'They all say it is mission impossible, we will have to wait and see' - Willie Le Roux on overcoming URC final odds
VETERAN: Willie le Roux is hoping to pull his team towards a shock URC final triumph. Picture: Bryan Keane/Inpho
Marcell Coetzee is not expecting any let-up in the burgeoning rivalry between Irish and South African teams when his Bulls meet Leinster at Croke Park in Saturday’s URC Grand Final, two sides he described as desperate for silverware.
There will be plenty of baggage arriving with the teams at GAA headquarters in Dublin this weekend with Leinster having failed to lift a trophy in four seasons and the Bulls having lost two of the last three URC deciders.
And there is added spice given the Pretoria-based franchise has inflicted two of three consecutive semi-final defeats on Leo Cullen’s men since the Boys in Blue won the competition in its former guise as the PRO14 in 2020.
Former Ulster and Springbok back-rower Coetzee, 34, senses as much as he prepares for Saturday’s final and speaking on Wednesday he said: "I think it all builds up to desperation from both sides this weekend, so you can expect a massive clash with a lot of energy and a lot of intensity.
"If you take the two countries that participate in the URC, we had the Stormers against Munster in the (2023) final and we always had to play Leinster in the semi-finals.
"Both countries' representatives are phenomenal when it comes to play-offs. And last season, Glasgow, we played them in the final and came up short there.
"But look, it's so unpredictable, this format. I mean, last season the teams that ended up first and second didn't end up winning the competition.
"So it's very unpredictable at stages, and it just shows you the quality of the URC from all the teams, and particularly the South African teams and the Irish teams.
"We had some good battles, building up to this, in the semis and finals, and I think I expect this weekend won't be any different.”
Coetzee’s team-mate and fellow veteran Willie Le Roux, 35, played down the narrative of the Bulls’ failure to win past URC finals with the South Africa full-back preferring to focus on the take in front of his team at Croke Park.
"This is my first URC final that I will ever play in,” the double World Cup winner said. “Last year, I got injured in the semi-final, so, for me, this is new and a first time.
"So, yeah, for me and for us this year, it's about focusing on this weekend and doing whatever we can to try and get us over that line, and it's not about thinking about what happened in the past and thinking too much about the past.
"I think it's about the moment now and, like I said, going out there with a smile on your face, enjoying it and playing for one and other, even though all the odds are against you and everyone has written us off.
"So yeah, for us, it's just about going to show everyone outside what we are about on Saturday and yeah, I'm sure it will be a big one.”
Despite being a potential blockbuster of a final on Saturday Le Roux had words of counsel for his less experienced Bulls team-mates.
“The bit of advice I can give younger guys as we play together is that it is the same as playing the first game of the season. It’s not to put this (final) on a pedestal and make this that much bigger and you go into your shell, you don’t want to try stuff and you don’t want to run from your own half, and you don’t want to try something.
“That is not what got us here. We got here through taking chances. We see an opportunity, we take it. That is what you must do in those big games as well, whether you make a mistake or not, it’s about putting yourself out there, putting yourself in battle. You might lose a few battles but you might also win.
“That’s just the little things that I tell the guys. Try and ask for the ball, get your hands on the ball and do as much as you can. You might lose a few battles but it’s about getting back up and putting yourself into as many as you can. And have no doubts.”
It is that outlook, and the fact his side were beaten on home soil at Loftus Versfeld by Glasgow 12 months ago, which gives Le Roux confidence heading into Leinster’s home turf this weekend.
“Finals are fine margins whether it is at home or away, these games come down to maybe one moment, one mistake you might make, one piece of brilliance someone else does. They all say it is mission impossible, but we will have to wait and see on Saturday.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
