URC
Team effort key for Vodacom Bulls success believes Coach Rossouw
Teamwork is the key to success in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, believes Vodacom Bulls backline coach, Chris Rossouw.
On the back of the inaugural Vodacom URC season which saw the Vodacom Bulls reach the final against reigning champions, DHL Stormers, and on the verge of the start of the second edition of the cross-hemisphere competition, the Vodacom Bulls’ backline coach reflected on the previous season highlighting areas the Tshwane-based side would target in order to go one better than the previous season and bring the trophy to Loftus Versfeld.
“The past year has been an unbelievable one,” reflected Rossouw.
“From a coaching perspective, what this competition teaches you, as well as the Heineken Champions Cup which we will partake in this season, is that there is a lot more detail in the coaching. As a coach you get stimulated a lot and there is plenty of room for growth.
“You always need to find new ways to perform. If we look at Super Rugby, that was a competition that always suited the individual, made up of stars. However, in the Vodacom URC or Heineken Champions Cup, it is the better team that ends up winning the competition. So, for us to get that cohesion and for me as a coach, it’s about getting that right – making sure that we perform well as a team.”
This week focus in the Vodacom Bulls camp has been firmly on the Vodacom URC season-opening match – a Jukskei Derby against old rivals, Emirates Lions, at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg.
The Vodacom Bulls have been hard at work during their pre-season preparations in the hope of getting their campaign in the 2022/23 season off to a good start.
“it’s the first game of the season, so we expect that everybody will be a little bit short of breath. It is always nice when it’s warm, ideal conditions to run and play our game,” said Rossouw.
“I think for the first game of the season it will be important to control the game and see where our fitness is. We had a very good pre-season, and the guys are looking forward to going out at full pace, so on Saturday we will see where we are. We are confident and we are in a good place to perform.
The side from Fortress Loftus relished the opportunity to have an off-season break after the conclusion of the 2021/22 season. This was the first time in two years that the Vodacom Bulls managed to have a break in between seasons.
“We had a five-week break – which was our first break in about two years. Yes, it was a little longer than usual, but we thought our players deserved it. We have a long season ahead of us, so we thought it would be better to give them one or two more weeks off,” said the backline coach.
“It is expected that we will be off the pace by one or two yards, but in terms of cohesion, we didn’t have too many changes to our group, and we went through a whole lot of detail over the past six weeks with [Strength and Conditioning Coach] Andre Voldsteedt doing a fantastic job with the guys in the gym and on the field. So, we expect it to take us two or three games for us to be back to full game fitness. We are quite confident that we will perform.”
Given the slow start to their campaign in the previous season, Rossouw believes that all the South African sides have learnt some lessons from that experience. The backline coach indicated that the Vodacom Bulls will be going into this current campaign with more confidence and being better prepared for the season that lies ahead.
“In the beginning of the last season we got ourselves on the wrong side of the table and we had to play a little bit of catchup,” he said.
“That was basically getting used to the conditions and tempo. We managed to make a few changes in the middle of the season and that suited us well and we ended up reaching the final. That, for us, was unbelievable, and I also think that there were a few teams that may have underestimated us. This season we know that it will not be a situation where some of the opposition play a weakened side against us.
“We are ready for the challenge. We really enjoyed going to Leinster last season, having the Cell C Sharks here and also playing in the final. We are confident that we will hit our straps soon and pave the way to once again be in the playoffs, hopefully.”
The Vodacom Bulls will travel to Emirates Airline Park on Saturday, with their clash against the Emirates Lions kicking off at 16h05.
The Vodacom Bulls will name their match-day squad of 23 for the encounter on Friday.
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The Munster squad have started preparations at the HPC ahead of Saturday’s sold-out clash against the All Blacks XV at Thomond Park (5.30pm).
The game will be exclusively live-streamed on Access Munster, sign up here.
Pinergy, Munster Rugby’s official energy partner, are the presenting partners for the clash.
On the injury front, there were no fresh concerns following Saturday’s clash against the Sharks in Durban.
Peter O’Mahony (hamstring), who has been included in Ireland’s Autumn Nations Series squad but is continuing his rehabilitation at the HPC, will increase his training load this week. His availability for this weekend’s clash against the All Blacks XV will be determined later in the week.
Brian Gleeson (shoulder) and Diarmuid Kilgallen (leg) came through the weekend with no issues after returning to action with Garryowen in the AIL.
On the international front, Tadhg Beirne, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash and Alex Kendellen have travelled to Portugal with the Ireland squad ahead of the Autumn Nations Series.
Continuing to rehab: Shane Daly (leg), Jeremy Loughman (knee), Alex Nankivell (hip), Josh Wycherley (neck), Mark Donnelly (ankle), Dave Kilcoyne (ankle), Oli Jager (neck), Liam Coombes (leg), Thaakir Abrahams (thigh), Patrick Campbell (shoulder), Cian Hurley (knee), Edwin Edogbo (Achilles), Roman Salanoa (knee).
