Excited Bulls are in the starting blocks for URC clash with Ulster, says coach Johan Ackermann

Bulls coach Johan Ackermann says he has had to hold his players back in training this week, such is their hunger to kick off their tour with a win against Ulster in Belfast — a city where they have never won.

“From the moment we got on the plane, there has been a positive energy among the guys. I can’t fault them one bit,” Ackermann said. “We want to be a no-moan side with a positive attitude, and when we got to our first training, we wanted the players to work the flight out of their system — but they just wanted to go for it.”

Thankfully, the Bulls have dodged Storm Amy, the near-hurricane that last week forced the cancellation of Ulster’s match against Edinburgh, though Ackermann said the damage was still evident.

“Where we train, the posts were blown completely over. They got them back up just before we arrived. Apparently, it was one of the worst storms they’ve had for a long time, so we’re glad we missed that.

“But the weather now is perfect — no wind, no rain, about 12 degrees — and it’s supposed to be the same on match day.”

Ackermann said a group of Springboks welcomed the squad when they arrived at their hotel.

“Credit to the Springbok guys. Their attitude has been tremendous from the moment they greeted us at the hotel,” he said.

Ackermann has not held back in selecting his side, slotting in Rugby Championship winners Canan Moodie, Handré Pollard, Wilco Louw, Marco van Staden, Willie le Roux, and Jan-Hendrik Wessels.

Together with the other Boks in the Bulls squad, Ackermann will field a tight five of current internationals, plus Van Staden at flank.

“It’s great to have them available to play a very good Ulster team, and a big part of it will be up front,” the coach said. “We’re fortunate that we can pick a good pack, but that’s only on paper. Now the guys must go out on the field and deliver. Hopefully, they’ll do that.

“It’s a tough tour against teams that fight for everything. If we want wins, we have to go deep, and we have to play better than we have in the past two weeks, where results flattered us,” Ackermann added.

The coach said he was thrilled to have Pollard running the show at flyhalf.

“I’ve only had the experience of coaching Handré a little bit years ago with the SA ‘A’ side. Since then, he’s gone on to win World Cups and show that he’s one of the best flyhalves in the world, so it’s a privilege for me to be part of a team that he’s in.

“Handré had to do homework on our plays, but as soon as we got on the training field, he immediately showed calmness, experience, and class.

“Even though it’s a challenge for him to have had only two trainings with the team, I’m sure he’ll adjust well, and the players will feed off his calmness and experience. That’s what I’m hoping for. We must be patient with him settling into the team.”

Bulls team for Ulster

15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johann Grobbelaar (captain), 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.

Bench: 16 Juann Else, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 David Kriel, 23 Willie le Roux.