No home favourites in VURC Grand Final, says Louw

There are no home favourites in a Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final.

That’s the message the injured Elrigh Louw has for his Vodacom Bulls teammates as they prepare for Saturday’s battle with Leinster at the iconic Croke Park in Dublin.

Louw has joined his teammates in Dublin for a Grand Final that is being billed by the Irish media as the “grandest of all Grand Finals” between two teams who each have a huge point to prove on Saturday.

The Bulls are into their third Grand Final and are yet to lift the trophy. Leinster are desperate to turn their perennial dominance of the league phase of this competition into some silverware after years of disappointment in the play-offs.

But while it may seem obvious that Leinster will enjoy home ground advantage on Saturday, Louw points out otherwise.

“If you look at the past Grand Finals, the home team almost has the disadvantage. Apart from the DHL Stormers beating us on their home field in Cape Town in the first Grand Final, every other home team in a Grand Final has lost,” said Louw.

As such, the Bulls now have the opportunity to make South African rugby history as the country’s first team to win this competition away from home.

That’s a goal former Springbok Hanyani Shimange believes is important for South African rugby.

“I think this is a different Grand Final because as South African rugby we’ve got to prove that we can do what Munster and the Glasgow Warriors did and win a final away from home,” he said.

Fellow Springbok Steven Kitshoff, a winner of the inaugural URC with the Stormers, also believes Saturday’s final represents something bigger for the South African game.

“It shows the depth and consistency of South African rugby that we have a South African team in the final for the fourth season in succession. It’s great for the Springboks. It would be great for the Vodacom Bulls to win it away. They’ve beaten Leinster away before, so hopefully they do it again and we have a South African team lifting the trophy twice in four seasons,” he said.

There are a number of goals driving the Bulls towards their pursuit of possible Grand Final glory on Saturday. But for captain Ruan Nortjé, there is one overriding focus.

“This year it’s about playing for more than a trophy. It’s about the memories we’ve made as a group over the past few years. The highs and lows we’ve been through. The passing of Cornal Hendricks has also put things into perspective for all of us. This is a rugby game and we’re blessed to be able to do what we love. So it’s about playing the game we love and playing for the guy next to you who you’ve built a bond with. The result will then take care of itself.”

Leinster starting XV: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 James Lowe; 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 8 Jack Conan (capt), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird; 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy; 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter. Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Jack Boyle, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Jamie Osborne.

Vodacom Bulls starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canon Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk; 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier; 8 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Ruan Nortje (capt), 6 Marco van Staden; 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese; 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-hendrik Wessels. Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Keagan Johannes, 23 Devon Williams.

SATURDAY

Leinster Rugby v Vodacom Bulls

Croke Park, Dublin – KO 5pm IRE & UK/6pm ITA & SA

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 55th league game)

AR 1: Mike Adamson (SRU) AR 2: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Live on: TG4, SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv