The Vodacom Bulls ended South Africa’s chapter with Vodacom Super Rugby fully aware that if they won the Unlocked trophy this past weekend, they would stay the only South African team that had held any version of the trophy up high.
Coach Jake White confirmed that the team were very aware of this fact, and wanted to ensure they stayed the only SA team with their names on the trophy.
“It’s fantastic, this union hasn’t won a trophy for 10 years, it has won a lot of junior trophies but not a senior trophy. As you can imagine, there is a lot of excitement and relief on the basis we got the first round done and dusted.
“We are very happy that we can make the Bulls supporters happy again,” White said.
“There is an opportunity to win two trophies. Every team knew there was an opportunity to win two trophies and every team knew that at the end of this competition, the first round, there is a trophy to be won. We were fully aware that if we won this trophy we would be the only South African side to win that trophy and we wanted to be that franchise.
“We didn’t want to allow another team in the country to win Super Rugby.”
THE MAN UNITED OF RUGBY
White said that while he was aware it wasn’t the real deal of Super Rugby, considering the situation with Covid and the limited time he has had with the team since he has arrived in Pretoria, he is pretty happy with the result.
“I’m fully aware it is not the fully-fledged Super Rugby, but if you go back to where we were six months ago, nobody would have given us a chance to win this trophy. There is a massive amount of happiness and relief and confidence that we get out of winning something.
“A lot of these guys have been here a long time, and winning becomes a habit. Now we know the feeling, and hopefully, we will get to practice on Monday and we will be going for the second round, which is another opportunity.”
And he sees a bright future ahead for this team of players.
“I’m very very happy and I signed at this franchise on the basis that they are a sleeping giant. This is one of the best franchises in the world. This is the Liverpool or Man United of rugby. If you look at the teams in rugby, the Bulls would be up there – if you look at the Juventus or Real Madrids, Man United. At the end of the day, if you mention the top five, six rugby clubs in the world, this would be one of them.
“At the end of the day that is why I came here, I wanted to get this union to win some silverware. I don’t take anything away from those guys in the past. The guys who played in the glory years will be happy to see there are guys who are winning something.
“We come to work every day and it is part of our jobs and we get measured on our results. I’m also back in South Africa, I’m enjoying being back here and coaching South African players.”
And while many may say it wasn’t the real deal, White and his players were enjoying hoisting the trophy after the first round of the strangest season in history.
And they will have their sights on many more.