DHL Stormers vs Vodacom Bulls

More documents

Recommendations

Info

GRAND FINAL DHL STORMERS VS VODACOM BULLS COACH PROFILE JAKE WHITE F ifteen years may have passed since Jake White guided South Africa to World Cup glory but the Vodacom Bulls are now reaping the benefits of their Director of Rugby’s vast experience in the game. White was at the helm as the Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in 2007 – a triumph that arrived relatively early in his career as a senior head coach. The former PE teacher had been in charge since 2004 but this was his first high-profile job, having earlier led the country’s under-21s to a World Cup triumph of their own. He also served as a technical advisor to the Springboks during Nick Mallett’s tenure, as well as working as an assistant with the national team. White’s time in charge also saw South Africa win the Tri-Nations and climb from sixth to top of the world rankings. He was crowned Coach of the Year on two occasions and inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame. When he departed the Boks following their World Cup win, which was sealed with a 15-6 victory over defending champions England in Paris, White was still only 43 years old – a relative youngster in coaching terms. “ I’VE COACHED A LONG TIME NOW, SO yOU LEARN A COUPLE OF THOSE THINGS” White worked with the International Rugby Board from 2008 to 2012 before returning to coaching with the Brumbies. During his time in Australia, the Brumbies overcame the Bulls in a Super Rugby semi-final in Pretoria in what White described as the Canberra outfit’s “greatest” win while they also achieved a memorable victory over the touring British and Irish Lions. White spent a season in charge of the Cell C Sharks in 2014, guiding the Durban outfit to the Super Rugby semi-finals, before a stint on the staff with Tonga. His three years at French club Montpellier yielded an EPCR Challenge Cup trophy, beating Harlequins in the 2016 final, before his globe-trotting career took him to Japan for a similar-length stint in charge of Toyota Verblitz. The Bulls came calling in 2020 and, upon his appointment, White highlighted the need to “rebuild a winning culture at Loftus”. He has since overseen back-toback Currie Cup triumphs as well as guiding the Bulls to victory in Super Rugby Unlocked in 2020. Saturday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final against the DHL Stormers marks an opportunity to land the biggest title of his Bulls tenure to date and White says he has never stopped learning despite his early successes as a head coach. “I’ve coached a long time now, so you learn a couple of those things,” he said when praised for his team’s ingenuity in their Final Four victory at Leinster. “I’ve coached in Japan, coached in France and coached at the Brumbies, so I think (I’ve learned) along the way. “One of the things we worked hard on is that probably the Bulls were well known for certain areas of the game which we do well but if you can tweak it and bring a couple of new things in it obviously adds a little bit of a dimension to our game.” White is among an exclusive band of coaches who have lifted rugby’s biggest prize but his hunger to win remains undiminished as he bids to lead the Bulls to the inaugural URC title. 36
LIGHTNING-LIKE LOUW ADDS TO THE CAPE STORM At some point in their story, every great player is identified as a talent destined for legendary status, and Vodacom Bulls director of rugby Jake White very quickly recognised the star quality of Elrigh Louw. ‘I’ve got no doubt Elrigh will go to the top, he’s got everything.’ These were White’s words in October, 2021. At that point, the Vodacom Bulls opened the Vodacom United Rugby Championship with heavy losses to Leinster (31-3) and Connacht (34-7) in Ireland before Louw hurtled over for a try in a 29-19 win at Cardiff. Eight months later and Louw, now 22, has scored four tries in 19 appearances, is fresh off a “ monumental semi-final victory against Leinster that catapulted the fourthseeded Vodacom Bulls into an all-South African Vodacom URC final against the DHL Stormers, and has been named in the Springbok squad for the upcoming international season. White is more surprised by the victory over the log-leaders in Dublin than Louw’s Bok inclusion. The man who coached the Springboks to Rugby World Cup glory in 2007 believes the young Vodacom Bulls titan compares favourably with one of South Africa’s greatest forwards. ‘Elrigh is a Juan Smith in the making, and I don’t say that lightly because Juan wasn’t the norm,’ said White. ‘Juan Smith finished his career as a brilliant, seasoned campaigner but I remember what he was like as a 20-year-old. Elrigh reminds me of a young Juan.’ Like Smith, Louw is a hard-nosed competitor who has little use for rest and no comprehension of the word ‘compromise’ when it comes to confrontation on the rugby field. ‘Elrigh is skilful, runs good support lines and is not scared to be out wide or close in. He’s not a guy who can only carry in tight spaces, he’s just as comfortable taking on backs in space on the edge.’ Far from being an outspoken protagonist, the Vodacom Bulls back rower unleashes heavyweight blows with the demeanour of an experienced construction worker laying brick. With the builder, it requires patient attention to recognise that a wall is being built, and in the case of Louw, it takes some time to appreciate the impact of his unremitting work-rate in breaking down the will of opposing players to halt his runs and I’VE GOT NO DOUBT ELRIGH WILL GO TO THE TOP, HE’S GOT EVERyTHING” carry the ball into his broad shoulders. Louw is also an accomplished lineout weapon, the successful target of 33 lineout throws this season to rank among the Vodacom Bulls’ three most-effective jumpers. This will stand him in good stead with the national team as he looks set to serve as an understudy to Pieter-Steph du Toit, the 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year, himself no stranger to soaring in the lineout. But between now and a possible Bok debut against Wales in July lies the biggest match of Louw’s fledgling career. A showdown against South Africa’s top contenders in Cape Town is the formidable challenge hindering Louw’s access to the Vodacom URC trophy. He will be dauntless, as he was in last week’s semi-final when the young and fearless Vodacom Bulls stormed Dublin, and Louw thundered through Leinster’s celebrated pack to book a date with destiny. 18.06.2022 - DHL STADIUM, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA #STOVBUL 37
Page 1 and 2: G R A N D F I N A L GRAND FINAL | D
Page 3 and 4: GRAND FINAL DHL STORMERS VS VODACOM
Page 5 and 6: such a terrific job at showing all
Page 7 and 8: DHL STORMERS’ ROAD TO THE FINAL T
Page 9: VODACOM BULLS’ ROAD TO THE FINAL
Page 20: GRAND FINAL DHL STORMERS VS VODACOM
Page 33 and 34: IRONMAN RUAN NORTJE (VODACOM BULLS)
Page 35: MATCHDAy SqUAD VODACOM BULLS 15 KUR
Page 49: BOLD IS POWER The All-New ISUZU D-M
Page 54 and 55: EVERY MEAL;S BEST FRIEND
Page 61 and 62: CAREER MATCH RECORDS IN ONE PLAy-OF
Page 63 and 64: 18.06.2022 - DHL STADIUM, CAPE TOWN
Page 66 and 67: WIN WIN WIN VISIT GRANDFINAL.UNITED
Page 68 and 69: GRAND FINAL DHL STORMER VS VODACOM

DHL Stormers vs Vodacom Bulls

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?