South Africans, it’s okay to be bullish about the URC

Back Jake White’s Vodacom Bulls to be a title contender in the inaugural United Rugby Championship. Back the Sharks and even the Stormers to make the play-offs but for now accept the Lions will be propping up the table, writes Mark Keohane.

The Lions glory three years, in which they reached three successive Super Rugby finals, seems like it was from another lifetime. But it was only a few years ago when Johan Ackermann and then Swys de Bruin reveled in building a team of no names into one of the hottest tickets in Super Rugby.

The Lions had been axed from Super Rugby after a historical 15 percent winning average over 20 years. They spent a year playing Vodacom Cup rugby and came back into Super Rugby with a refreshed squad and a refreshingly new win percentage.

The implosion at the Lions has been sad and sudden.

It can’t be fixed with the existing coaching staff and while financial restrictions limit bringing in someone more qualified the Lions will take a beating in South Africa’s new premier international provincial/club competition.

White’s Bulls will be the best of the South African challenge. They’ll drop early games and they will appear to lose some early ground without their Springboks, but White has built enough depth to manage the first two months of the competition played without the Test Springboks currently in Australia preparing for the remaining four Rugby Championship Tests.

White’s Bulls won Super Rugby Unlocked and last season’s Currie Cup. They finished top of the South African conference in the Rainbow Cup but took an unexpected pasting against a Benetton team including six South Africans. The result surprised everyone, but the Benetton players.

White’s Bulls have again dominated the Currie Cup and finished top of the table and nine league points clear of the Sharks. They host Western Province on Friday evening in a semi-final while the Sharks entertain Griquas in the other semi-final. Form and squad quality suggests it will be the Bulls at home to the Sharks in a repeat of last year’s final.

The Bulls transformation has been remarkable since White took over and the working relationship between White, CEO Edgar Rathbone and President Willem Strauss is the formula to the sustained Bulls success. I’ve never known a President, CEO and Director of Rugby to so aligned, so intuitively in touch with the other and so celebratory of the other. There is also massive respect for each other’s portfolio.

Vodacom Bulls teams coached by Jake White have now recorded 20 consecutive victories at Fort Loftus. Only a depleted team lost earlier this year to WP while the main team was in Italy. Finishing top of the log with and incredible 9 points is also an outstanding achievement🏉 pic.twitter.com/6DAZdGPZfy

— Willem Strauss (@willemStrauss9) August 29, 2021

White has built a home dynasty, with the team unbeaten in 20 matches at Loftus Versfeldt, and he has done that without ever enjoying a home crowd advantage. White’s Bulls have never played in front of a crowd at Loftus because of the Covid spectator restrictions in South Africa.

White’s Bulls will travel to Dublin to play defending champions Leinster in the tournament opener. Don’t be disheartened if they battle. There are 18 rounds to this competition and the Bulls have a strong home run into the play-offs.

The Sharks, when their Boks return, will also be very strong and the Stormers, despite all the off-field chaos and disheartening daily diet of administrative incompetence, have a powerful squad and one good enough to make as statement in the opening season.

Hopefully, it won’t be long before the Lions can roar as they did in their final flurry in Super Rugby, and hopefully it won’t be long before the URC kills off the memory of Super Rugby. It is a competition that speaks to the strengths of South African teams and also speaks to fairness in playing schedule, in travel and it most certainly speaks to comfort in there being no time difference issues.

This competition will be a winner and the strength of the South African challenge will also force the Celtic clubs to play their best players, which is why Pro Rugby, the predecessor to the URC, failed as a competition.

Invariably, the likes of Munster and Leinster would play their second stringers and manage the work load of their best for the Heineken Cup.

Now it will be different because for a Celtic team to see off the South African challenge, they can’t afford to put out second-string teams.

I’m excited at the potential of the URC and also at what we can expect from the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers over the course of 18 rounds.

Bring it on.

