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- Bulls mentor Jake White will make sure his charges realize the “privilege” of potentially playing at Newlands one last time this weekend.
- He hopes that his younger players in particular will be enriched by the experience of running in the second oldest rugby stadium in the world.
- White also recalled his stadium successes as the Springbok coach.
Despite his evolution as the Bulls’ rugby manager, Jake White still considers himself a traditionalist.
That is why he will not allow his charges to go down to Newlands this weekend with a win-at-all-costs mentality without realizing that his first Currie Cup match against Western Province will be the last North-South derby played on the ground. sacred. .
Province will call Cape Town Stadium its new home at the conclusion of the tournament in late January.
“Obviously it will be a very emotional outing,” White said after his team claimed the Super Rugby Unlocked title last weekend.
“I never would have thought, a couple of months ago, that I would be in Newlands for the last time.”
Not that the former Springbok coach is denying Province’s ability to perform well enough to claim a possible semi-final and final at home in about eight weeks, but if 2020 has taught local rugby anything, it’s that nothing is recorded in stone.
“Obviously not taking anything away from the fact that we could still play in a playoff against them, but that’s not in our hands. The reality is what we know the last time we play there might be,” White said.
“Players must appreciate the fact that it is an incredible opportunity and a privilege for them to play their last game at Newlands.
“I’m going to give it a lot of importance, because it’s like playing Lansdowne Road, it’s the oldest course. You play Newlands, the second oldest course. It’s a wonderful thing for a young player.”
While White’s history with the Bulls in Newlands will be brief, he has had his fair share of memorable moments at the foot of Table Mountain at Green-and-Gold.
“I’ve always enjoyed Newlands,” he said.
“I think about it a lot. I was a young coach when I coached the Boks against the All Blacks in 2005 and beat them (22-16). We also played strong Ireland there in 2004 and beat them (to win the series 2-0).
“We also played Australia in 2007, when Frans Steyn kicked those two fall goals, and we won them.”
