As the Vodacom Bulls gear up for a huge clash with Leinster at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, relive the glory of their formidable playoff record at home.
The Irish giants tackle a high-flying Bulls outfit in the opening salvo of the 2023-24 URC semi-finals this week.
It is the first time that Leinster have travelled at full strength to the Republic, having previously rested their large contingent of Ireland internationals to focus on the Champions Cup.
Jake White has appealed to Bulls fans to get behind their team and fill up Loftus for the last-four tussle to give the Irish an appetiser of what’s to come in the July Test series.
The Bulls showed true grit against Benetton in a thrilling quarter-final in Pretoria last week to snatch victory, booking a first home URC semi-final in the process.
Despite their struggles in away semi-finals, the Bulls proved their mettle in the 2021-22 URC season by stunning Leinster 27-26 in Dublin. A week earlier, Chris Smith’s drop goal in injury time sealed a dramatic quarter-final victory for White’s charges over the Sharks in Pretoria.
The Bulls have clinched three Super Rugby titles, the only South African team to do so, and their home-ground advantage has been a fortress. In Pretoria, the Herd boast semi-final wins over the Crusaders in 2007, 2009, and 2010, with only one blemish in 2013 against the Brumbies.
The @Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby dominating at home during knockout games.
What will the result be on Saturday? pic.twitter.com/RZO4IxwmOE
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) June 13, 2024
The Bulls thrashed the Chiefs at Loftus in 2009 to lift their second Super Rugby trophy, before defending it the next season in a historic meeting with the DHL Stormers in Soweto.
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images