Tickets
Saturday, November 2
Munster v All Blacks XV, Thomond Park, 5.30pm; SOLD OUT – Watch live on Access Munster here
URC Round 7: Saturday, November 30
Munster v Emirates Lions, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
Champions Cup Round 1: Saturday, December 7
Munster v Stade Francais, Thomond Park, 5:30pm; Buy tickets here
Champions Cup Round 3: Saturday, January 11
Munster v Saracens, Thomond Park, 5.30pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 9: Friday, December 27
Munster v Leinster, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 11: Saturday, February 15
Munster v Scarlets, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 12: Friday, February 28
Munster v Edinburgh, Virgin Media Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 15: Saturday, April 19
Munster v Bulls, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 17: Friday, May 9
Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 18: Friday, May 16
Munster v Benetton, Virgin Media Park, 8pm; Buy tickets here
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
Ulster ready for interpro derby against Connacht in Belfast
41 minutes ago
Fixture News
Ulster Head Coach, Richie Murphy, has named his Ulster side to take on Connacht on Saturday night in Round 4 of the BKT United Rugby Championship (kick-off 8pm).
Iain Henderson captains the side and is joined in the second row by Kieran Treadwell.
Prop, Andrew Warwick, and lock, Alan O’Connor, are in line for their 200th Ulster caps this weekend.
Limited tickets are still available for Saturday’s big game via the link below.
Warwick starts at loosehead prop, joined by experienced hooker, John Andrew, and Irish international prop, Tom O’Toole, at tighthead prop.
In the back row, David McCann, starts as the openside flanker, with Sean Reffell starting on the blindside.
Nick Timoney starts at eight and marks a milestone of his own, making his 150th cap for Ulster.
The half-back partnership this weekend sees John Cooney start alongside Aidan Morgan, who has two tries in his opening three matches for Ulster.
After scoring a superb individual try against the Bulls last weekend, Jacob Stockdale, starts on the left wing, with Werner Kok making his first start at Kingspan Stadium on the right wing.
Jude Postlethwaite returns to the team, following an impressive Emerging Ireland tour, that saw the Lisburn man score a try against Western Force last weekend, before being released to play for the province.
He starts at inside centre and is joined by Stewart Moore, who scored a great try last weekend against the Bulls.
Ethan McIlroy starts at full-back, completing the back-field.
Murphy opts for a 5:3 split on the bench, with James McCormick, Callum Reid, Corrie Barrett, Alan O’Connor and Marcus Rea providing the forward replacement options.
Nathan Doak, Ben Carson and Mike Lowry provide the back options from the bench.
Ulster Rugby v Connacht Rugby, Saturday 12 October, 8pm, Kingspan Stadium (Live on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds, Premier Sports and TG4):
(1-8) Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson (C), Kieran Treadwell, David McCann, Sean Reffell, Nick Timoney;
(15-9) Ethan McIlroy, Werner Kok, Stewart Moore, Jude Postlethwaite, Jacob Stockdale, Aidan Morgan, John Cooney.
Replacements: James McCormick, Callum Reid, Corrie Barrett, Alan O’Connor, Marcus Rea, Nathan Doak, Ben Carson, Mike Lowry.
The Opposition:
Images & Content – Ulster Rugby
The Munster squad started preparations on Monday ahead of Saturday’s URC round four clash against Leinster at Croke Park (5.45pm).
In player news, Seán O’Brien returns from the Emerging Ireland tour to South Africa ahead of Saturday’s game.
Following Munster’s win over Ospreys on Saturday, Oli Jager (neck) and Peter O’Mahony (hamstring) are both going for scans and are unavailable this weekend.
Mike Haley has a leg contusion and his availability will be determined later in the week.
There is good news for Tom Ahern (ankle) and Alex Nankivell (shoulder) as they are both returning to training this week. Their respective availability for Croke Park will be determined later in the week.
Ruadhán Quinn is following the return to play protocols and his availability will be determined later in the week.
Billy Burns is increasing his training exposure this week and the out-half’s availability will be determined later in the week.
Shane Daly is unlikely to be available this week as he continues to recover from an elbow injury.
Thaakir Abrahams sustained a low-grade thigh injury against Zebre and is unavailable this week.
Long-term absentees Rory Scannell (ankle) and Paddy Patterson (knee) are making good progress and will increase their training exposure this week.
Patrick Campbell will have surgery on a shoulder injury he sustained in AIL action last month.
Josh Wycherley will visit a specialist this week for a neck injury.
Continuing to rehab: Liam Coombes (leg), Diarmuid Kilgallen (leg), Brian Gleeson (shoulder), Cian Hurley (knee), Edwin Edogbo (achilles), Roman Salanoa (knee).
Tickets
Saturday, November 2
Munster v All Blacks XV, Thomond Park, 5.30pm; SOLD OUT
URC Round 7: Saturday, November 30
Munster v Emirates Lions, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
Champions Cup Round 1: Saturday, December 7
Munster v Stade Francais, Thomond Park, 5:30pm; Buy tickets here
Champions Cup Round 3: Saturday, January 11
Munster v Saracens, Thomond Park, 5.30pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 9: Friday, December 27
Munster v Leinster, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 11: Saturday, February 15
Munster v Scarlets, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 12: Friday, February 28
Munster v Edinburgh, Virgin Media Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 15: Saturday, April 19
Munster v Bulls, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 17: Friday, May 9
Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 18: Friday, May 16
Munster v Benetton, Virgin Media Park, 8pm; Buy tickets here
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
IRFU Announces Return Of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship
Squad Update | Munster Prepare For All Blacks XV At Thomond