Do you have a question for Coach Jake ahead of this weekend’s Final? Ask it below and you could feature on the next episode of “No-Holds-Barred”. Exclusive to the Vodacom Bulls app 💪 pic.twitter.com/oR0MCyALRh

— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) September 6, 2021

 

The official URC website

🇿🇦 𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗛 𝗔𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗘𝗟𝗗 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/thHjUAVnJw

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) August 29, 2021

 

United Rugby Championship fixtures

Round 1

Friday, September 24

Zebre v Emirates Lions | 17:35 UK / 18:35 ITA & SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Ulster v Glasgow Warriors | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports

Cardiff v Connacht | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, TG4, Premier Sports

Saturday, September 25

Benetton v DHL Stormers | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA & SA | Italian TV, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Leinster v Vodacom Bulls | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | TG4, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Edinburgh v Scarlets | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, S4C

Munster v Sharks | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | RTE, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Sunday, September 26

Dragons v Ospreys | 14:00 UK / 15:00 ITA & SA | Premier Sports

Round 2

Friday, October 1

Connacht v Vodacom Bulls | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | TG4, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Scarlets v Emirates Lions | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Saturday, October 2

Benetton v Edinburgh | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA & SA | Italian TV, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Glasgow Warriors v Cell C Sharks | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, Super Sport

Zebre v Ulster | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | Premier Sports

Dragons v Leinster | TBC | S4C, RTÉ, Premier Sports

Ospreys v Cardiff | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | Premier Sports

Munster v DHL Stormers | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | RTE, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Round 3

Friday, October 8

Ulster v Benetton | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | BBC NI, Premier Sports, TG4

Ospreys v Cell C Sharks | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Saturday, October 9

Leinster v Zebre | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA & SA | RTE, Italian TV, Premier Sports

Glasgow Warriors v Emirates Lions | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, Super Sport

Connacht v Dragons | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | TG4, S4C, Premier Sports

Edinburgh v DHL Stormers | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, Super Sport

Cardiff v Vodacom Bulls | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | S4C, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Sunday, October 10

Scarlets v Munster | 14:00 UK / 15:00 ITA & SA | S4C, RTE, Premier Sports

Round 4

Friday, October 15

Ulster v Lions | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | BBC NI, Super Sport, Premier Sports, RTE

Dragons v DHL Stormers | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Saturday, October 16

Zebre v Glasgow Warriors | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA & SA | Italian TV, Premier Sports

Benetton v Ospreys | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA & SA | S4C, Premier Sports

Leinster v Scarlets | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | TG4, S4C, Premier Sports

Edinburgh v Vodacom Bulls | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, Super Sport

Munster v Connacht | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | RTÉ, Premier Sports

Cardiff v Cell C Sharks | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | S4C, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Round 5

Friday, October 22

Scarlets v Benetton | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Saturday, October 23

Zebre v Edinburgh | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA & SA | Italian TV, Premier Sports

Glasgow Warriors v Leinster | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA & SA | Premier Sports, TG4

Connacht v Ulster | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | TG4, Premier Sports

Cardiff v Dragons | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA & SA | Premier Sports

Ospreys v Munster | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA & SA | S4C, RTÉ, Premier Sports

Round 6

Friday, November 26

Connacht v Ospreys | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA/ 21:35 SA | RTE, BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Saturday, November 27

DHL Stormers v Zebre | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Benetton v Glasgow Warriors | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Italian TV, Premier Sports

Cell C Sharks v Scarlets | 15:30 UK / 16:30 ITA / 17:30 SA | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports

Dragons v Edinburgh | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | Premier Sports

Vodacom Bulls v Munster | 17:45 UK / 18:45 ITA / 19:45 SA | Super Sport, TG4, Premier Sports

Leinster v Ulster | 20:00 UK / 21:00 ITA / 22:00 SA | RTE, Premier Sports

Sunday, November 28

Emirates Lions v Cardiff | 14:00 UK / 15:00 ITA / 16:00 SA | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports

Round 7

Friday, December 3

Vodacom Bulls v Scarlets | 17:35 UK / 18:35 ITA / 19:35 SA | Super Sport, BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Edinburgh v Benetton | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA / 21:35 SA | Premier Sports

Leinster v Connacht | 19:45 UK / 20:45 ITA / 21:45 SA | TG4, Premier Sports

Saturday, December 4

Cell C Sharks v Zebre | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Super Sport, Italian TV, Premier Sports

Ospreys v Ulster | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA / 17:00 SA | Premier Sports

Emirates Lions v Munster | 15:30 UK / 16:30 ITA / 17:30 SA | Super Sport, RTE, Premier Sports

Glasgow Warriors v Dragons | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | Premier Sports

DHL Stormers v Cardiff | 17:45 UK / 18:45 ITA / 19:45 SA | Super Sport, S4C, Premier Sports

Round 8

Friday, December 24

Zebre v Benetton | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Italian TV, Premier Sports

Sunday, December 26

Cardiff v Scarlets | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA / 17:00 SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Ulster v Connacht | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | BBC NI, TG4, Premier Sports

Ospreys v Dragons | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | S4C, Premier Sports

