Bulls are given a rude awakening
WHITE: LEINSTER THE BENCHMARK IN EUROPEAN RUGBY
Bulls coach Jake White seemed afraid before their match against Leinster that his team and their fans might not realise how daunting their game against the dominant side in the Pro14 competition was going to be.
But the reality of what awaits South Africa’s champions was rammed home as they were hammered 31-3 at the Aviva Stadium.
On a miserable Saturday for South African rugby on which the Springboks, Stormers, Bulls and Sharks all lost, the quality, tempo and precision of the European game was on full display on the opening weekend of the new United Rugby Championship, even though those sides are just starting their season.
And Leinster look set to be Europe’s flag-bearers once again, judging by their polished performance against the Bulls.
“I’m not that disappointed in our performance to be honest. Leinster are the benchmark in European rugby and I’m a realist,” White said afterwards.
“That’s the kind of pressure we’re going to have to get used to week in, week out. To give some perspective, Jamison Gibson-Park comes off the bench at scrumhalf and he’s an international. We need to get to that level of skill and depth.
“We need to be realistic where we are and where Leinster are currently. We can’t be down, it was a great learning opportunity even though it wasn’t pleasant,” added White.
“Leinster have Test players who have been together for a long time, guys with 30 Test caps against players with 30 Currie Cup caps. The bottom line is that they exposed us and they have done it to some of the best sides in Europe.”
The Sharks, runners-up to the Bulls in the Currie Cup final a few weeks ago, were also given a lesson, by Munster, beaten 42-17.
“I was disappointed with the discipline, we gave away 17 penalties and almost all of them had massive consequences,” said Sharks boss Sean Everitt.
“So the guys have to learn quickly, although I felt we were a bit unlucky at the breakdown and could have been rewarded more there.”
The Stormers were also on the wrong side of the result, going down 22-18 to Rainbow Cup winners, Benetton Treviso.
The Capetonians did pick up a losing bonus point, but coach John Dobson will feel his side should have won the game.
The only South African side to win on the opening weekend was the Lions, who edged the other Italian side, Zebre 38-26.