Let Leinster get a fast start, and you can kiss the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final goodbye.
That was the gist of the message delivered by Vodacom Bulls fullback Willie le Roux on the eve of his side’s departure for Dublin for Friday night’s final against the defending champions.
Leinster averages close to 10 points per game in the first 20 minutes and often turns that fast start into something much better, leaving teams struggling to catch up.
But that isn’t a state secret either. Last year, the Bulls allowed Leinster to get three quick tries in the opening quarter and never recovered, slumping to a one-sided loss that gave Leinster the title they had desired for so long.
Le Roux said the key for the Bulls is to still be in the fight after 20 minutes, to try and claim their first trophy in four finals.
“They got an incredible start last year against us. We were on the back foot from the first minute,” Le Roux said. “They played in the right areas; their defence was incredible, and we couldn’t manage to break through them.
“It was very tough; they made it very tough for us last year. But it’s a new year, we’re very excited for Friday, and as I said, we’re looking forward to going up against a good quality side such as Leinster.”
And while they have a lot to face this weekend with Leinster able to field a virtual Irish test side, the Bulls are hopeful though, but they know they need to take the opportunities they are presented.
“In finals, you might get one opportunity, and if you don’t take it, then you may end up losing the game,” Le Roux said.
“So, focus is very important, your mindset is very important. It’s also about the big moments as well. Those things are very important.”
They are up against Jacques Nienaber, the ex-Springbok coach who planned and plotted the Springboks’ 2023 win in the Rugby World Cup and is widely acknowledged as one of the best defensive brains around.
“Look, Jacques is an incredible coach. They have an incredible defence that is very hard to break down and tough to play against. So, it’s going to be a massive challenge. Like, even if you know what’s coming, it’s still hard to go through them or go around them.
“So, knowing a bit about Jacques doesn’t help you do things on the field where you only have a split-second decision to make.”
But Le Roux and Handre Pollard - both World Cup-winning Boks - are the difference to this side, with Pollard not being around for last season, and there is a good argument to be made that the Bulls this year are stronger and more streetwise than last, and have an outside chance.
But Le Roux knows he and Pollard need to be on song for their side this weekend.
“Yeah, Polly and I have come back since 2014. We’ve played together for the Springboks, so it’s been a few years. We know each other well, and we understand each other. We know our strengths and weaknesses. We know what the one does, and then you just follow up, you back him. We are each other’s eyes, we help one another as best we can.”
“Communication is the most important.”
The Bulls fought back from so far down and stopped a losing streak to win eight on the trot going into the final, so there is not only momentum, but a bucketload of character following them around.
“I think if you look at us at the start of the season, we lost about five games on the trot. And then people started saying we’re not even going to make the URC quarters or secure a place in the Top 8,” Le Roux explains.
“We fought back with a couple of good overseas wins. We beat the Scarlets away, which we haven’t done in the URC.
"Those games gave us the opportunity, and we managed to finish fourth to get a home quarter-final. We’re just playing for each other, and we’re excited to be back in the Grand Final.
“Leinster is a quality outfit. I mean, they’ve reached so many finals; they are an incredible side. And as I said, we are just excited to be there and to play in this game.”
But Le Roux also knows that all the talk stops on Friday and only the scoreline matters, but the Bulls know what they are in for, and only time will tell if they are good enough to cause an upset in Dublin.