New coach Johan Ackermann is determined to help the Vodacom Bulls clear the final hurdle in their pursuit of silverware.
Ackermann takes over a Bulls team that, under Jake White, reached three Vodacom URC finals in four seasons – but failed to claim the title. Their most recent defeat was a comprehensive 32-7 loss to Leinster in Dublin.
During his time at the Lions, Ackermann guided the Johannesburg-based franchise to back-to-back Super Rugby finals in 2016 and 2017. He then led Gloucester to the 2017-18 European Challenge Cup final in his first season at the English club. On all three occasions, his team came second.
“My track record in finals isn’t great – I’ve lost Super Rugby and European finals – so I’m not going to pretend I know the missing 1%,” Ackermann admitted on Wednesday.
“Sometimes it’s one pass, one refereeing decision. The Springboks won a World Cup with three one-point wins. If any of those had gone the other way, people would be asking what was missing.
“What I can control is planning well, getting players into a good space, and ticking every box to give ourselves the best shot.”
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Ackermann has hit the ground running in Pretoria after returning to South Africa on Monday, having served as a coaching consultant to the Junior Boks team that lifted the World Rugby U20 Championship trophy in Italy.
“It’s been a whirlwind – from meeting with staff, doing media, speaking to the players and starting to get my head around all the different competitions and integration plans,” he said.
“Right now I’m just observing the Currie Cup setup and trying to understand how everything works before making too many changes.”
Ackermann says there’s a big difference between coaching in Super Rugby – when the focus was on a single tournament during a dedicated period – and South Africa’s current set-up, which includes both the URC and European competitions. The Currie Cup, which takes place during the European off-season, adds another layer of complexity.
“In Super Rugby, the schedule was more predictable,” he said. “Now you have to consider how and when to rotate players, especially around Champions Cup games.
“I’ll rely on guys like [strength and conditioning coach] Andre [Volsteedt] to guide me on what’s worked in the past with travel – whether it’s better to fly early or as late as possible, for example.”
South African teams have so far struggled to juggle their commitments in Europe, with none progressing to the round of 16 in the 2024-25 Champions Cup. Ackermann, though, is eager to give the tournament the attention it deserves.
“In my own mind I’ve started to think about it, but I haven’t finalised anything with the staff yet,” he said. “If you ask me now – and maybe it’s too early to say – we’ll be as strong as we can for those games, especially the first one [against defending champions Bordeaux Begles at Loftus on 6 December].
“Obviously we have to factor in things like Bok rest protocols and injuries, but we want to give ourselves a real chance in that competition.”
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Ackermann believes his coaching journey – which has included stints in England and Japan – has given him the experience to navigate the complexities of the modern game.
“I’ve gained experience working in different environments – at Gloucester, in Japan, with players from New Zealand, England, Scotland and Australia. That’s made me more streetwise.
“At the Lions, we had a young group hungry to prove themselves. At Gloucester and in Japan, you deal with big personalities and mixed cultures.
“The key lesson I’ve learned is to be yourself, but also to listen and allow input. That’s the balance I’ll be aiming for at the Bulls.”
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
