All about the ‘bigger why’ for Bulls in URC title quest, says Marco van Staden

The Bulls may be coming off arguably their finest win since the 2022 semi-finals, but they are not carried away with that momentum in their United Rugby Championship title quest.

Beating Glasgow 26-19 at Scotstoun Stadium on April 25 provided some satisfaction following last season’s final defeat to the Warriors at Loftus Versfeld.

But it doesn’t mean that the URC trophy is now suddenly in Pretoria – something that Jake White’s team can only secure on June 14.

After a week off, though, there is the danger that the Bulls might feel that Cardiff will be pushovers in Saturday’s clash at Loftus Versfeld (4pm start), especially having beaten Glasgow and Munster in Limerick.

The Bulls can’t afford any slip-ups as they are still able to finish second on the log and book a home semi-final if they get through the quarters.

They are on 58 points at the moment, one behind Glasgow – but the Scottish defending champions face Benetton in Italy on Saturday and then Leinster in Dublin next weekend.

Bulls flank Marco van Staden said during a press conference on Tuesday that the team are still on a high from the tour, but are well aware that the trophy has not been won yet.

“We’re focusing on our process, the things that have been working for us. And I think if we do that well, those five points in both games will come,” the Springbok loose forward said.

“It’s not going to be easy. So, we first have to win the game before we start thinking about five points, before anything.

“So, I think that’s why we just focus on the things we’ve been doing good, and see where we can improve because there’s still a lot of improvements from the Munster and Glasgow game going forward.

“We decided to play for each other and fight for each other, fight for the players. Not on tour, fighting for the players on tour that’s not playing, fighting for our families.

“So now, I think we as a group have created a bigger why for us. So now I think that’s something we will carry forward for the remainder of this competition.

“I think we’ve learned from last season. I don’t know why our away games were better than our home games.

“But I think we’ve learned from the previous games that we had to win, which we haven’t won yet.

“And I think we can learn from that in the next two games and hopefully in the away games.”

The Bulls completed the ‘Irish Grand Slam’ by beating Munster on tour, to go with victories over Leinster, Connacht and Ulster this season.

But while the last few weeks in Europe were ones to remember, the Pretoria side were far from perfect, especially on attack.

It was more their defensive fortitude that won them the Munster and Glasgow games, and they need to be much more ruthless with ball-in-hand if they want to go all the way in the URC this year.

“It’s more parts of the game, I think it’s more small detail and using opportunities we get,” Van Staden said.

“I think we waste maybe a lot of opportunities that we create, not finishing, so ja, I think that’s one of them.

“We have to focus on doing the things we’ve been doing the whole season and keep doing it. No matter if the occasion changes, we still have to play the way we train and the way we’ve been playing the whole season.

“Just being more clinical in those games, being more clinical and using those opportunities we create.

“We want to play without the pressure of the occasion, and we want to play like we’ve been playing when we were very successful.

“So, I think we just want to carry that forward and improve like the fundamentals we have, and then the other smaller details.

“(Winning the URC title) is definitely a big thing for us.

“I think that week was very needed for everyone just to get back to their families, get back to their kids and reset. It was two games... very high (level).

“Even though we won those two big games, there is still a lot to improve.

“There are still a lot of opportunities we could have taken. I think for us, it’s just a refocus, and just start again.

“We hope to start with the same intensity and carry it through all the way to the end.

“Cardiff are going to come to Loftus with massive intent. They are going to come with the belief to win.

“Cardiff has had a very good season to this far. We are expecting it’s going to be a big battle. We are not expecting anything less.”