Ackers: Bulls respect old rival Glasgow but aim to end their home record
· Citizen
Bulls coach Johan Ackermann said he does not believe in focusing too much on past games, but hopes their win over Glasgow Warriors in April last year will boost their confidence for Saturday’s Champions Cup last-16 clash at Scotstoun Stadium (kick-off 6.30pm).
Visit biznow.biz for more information.
The Scottish giants have won 11 consecutive home matches since that defeat almost a year ago.
Many Bulls players will remember that contest, but will also recall their most recent 21-12 defeat at Scotstoun in October.
There, a controversial penalty try and yellow card swung momentum to Glasgow after the Bulls were ahead and looked like they would win it.
At the time, Ackermann said he was flabbergasted by the decision taken without review when footage he saw cleared his player of infringement. He said the Bulls at least deserved a losing bonus point, and the result put a “big damper” on their tour.
‘Little bit of history’
But after naming a strong team on Thursday, the Bulls coach said he did not believe in “revenge” matches.
In fact, he and the Bulls had tremendous respect for Glasgow, whom they have met six times in the United Rugby Championship, including the 2023/24 final at Loftus, where Glasgow secured a surprise 21-16 win after losing 40-34 at the same venue a month earlier.
Each team has beaten the other three times.
Ackermann said that the “little bit of history” helps because they know their opposition well.
“But we respect Glasgow in the way they play, the style they play, the brand. They have built up a great squad over the last couple of years,” he said.
“They have a lot of continuity and coaching with Franco Smith being there, and players playing for Scotland and then back at Glasgow. So it’s a well-respected team. I think both teams know each other quite well so it will be a great game.”
Bulls make tactical changes vs Glasgow
Ackermann said 19-year-old Cheswill Jooste had earned his spot in the starting XV, though he would not divulge the tactical reasons behind that deployment.
Last year’s URC Next-Gen Player of the Season, Cameron Hanekom makes his first start after playing from the bench twice since a nine-month injury layoff.
The coach said they were confident they had blooded Hanekom sufficiently in training and against Cardiff and Munster, though Scotstoun’s artificial 4G pitch would be tougher on the body than regular fields.
Ackermann added that the Bulls were increasingly enjoying using Marco van Staden as hooker cover.
David Kriel’s promotion from the bench to a fourth start at fullback also showed his coach’s confidence in him.