Bulls name team for URC final
· The South African
In naming a side that includes 11 Springboks in the starting XV, the Bulls have sought to make a clear statement ahead of the URC final, as evidenced by the wording used in their team announcement press release.
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“This is no longer a side learning how to win a final. This is a side that has been selected to win one,” the Bulls stated.
“Johan Ackermann’s selection is deliberate. No experiments, no risks, no sentiment. Instead, he has leaned fully into experience, pedigree, and proven winners, a spine built on players who have felt the heat of Test rugby and survived it.”
In opting for an unchanged line up, the Bulls also championed the selection of Handre Pollard at flyhalf.
“Pollard doesn’t just play knockout rugby, he defines it,” the Bulls statement continued. “Territory, scoreboard pressure, composure. The Bulls are backing the man who has built a career on making the right decision when everything is on the line.
“Around him, Embrose Papier provides tempo, but it is clear where the control will sit: firmly in Pollard’s hands.
“Up front, the message is even louder. This is a pack chosen to take the fight to Leinster.”
Bulls team for URC final
BULLS – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Bench: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Jeandré Rudolph, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Nizaam Carr.
Kick off is scheduled for 20:30 and the encounter will be broadcast live on SuperSport in South Africa.
Stats and facts
- Leinster’s home win percentage is 88.5 which is second best in the URC era to Glasgow (91.7%)
- The Bulls have two playoff wins (2022 and ’24 SF) to Leinster’s one (GF ’25) in their knockout meetings.
- Only two teams in the URC era hold a winning record against Leinster, and both are South African. The Bulls lead Leinster 5-3, while the Stormers hold a 3-2-1 record.
- Leinster and the Bulls are the leading teams on either side of the URC’s Ireland v South Africa rivalry: Leinster have the best Irish record against South African teams, while the Bulls have the best South African record against Irish opposition.
- Leinster have the best Irish record against South African teams, both by wins (15 out 26) and win percentage (57.7%). They are the only Irish side above 55%.
- The Bulls have the best South African record against Irish teams, and by a clear margin (15 wins out of 24 = 62.5%). They are the only South African side above 50% against Irish opposition
- The 2026 Grand Final brings together the URC era’s two strongest away performers, Leinster with the league’s best away win rate and the Vodacom Bulls as the only other team above 50%.