“Mission Impossible?" - URC Final: Willie le Roux want Bulls to defy Leinster for late teammate Cornal Hendricks

With over 80,000 fans expected, and an overwhelming majority backing the Irish giants, the scale of the Bulls’ challenge could hardly be greater when they step into Ireland's spiritual home of Gaelic Games. Leinster’s recent dominance at Croke Park includes a bruising win over Munster earlier in the URC campaign and a semi-final triumph over Northampton Saints in the 2024 Champions Cup. For many, this is Leinster’s title to lose.

But Springbok veteran Willie le Roux isn’t buying into the narrative of inevitability. For le Roux, this final isn’t just another test of skill and structure between two top URC outifts, it’s personal. The Bulls aren’t just playing for silverware; they’re playing for the memory of their late teammate Cornal Hendricks.

“These finals are fine margins, whether it's home, whether it's away. These games come down to maybe one moment, one mistake you might make, one piece of brilliance someone else does,” said the Bulls fullback. “So yeah, they all say it's mission impossible, but we'll have to wait and see on Saturday.”

“We are enjoying ourselves. We have been enjoying ourselves this season, playing for one another. It's gotten us through to the final and it's about doing the same thing that we have been doing the whole year. I don't think there's need to put any added pressure onto us,” he said.

“We go out there, we're playing for our brothers. We're playing for our friend that we've lost. So we have one job to do and that's what we're focusing on. It will be a huge battle on Saturday. Like I say, everyone here is looking forward to it.”

Hendricks, who passed away suddenly last month at the age of 37, was more than just a teammate to le Roux. The two began their careers together at Boland Cavaliers and shared the field at the Cheetahs, with the Springboks, and finally at the Bulls.

“That isn't something we woke up one morning and expected to ever happen,” le Roux said. “I think what the Bulls have done is, when we retired his jersey this season, and [Canan] Moody has been playing with the number 24 jersey, and the photos and stuff at the back of our numbers, it's just reminding us every time before we put on the jersey what a big influence he had at the club.

“His positive attitude he had over us all, when he literally walked into a room, he could light up that room. He was one of the funniest teammates you could ever have in your team. So, I think everyone knows you’re playing for a bigger purpose and for who you are doing it. Now, it's just about going out there and doing it and not just talking about it.”

While the Bulls' challenge is steep, le Roux’s wealth of experience will be crucial. Despite his 35 years and multiple appearances in global finals, this will be his first URC decider. For some of the Bulls’ younger players, like Canan Moodie, Saturday’s showdown will be the biggest stage yet.

“I just try to give the bit of advice that I can to younger guys. It's the same as playing the first game of the season. It's not to put this on a pedestal and make this that much bigger. Then you go into your shell and you don't want to try stuff, and you don't want to run from your own half, and you don't want to try something, because that's not what got us here in the first place.

“We got here through taking chances. Like I say, if we see opportunity, we take it, and that's what you must do in these big games as well. Whether you make a mistake or not, it's about putting yourself out there, putting yourself in battles. You might lose a few battles, but you might also win.

“That's just the little things that I try and tell the guys. Try and ask for the ball, get your hands on the ball, and do as much as you can. Like I say, you might lose a few battles, but it's just about getting back up and putting yourself into as many as you can and having no doubts afterwards.”

On Saturday, decision-making under pressure will be crucial. And in those moments, the Bulls will rely on the leadership of their senior core. At 35-years-old and with two Rugby World Cup winners medals, le Roux certainly falls into this bracket.

“Obviously everyone's got their own strengths and what they bring to the party, and that's what you need to bring on Saturday. You shouldn't wait. If you're a winger, you don't wait outside on the wing to get the ball. You come in and you work off your wing, and you get your hands as much as you can on the ball, because it doesn't help not putting yourself into battles.

“Then obviously you've got a senior group. You've got guys making the calls. It's about making the right calls at the right times - the plays. Should we go poles? Should we go for line-out? Do you feel you have them under pressure, or do you feel they have the pressure on you?

"So it's a big thing about making the right calls at the right times as well, taking chances. I think it's a good core group of guys making decisions on the field together, knowing the roles, knowing when to do what. We as a group are very tight, and we understand what our plan is. Now it's just about going out there. Like I said, you cannot go out there and not put a smile on your face and go enjoy it on the biggest day.”

The Bulls' campaign hasn’t been perfect. An uneven start to the season and the rigors of travel have taken their toll, but le Roux insists none of that matters now.

“I don't think that helps or matters anymore. It's a final. It's one game away now. It all comes down to the last game. You could have had the worst season of your life or been the best attacking team - none of that matters.

“This is the only one you need to win to lift the trophy. I think we toured well this year. We won a few games away from home. At the start, we lost a few games at home, so we needed to rectify that when we were on this last four-week tour where we beat Glasgow and Munster. So, that gave us some confidence going into Loftus [Versfeld Stadium] for the knockouts.

“But like I said, none of that matters now. Nothing matters. It's all about Saturday. It's all about playing for each other, playing for your brother next to you, and playing for Cornal also. That’s our focus.”