It is easy to be bullish when winning, but it’s one thing that Vodacom Bulls boss Jake White has not been after seven losses to the DHL Stormers, writes MARK KEOHANE.
When the Vodacom URC resumes next week, the Bulls and Stormers clash on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld, where John Dobson’s charges will look to continue their unbeaten run against South African opponents since December 2021.
Writing for TimesLIVE, Keohane asserts that White’s Bulls, despite their successes this season, face an eighth consecutive defeat to the Stormers in the URC.
He notes White’s recent dismissive comments about the Lions, and contrasts the director of rugby’s post-match reactions against the Stormers, having often felt hard done by.
Keohane highlights Dobson’s understated demeanor in victories, in contrast to White’s, and points out that no coach has beaten a White-coached team as many times in a row.
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He suggests that the Stormers players reserve their best for the Bulls, while Deon Fourie, who starred when the SA Shield frontrunners claimed bragging rights in Cape Town two months ago, has a point to prove after his recent Springbok snub.
“Jake White was bullish in dismissing the performance of the Lions a week ago. It is easy to be bullish when winning, but bullish is one thing White has not been post matches against the Stormers in the history of the URC,” Keohane writes.
“Now the memes are already starting to emerge of White, at a pool table, staring down a black eight-ball.
“White has been overstated in his press conference reactions and he has taken each defeat as a personal sleight.
“Deon Fourie made his Bok statement against the Bulls in the past two seasons, and [Rassie] Erasmus, in omitting the World Cup winner from his initial national alignment squad, may well have put White’s Bulls firmly behind the black eight-ball.”
The post Jake staring down URC derby ‘eight-ball’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
