‘It’s got nothing to do what coaches do, it’s about how the teams play. I know Sean and he knows me and that means absolutely nothing.’
Jake White and Sean Everitt maintain a friendship that is not affected by any professional rugby rivalry. The respective coaches of the Bulls and Edinburgh are not trying to out-think or outdo the other ahead of their Challenge Cup quarter-final on Saturday (kick-off 1.30pm).
Instead, they leave it to their teams to battle it out, and will likely eat dinner together on the eve of the match.
Everitt previously worked as an assistant coach under White when the latter took the reins at the Sharks in 2013. He also accepted a consultancy role offered by White at the Bulls in 2022.
It’s about the teams, not coaches
Announcing a strong squad to play in Scotland, White told media on Friday that more had been read into the rivalry between the coaches than there was.
“I’ve been around too long to worry about other coaches, and [competitiveness between] coaches. It’s got nothing to do what coaches do, it’s about how the teams play,” he said.
“I know Sean and he knows me and that means absolutely nothing.”
White said the focus was instead on his opposition, and Edinburgh are a strong team laden with internationals.
“The reason for them playing at home is they finished higher on the log than we did in the Challenge Cup.”
They will also be playing at home on an artificial pitch, the type of which most Bulls players have not played a match on.
However, training in Biarritz in the build-up had the advantage of there being both a grass and 4G artificial pitch that would help the Bulls prepare for Edinburgh’s Hive Stadium as well as the next game against Munster in Ireland in the United Rugby Championship (URC).
The coach added that instead of trying to out-think or be unduly competitive, he and Everitt were still on good terms and would likely eat dinner together on the evening before the game.
“I don’t see anything untoward. I’ll probably see Sean for dinner tonight as well. There’s nothing about me and him, it’s not about anyone out-thinking anyone.
“It’s about how the team plays and whether the teams are good enough tomorrow.”
Seven Springboks on the Bulls bench
White’s Bulls include on their bench current Springboks Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Reinhardt Ludwig, Marco van Staden and Canan Moodie, as well as former Springboks Embrose Papier and Johan Goosen.
White said it had been a long time since the Bulls had fielded such a strong bench.
The coach added the Bulls would do whatever it took to win. Whether that be playing to their set-piece and forward pack strength or switching to a running and kicking game, they would be adaptable.
