The Vodacom Bulls will be prepared to face ‘the best team in the competition’ and aren’t concerned about who is running out for Leinster when they host the Irish giants on Saturday.
Leinster travel to Pretoria to take on the Vodacom Bulls as part of a Vodacom United Rugby Championship final-round double-header at Loftus Versfeld that will see the Lions take on Zebre earlier in the day.
There has been plenty of talk about Leinster travelling without most of their Ireland internationals for their tour of Gauteng, but they showed in last weekend’s win over the Lions at Ellis Park that their squad anything but shallow.
The table-topping Irish side, who have already secured first place, produced a magnificent effort to come from behind and snatch a victory with a conversion after the hooter.
It is for this reason, lock Ruan Vermaak explains, that the Vodacom Bulls are wary about what their opponents will offer on Saturday.
“We won’t worry too much about who is playing and who is not,” Vermaak said about Leinster.
“For us, we are playing against Leinster and we’re treating it as such. We are preparing as if we will be facing the best team in the competition. They have a good team and it doesn’t matter who they are bringing. We will focus on the game, to get the result.”
The last time that the Vodacom Bulls faced Leinster was in the famous semi-final victory last season, when the Pretoria side overturned all odds to go to Dublin and win.
“I would like to think that loss is still in the back of their heads, but they are also a very professional side so I don’t think they want to get too much emotion involved in this game,” said Vermaak.
“But I won’t be surprised if it still is and they want to get the win over us here at Loftus.
“Coach Jake (White, the Bulls coach) spoke about us striking form and playing our best rugby when we get to the playoffs. I think the last two weeks were great to get good wins and build that momentum.
“I believe it will be enough to take us into this weekend. Hopefully we can build from there to do the same over hopefully the next four matches that are ahead.”
Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile/Gallo Images