Bulls coach Jake White says he needs more international players in his squad if he is to turn silver into gold in the United Rugby Championship.
For years, White has been banging the same drum regarding the need to bring home star players from overseas to strengthen the South African squads.
He pointed out the example of Leinster having players of the calibre of Springbok Viking RG Snyman on the bench.
“The lesson I’ve taken from that is the one I’ve been telling you for a long time,” White said after his team had been pummeled 32-7 in the URC final in Dublin.
“We need more international players to play in our province,” White said. “I need what Leinster have. I need to be able to fight fire with fire.
“Leinster, Toulouse, La Rochelle… What do you think you need to win those games? Academy players or seasoned internationals? I think the biggest cheer tonight was for Jordie Barrett – he’s not Irish.
“I’d love to be able to sit in a coaches box and 19-nil up, say ‘RG, warm up’, and then put him on and let him menace the defence like he did tonight. That has been from the day I took over this job. I keep banging the same drum, guys.”
The disappointed coach said that he felt like he was watching a horror movie.
“We got the 40 minutes the Leinster supporters were waiting for the whole season. It was like watching a horror movie, and you hope the ending will be different. This was Test-level rugby. It was like everything was played in fast forward.”
You have to understand, Leinster are not a normal rugby team,” White explained.
“They’re well-coached, and they’re fantastic guys as well. I mean, world-class. So, yeah, it’s all credit to them. Since I started here at this level with the URC, Leinster have been the benchmark, and tonight they showed it again.
“I’ve now got three silver medals. I’ve got to try and find out how to turn silver into gold now.”
When the Bulls lost to Glasgow in last season’s final in Pretoria, White was visibly shaken, but the comprehensive nature of this defeat in Dublin has made it easier for him to handle.
“I’m less gutted because I think people are so naïve. I don’t know what’s changed from four years ago to now. Back then, we played Leinster and we lost 31-3 at the Aviva Stadium.
“So we’ve got four years older, and believe it or not, they’ve got four years older. Maybe I am not less gutted. I’m just completely and utterly realistic.”
“I’ve coached the Brumbies to beat the British & Irish Lions,” White recalled of his time in Australia. “The way you do that is you actually need the big sides to play badly.
“Dreamers are guys that think that you take youngsters and you just wave a wand and you beat international players.”
