URC FINAL: 'Bulls have a real chance to win' - Jan de Koning, Rugby365

Wasanga Mehana, standing in for CapeTalk and 702's Africa Melane, speaks to Jan de Koning, Editor of Rugby365.

Listen below:

The historic meeting between Leinster and the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship Final will come to a head at Dublin’s Croke Park on Saturday, 14 June at 6 pm, and a new URC champion will be crowned.

It's a clash of titans; the Bulls have beaten Leinster twice in the URC semifinals, in 2022 and 2024.

The Bulls are South Africa’s most successful team, winning three Super Rugby titles and 25 Currie Cups. They have lost two URC Finals: in 2022 against the Stormers and in 2024 against Glasgow Warriors.

Having lost URC Next-Gen player Cameron Hanekom in the semifinals, Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has brought in Marco van Staden into the forward pack with Nizaam Carr taking Van Staden’s place on the bench in an otherwise unchanged 23.

De Koning says the Bulls have 'a real chance' of taking the championship title.

"The Bulls have experience. If they stay calm, if they don't allow Leinster to get too far ahead... the Bulls have it in them. The Bulls have a strong enough bench, and that might be the difference... if Leinster gets beyond 10 points, then the Bulls are going to be in trouble. But if the Bulls can stay within 10 points in the last 10 minutes, they've got a real chance."

- Jan De Koning, Editor - Rugby365

De Koning explains the Bulls' strengths and weaknesses going into the finals.

"The Bulls are the most carded team in the competition... the other very important fact is the scrums with Wilco Louw and Jan-Hendrik [Wessels]... they will be able to tie down the Leinster guys... Johan Goosen at flyhalf, I think his game management will be very important."

- Jan De Koning, Editor - Rugby365

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