The memories of last month’s nail-biting defeat are still fresh, the Scottish side, coached by Sean Everitt, edged out the Bulls 34-28 in Edinburgh during the EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-finals. 

Now, the Bulls are fired up and determined to set the record straight on home soil. The stakes are high. The winner of Saturday’s clash will face the victor of the Sharks versus Munster showdown in Durban in next week’s semi-finals.

Bulls coach Jake White is confident his team needs no motivation and they will rise to the occasion. “We’re playing at home, which is a huge advantage,” White said.

“We fought hard to earn a home playoff, and that always comes with its perks: sleeping in your own bed, familiar surroundings, and using your own training facilities.” White is well aware of the challenge ahead, especially against the team coached by the former Sharks tactician.

“Edinburgh beat us a couple of weeks ago, so the players know exactly what’s at stake. If we win, we take on either the Sharks or Munster next week, both teams that have beaten us this year. So there’s not much more I need to say to get the boys motivated.”

Jake White. Photo: Morgan Piek

He added, “It’ll be a bit of déjà vu, we’ve been here before, but as I always tell the guys, this is our chance to play our best rugby in the last three weeks of the season. We need to seize that opportunity.”

There’s extra motivation, too. The Bulls hosted a home final last year but narrowly missed out, falling to Franco Smith’s Glasgow Warriors in Pretoria. That loss still stings, and the team is eager to make amends.

The quarter-final at Loftus Versfeld kicks off at 13:30 on Saturday, with the Sharks hosting Munster at Kings Park later that evening at 18:30.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh