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The Jake White Effect on champion Bulls

BOITUMELO RANTAO 

SOUTH African rugby franchise the Blue Bulls lifted the trophy as Currie Cup champions for the first time since 2009, completing their climb to the summit of South African rugby. The Pretoria franchise dramatically defeated the Cell-C Sharks 26-19 in a hard-fought Currie Cup final.

A season of twists and turns due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic delivered one of the most thrilling Currie Cup finals in recent memory and the longest such encounter of all-time. 

The weather extended the fixture after a lightning warning took teams to the sidelines in the 25th minute. The Sharks ran ahead, after being down 6-3 prior to the hiatus, to command the game, but the only thing that would strike them would be White.

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“Bulls must embrace the pressure of a final” said Director of Rugby Jake White. 

A barrage of penalty kicks, and a few errant misses, from Sharks flyhalf Curwin Bosch gave the Sharks 13-9 lead at halftime. The Bulls ran rampant after the break and launched a tenacious comeback to come within touching distance of the Sharks. 

A late penalty by replacement flyhalf Chris Smith would eventually tie the scores 19-19 at the final buzzer. Smith had the opportunity to win the game for the Bulls after they were awarded a penalty after time had run out and left every supporter on the edge of their seat. Smith sent his attempt wide prepping the two sides for two halves of extra time.

A try in the second half of extra time sealed the win for the Blue Bulls, and the moment was a marquee of the dominance the Bulls franchise has had over South African rugby. 

“It’s incredible when you consider the challenges. No crowds, Covid, lightning and thunder causing the first half to be cut in half. With everything, we had to adapt all the time. It’s definitely going to be a final that everyone will remember for many different reasons.” said White.

“I am really proud of the way we stuck in there. We had a chance on the hooter to win and then they got a penalty [in extra time] and they missed it. It was incredible.” he concluded in his post-match statements.

Over the course of the 2020 season the organization has drawn praise after capturing the under-19, under-21, Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked, and ultimately Currie Cup titles. 

White, a former Rugby World Cup winning head coach in 2006 can be attributed with the resounding resurgence of the Blue Bulls after taking the helm as Director of Rugby early in 2020. 

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By The African Mirror

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