With just days to go before the Vodacom Bulls take on Leinster in the United Rugby Championship (URC) final at Croke Park, hooker Akker van der Merwe fronted the media with trademark honesty, humour, and a clear sense of belief in what this group of players can achieve.
Van der Merwe, who has worn the jersey of several big-name clubs over the years, believes this Bulls side feels different—not just in performance, but in personality.
“There’s no egos,” he told Renaldo Bothma during the press conference. “That makes it a lot easier. Everyone always talks about brotherhood and that bond… and I actually think we have it here.”
It’s that chemistry—alongside a dominant set piece—that has carried the Bulls into their third final in four seasons. Now, with only Leinster standing between them and silverware, van der Merwe says it’s about executing what they’ve worked on all year.
Scrum, Lineouts, and No Soft Moments
Van der Merwe was quick to reinforce the Bulls’ pride in their forward dominance, especially their scrum—long regarded as one of their most reliable weapons. But he also struck a cautionary tone.
“Obviously, we pride ourselves on our set piece,” he said. “There were a few this week that we’re not very proud of. In a final, there can’t be any soft moments.”
He expects Leinster to come hard at them across the park—not just in the tight phases. “They’ve got a fully Irish team. So I think everywhere, they’ve got threats—scrum, lineouts, lineout play. It’s going to be the whole game, basically.”
And while much has been made of the Bulls’ scrum dominance, Akker acknowledged that lineouts could be the deciding factor. “They’ve got a good spread of variation from lineout attack. So it’s going to be massive for us to try and put them under pressure and not let them strike too easily from there.”
Bench Impact: A 23-Man Game
When asked about the importance of the bench, van der Merwe didn’t hesitate.
“It’s not a 15-man game anymore. It’s a 23-man effort. Everyone just needs to stay calm and in control. It doesn’t help if the bench comes on and we’re erratic.”
Having come off the bench in last season’s final, and often bringing crucial impact late in games, Akker knows first-hand the influence replacements can have in the dying minutes. “Although everyone wants to start, it’s about the team. That’s where we’ve made a massive step up this season.”
Leinster Rivalry, Irish Respect
There’s mutual respect between the Bulls and Leinster, with URC clashes between the two becoming some of the competition’s most compelling fixtures. Van der Merwe, when asked about the growing rivalry between Irish and South African teams, highlighted how big the challenge is.
“It’s obviously massive. You know what a good outfit Leinster is. But like I said, if we control what we can control, we’ll be alright.”
And if you’re looking for superstition or hope from officiating history, don’t count on Akker biting. Asked about Andre Piardi—the referee for the last three URC finals, all of which were won by the away team—van der Merwe kept his answer grounded.
“That’s outside our control. We just have to do what we can do and make his job easier.”
Message to the Loftus Faithful
As one of the Bulls’ most popular players, Akker was asked to send a message to the fans back home. His reply, like his game, was built on fire and humility:
“We really appreciate the support. Every shout, every jersey worn back home—it matters. We’re going to give it everything.”
Final Word
In a season that’s seen the Bulls travel far and grow deeper as a group, van der Merwe’s words offered a clear picture of a squad not just physically ready—but emotionally and mentally aligned.
“This team is at a very good point,” he said. And if that unity translates onto the field at Croke Park, Bulls supporters might just witness a moment of history.
URC Final – Bulls vs Leinster | Saturday 15 June | Croke Park, Dublin
