Jake White will be desperate to make amends for the Vodacom Bulls’ disappointing 2022-23 season.
A Currie Cup semi-final defeat closed out a forgettable campaign for The Herd, after exiting in the round of 16 and quarter-finals of the Champions Cup and URC, respectively.
White, as director of rugby, bore the brunt of the criticism for the Bulls’ performances, which included a run of 10 consecutive losses in all competitions, and the former Springbok boss left no stone unturned in the off-season, recruiting seasoned veterans like 2019 World Cup winner Willie le Roux, as well as overhauling his backroom staff that will now be headlined by ex-Bok assistant Gary Gold.
Boks Akker van der Merwe and Wilco Louw are also on deck and will add grunt to the front row, while the electric Sebastian de Klerk and Sergeal Petersen join an exciting backline corps at Loftus Versfeld.
Veteran icons Morné Steyn and Bismarck du Plessis have hung up their boots, but White has confirmed 57 players are battle-ready on the Highveld for a favourable draw, beginning with a winnable home game against the Scarlets and a clash with last season’s winless wooden spoonists Zebre on their four-week tour.
To finish the season, they will have a run of four home games – including a visit from defending champions Munster – before concluding against the Sharks at Kings Park.
FACT FILE
Coach: Jake White
Co-captains: Marcell Coetzee & Ruan Nortje
2022-23 Log finish: 6th (quarter-finalists)
KEY PLAYER
Continuing a remarkable scoring record for the Bulls and Boks in 2023, Kurt-Lee Arendse has grasped every rugby opportunity in his path, and a meteoric career trajectory has taken him from playing for the University of the Western Cape in the Varsity Shield to representing the world champions at the 2023 World Cup. Having joined the Bulls in 2020, the 27-year-old utility back’s speed and elusive running have since put him among the URC’s best for clean breaks and defenders beaten, and the dynamic speedster is primed to shoot the lights out this season in a potent back three that also features Willie le Roux and Canan Moodie.
PLAYERS IN
Sebastian de Klerk (Pumas)
Mpilo Gumede (Sharks)
Henry Immelman (Edinburgh)
Jannes Kirsten (Exeter)
Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz)
Wilco Louw (Harlequins)
Khutha Mchunu (Sharks)
Sergeal Petersen (Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks)
Deon Slabbert (Pumas, loan)
Akker van der Merwe (Sale)
Jaco van der Walt (Edinburgh)
Devon Williams (Pumas, loan)
PLAYERS OUT
Bismarck du Plessis (retired)
Lizo Gqoboka (Stormers)
Sbu Nkosi (free agent)
Morné Steyn (retired)
FAST FACT
Johan Goosen was named the Golden Boot winner of the 2022-23 URC – he finished top of the tree with a 90% success rate having kicked 36 out of 40.
URC FIXTURES
22 October vs Scarlets (h)
29 October vs Ulster (a)
4 November vs Zebre (a)
10 November vs Cardiff (a)
17 November vs Edinburgh (a)
25 November vs Connacht (h)
2 December vs Sharks (h)
23 December vs Stormers (a)
30 December vs Lions (h)
17 February vs Lions (a)
2 March vs Stormers (h)
23 March vs Dragons (a)
29 March vs Leinster (a)
20 April vs Munster (h)
27 April vs Ospreys (h)
11 May vs Glasgow (h)
18 May vs Benetton (h)
1 June vs Sharks (a)
– This article first appeared in the October issue of SA Rugby magazine. The November issue goes on sale this Friday.
Photo: Dan Sheridan/BackpagePix