DUBLIN, Ireland – The Vodacom Bulls have shown their Vodacom United Rugby Championship intent in some high intensity training sessions in Dublin these past two days as they prepare to open their campaign against Irish powerhouses Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
“We are Carling Currie Cup champions. We own it and we know we’re a championship side. We’re ready for what’s coming,” said fullback David Kriel.
It’s a sentiment echoed by winger Madosh Tambwe.
“We’ve been playing consistently good rugby at home, so I don’t see why we shouldn’t gel on Saturday regardless of who the opposition is.”
It’s a mouth-watering kick-off to this new competition as the pacesetters of South African rugby meet a team that has dominated European rugby.
And the Vodacom Bulls do so with the memory of their humbling defeat against Benetton in June’s Rainbow Cup Final in Italy still close enough in their minds to keep them focused, but also far enough to not dwell on those past mistakes.
“This is another opportunity to build on what we learnt against Benetton,” said Kriel.
“Everybody saw that game and it wasn’t our best performance. We didn’t play like the championship side we are. But we took that as a stepping stone for growth in our gameplan and also as a team. The Vodacom United Rugby Championship will be challenging but that can only be good for our squad and the rugby we’re playing.”
Tambwe believes the Vodacom Bulls are a far stronger unit than when they last toured north.
“We’ve learnt a lot from our last outing up north and we’re in Ireland to start a new chapter in the book we’re writing as a team. Our squad has grown tremendously in the last couple of weeks we’ve been together. Our bond has grown. Of course, Leinster have dominated northern hemisphere rugby for a long time now. But on the day it doesn’t matter who has won what. We both want results, and we’ve done the homework we need to do in order to get the result we want.”
Both players are under no illusions as to what to expect from Leinster.
“Since I was a boy, I always watched quality sides like Leinster, going back to the times when Brian O’Driscoll was there, and also Gordon D’Arcy and those players. Now Johnny Sexton is there. I’m very excited for the new challenge. We’ve done our homework and we know what’s coming,” said Kriel.
Tambwe brings with him the experience of Vodacom Super Rugby and says his mindset for the Leinster match will be similar to playing a team like the Crusaders.
“I’ve been fortunate to play Vodacom Super Rugby and play against the likes of the Crusaders, so in my mind I know what to expect from a quality team like Leinster. But our squad is looking good. Our main focus is to do what we do best and hopefully get the result we want on Saturday.”
– Michael Vlismas
