Bulls director of rugby Jake White claims that Leinster are simply ‘in a different league’ following the URC final on Saturday.
The Irish province lifted their first trophy in four years by thrashing the South African outfit 32-7 at Croke Park in Dublin.
Leo Cullen’s men, who are stacked with internationals, were far too strong for their opponents with Jack Conan, Jordie Barrett, Josh van der Flier and Fintan Gunne tries sealing the title.
Leinster’s final defeats
Leinster have struggled to get over the line in recent years, losing in the final of the Champions Cup in 2022, 2023 and 2024, which has led to heavy criticism considering the talent within the squad.
Despite those setbacks, White does not believe that they are are appreciated enough within their own country.
“You have to understand, this is not a normal rugby team,” he said. “We are naïve when… I made a note in my book, they are 19–0 up and they bring on RG Snyman.
“It’s just a different league altogether and that’s why Leinster supporters are probably so disappointed because they were waiting for that performance the whole year and we just happened to get the 40 minutes that they were waiting for the whole year.
“We couldn’t get our hands on the ball. I say again to all the Irish, I don’t think they give the credit to that Leinster team. They are well coached, they are fantastic guys as well.”
This defeat was the Bulls’ third in the final since the United Rugby Championship began in 2021. They have lost to the Stormers, Glasgow Warriors and now Leinster in the showpiece event, but White admitted that Cullen’s outfit was the best side they have faced.
Their task to get to a point where they can challenge the Irish province, with White seeing first hand the gap there is between Leinster and the Bulls on Saturday.
‘This must be the best Leinster team’
“I keep banging the same drum. I’ve coached some of the best players in the world, players who have won player of the year twice,” he said.
“If you’re playing against 23 internationals, I think today Leinster were short with only 22, there is a complete difference.
“That’s a phenomenal provincial team. That must be the best Leinster team, I know that’s going to be a headline but that must be one of the best Leinster squads they’ve ever had.”
White added: “There’s no doubt that Leinster won’t go backwards, Leinster will continue going forwards.
“It’s a little bit like a Formula One racing car: Your pit stop is three seconds, and theirs is two, and you think when you get to two we can catch them but they’re probably on 1.3 by then, and then you’re still behind.
“Our job is now to make sure that we can try and fast track whatever we need to fast track so that we can compete, because we’re going to find it hard to beat teams like this at Croke Park and Aviva if we don’t catch up.”
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/jake-white-irish-dont-give-enough-credit-to-leinster-who-are-not-a-normal-rugby-team
