seasons.
The Bulls are leaning on their double World Cup winning fullback and playmaker, Willie Le Roux, for advice on how to manage nerves and expectations ahead of the United Rugby Championship final against Leinster in Dublin on Saturday evening.
Le Roux is the sober head needed to keep the Bulls camp calm, even though the weight of expectation will be at near fever pitch for the Pretoria side to win the Grand Finale at the third time of asking.
Veteran campaigner and two-time World Cup champion Le Roux says the Bulls will try not to change the formula that got them into the final of the URC.
He says the Bulls are enjoying their rugby, playing for each other and in the memory of Cornal Hendricks, a former Bulls player who passed away in May this year.
“We are enjoying ourselves, we are have been enjoying ourselves this season playing for one another it has gotten us to the final and it is about doing the same thing we have been doing the whole year. I don’t think there is a need to put on any added pressure onto us we go out there, we are playing for our brothers, we are playing for our friend that we have lost so we have one job to do and that’s what we are focusing on,” says Le Roux.
Le Roux knows a thing or two about playing in finals, most importantly to take the chance to attack when it presents itself, because it might be the only one in a final.
“These finals are fine margins whether it is home or away, these games come down to maybe one moment one mistake you might make one piece of brilliance someone else does so they all say it is mission impossible, but we will have to wait and see on Saturday,”
Le Roux is pivotal in getting the Bulls into position and then using possession most efficiently. He will look to marshal his side around the cavernous surrounds of Croke Park.
“I think the balance is knowing when to attack and knowing when to kick and it’s about getting your forwards in the right field position. I think thats a big thing for us as well but then saying that as well when there is an opportunity and in these type of games you might only get one or two and they might be a turnover on your tryline and that’s your time to take your chance so it is all about playing the field position getting to the right positions of the field to strike,”
It’s a third final for the Bulls in four seasons, but the desperation to finally win the big one isn’t showing in the camp.
Between the World Cup winning coach, and a World Cup winning senior player in Le Roux, there is conscious effort to manage the impending occasion for the players.