Munster v Leinster | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA / 21:35 SA | RTE, Premier Sports

Monday, December 27

Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh | 19:00 UK / 20:00 ITA / 21:00 SA | Premier Sports

Round 9

Saturday, January 1

Dragons v Cardiff | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA / 17:00 SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Connacht v Munster | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | TG4, Premier Sports

Scarlets v Ospreys | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | S4C, Premier Sports

Ulster v Leinster | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA / 21:35 SA | Premier Sports, TG4

Sunday, January 2

Benetton v Zebre | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Italian TV, Premier Sports

Edinburgh v Glasgow Warriors | 14:00 UK / 15:00 ITA / 16:00 SA | Premier Sports

Round 10

Friday, January 7

Leinster v Emirates Lions | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA / 21 :35 SA | TG4, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Saturday, January 8

Benetton v Cell C Sharks | 13:00 UK / 14:00 ITA / 15:00 SA | Italian TV, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Zebre v Vodacom Bulls | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA / 17:00 SA | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Edinburgh v Cardiff | 15:00 UK / 16:00 ITA / 17:00 SA | BBC Wales, Premier Sports

Connacht v DHL Stormers | 17:00 UK / 18:00 ITA / 19:00 SA | RTE, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys | 17:15 UK / 18:15 ITA / 19:15 SA | Premier Sports, S4C

Munster v Ulster | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA / 21 :35 SA | RTE, Super Sport, Premier Sports

Scarlets v Dragons | 19:35 UK / 20:35 ITA / 21 :35 SA | Premier Sports

Round 11

Weekend of Jan 28/29/30

Connacht v Glasgow Warriors

Ulster v Scarlets

Cardiff v Leinster

Dragons v Benetton

Ospreys v Edinburgh

Vodacom Bulls v Emirates Lions

DHL Stormers v Cell C Sharks

Zebre v Munster

Round 5 (SA derbies)

Weekend of Feb 4/5/6

Emirates Lions v Cell C Sharks | TBC | Super Sport, Premier Sports

DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls | TBC | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Round 8 (SA derbies)

Weekend of Feb 11/12/13

Vodacom Bulls v Cell C Sharks | TBC | Super Sport, Premier Sports

DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions | TBC | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Round 12

Weekend of Feb 18/19/20

Leinster v Ospreys

Munster v Edinburgh

Cardiff v Zebre

Dragons v Ulster

Scarlets v Connacht

Emirates Lions v DHL Stormers

Cell C Sharks v Vodacom Bulls

Glasgow Warriors v Benetton

Round 13

Weekend of Mar 4/5/6

Munster v Dragons

Ulster v Cardiff

Scarlets v Glasgow Warriors

Ospreys v Zebre

Vodacom Bulls v DHL Stormers

Cell C Sharks v Emirates Lions

Edinburgh v Connacht

Benetton v Leinster

Round 9 (SA derbies)

Weekend of March 18/19/20

Emirates Lions v Vodacom Bulls | TBC | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Cell C Sharks v DHL Stormers | TBC | Super Sport, Premier Sports

Round 14

Weekend of March 25/26/27

Connacht v Leinster

Munster v Benetton

Cardiff v Glasgow Warriors

Vodacom Bulls v Dragons

Emirates Lions v Ospreys

Cell C Sharks v Edinburgh

DHL Stormers v Ulster

Zebre v Scarlets

Round 15

Weekend of April 1/2/3

Leinster v Munster

Scarlets v Cardiff

Vodacom Bulls v Ulster

Emirates Lions v Edinburgh

Cell C Sharks v dragons

DHL Stormers v Ospreys

Glasgow Warriors v Zebre

Benetton v Connacht

Round 16

Weekend of April 22/23/24

Ulster v Munster

Cardiff v Ospreys

Dragons v Scarlets

Vodacom Bulls v Benetton

Emirates Lions v Connacht

Cell C Sharks v Leinster

DHL Stormers v Glasgow Warriors

Edinburgh v Zebre

Round 17

Weekend of April 29/30 and May 1

Munster v Cardiff

Ospreys v Scarlets

Vodacom Bulls v Glasgow Warriors

Emirates Lions v Benetton

Cell C Sharks v Connacht

DHL Stormers v Leinster

Edinburgh v Ulster

Zebre v Dragons

Round 18

Weekend of May 20/21/22

Connacht v Zebre

Leinster v Edinburgh

Ulster v Cell C Sharks

Dragons v Emirates Lions

Scarlets v DHL Stormers

Ospreys v Vodacom Bulls