Irish boss shares ‘hard lesson’ with SA rivals
Leo Cullen said there is no “secret recipe” to competing in multiple competitions simultaneously, as the likes of the Vodacom Bulls grapple with the demands of the EPCR.
Leo Cullen said there is no “secret recipe” to competing in multiple competitions simultaneously, as the likes of the Vodacom Bulls grapple with the demands of the EPCR.
The Vodacom Bulls have avoided a formal investigation by the EPCR for fielding a second-string team in their Champions Cup playoff against Northampton Saints.
Jake White has expressed his delight with the EPCR’s decision to introduce an extra break in the Champions Cup playoffs, after the Vodacom Bulls were decisively beaten in the quarter-finals.
The Vodacom Bulls are under pressure to beat Munster on Saturday and thus vindicate Jake White’s decision to prioritise the Pretoria clash over a European cup playoff, writes MARK KEOHANE.
The Vodacom Bulls could be without No 8 Cameron Hanekom for a clash against Munster at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday for a dangerous hit in the Champions Cup.
European rugby chiefs are reportedly encouraging a change to the Champions Cup format to avoid a repeat of the fiasco surrounding the Vodacom Bulls in the quarter-finals.
The Sharks will make Challenge Cup history in May when they host Clermont Auvergne in the semi-finals of the EPCR competition in London.
The Vodacom Bulls will have to battle URC defending champions Munster without injured captain Marcell Coetzee.
Northampton Saints put nine tries past the Vodacom Bulls to ease into the Champions Cup semi-finals with a dominant performance on Saturday night.
Jacques Nienaber will experience the Champions Cup semi-finals for the first time with Leinster after helping the Irish giants beat title-holders La Rochelle in Dublin on Saturday.