The upcoming United Rugby Championship quarter-final between the Bulls and Edinburgh at Loftus promises to be a thrilling encounter. The Bulls will be looking to settle the score after narrowly missing out on a victory in their previous clash with Edinburgh in Scotland. Despite the loss, the Bulls have a perfect record against Edinburgh at Loftus and will be aiming to maintain that in this crucial knockout match.
In their history-making tour of Europe, the Bulls only fell short against Edinburgh, losing 34-28 in the Challenge Cup quarter-final. However, they managed to defeat Edinburgh in their league phase URC match earlier this season with a final score of 22-16. Overall, Edinburgh holds a 3-2 advantage in head-to-head matchups against the Bulls, but the home team has always emerged victorious in their encounters.
Adding to the intrigue of this match is the fact that Edinburgh is coached by Sean Everitt, a former assistant coach at the Sharks and consultant with the Bulls. The Bulls are currently on a four-game winning streak in the URC, while Edinburgh secured their seventh-place finish with wins against Connacht and Ulster.
In their recent dominating performance against the Dragons, the Bulls secured a bonus-point win with a final score of 55-15. Head coach Jake White attributed their success to the emotional motivation provided by the passing of former Bulls star Cornal Hendricks. This emotional focal point has given the Bulls renewed purpose as they head into the play-offs.
Flanker Nama Xaba, who was named man of the match in the Dragons game, highlighted the emotional significance of the week for the squad and their determination to show their energy and intensity on the field. White emphasized the importance of reaching the play-offs and acknowledged that the team will be judged on their performance in the next three games.
As the Bulls prepare to face Edinburgh in the quarter-final at Loftus, they will be looking to draw on their recent form and emotional motivation to secure a vital victory and advance in the United Rugby Championship.
