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'If Leinster lose to the Bulls, it's a big, big failure on their part' - Bernard Jackman

The province must win in South Africa, the Rugby Weekly Extra podcast heard.

โ€œIF LEINSTER LOSE to the Bulls, itโ€™s a big, big failure on their part,โ€ Bernard Jackman told Gavan Casey and Murray Kinsella on Mondayโ€™s subscriber exclusive Rugby Weekly podcast.

โ€œThe Bulls arenโ€™t all that,โ€ Jackman said. โ€œMunster have gone down there and beat them. Benetton made them look very average, thereโ€™s too many flaws in their performance. I havenโ€™t been overly impressed by them.

โ€œLook it, Leinster have to build it up as being an incredible expedition to get to Pretoria and the challenge of getting back, but I think thereโ€™s no excuse here. You have the best team in the URC on paper, you have the most internationals and youโ€™ve been able to rest them during the year as best you can, so thereโ€™s no distractions.โ€

Wary that Leinster have failed to get over the line in recent Champions Cup finals, The42โ€™s Murray Kinsella was keen to note that Leinster must stay humble if they are to book their place in a URC final, which could potentially be a Thomond Park clash against Munster. 

โ€œI think you have to treat it with the utmost respect and have an element of edginess. Theyโ€™re going to altitude and thatโ€™s a challenge, as well as the atmosphere that there is going to be there,โ€ he said. 

โ€œThereโ€™s some big units in that Bulls team too, the physicality of their carrying . . . theyโ€™re very good at doubling down but they do give you opportunities.

โ€œI think itโ€™s a good opportunity for Leinster to win on the road. What are they, four point favourites? That feels about right to me, but itโ€™s certainly no gimme. It will take an improved performance.โ€ 

Rugby Weekly host Gavan Casey also believes that the home crowd advantage that the Bulls will have could aid their chances of pulling off an upset.

โ€œItโ€™s going to be a different sort of atmosphere than at a regular URC game. Now thatโ€™s nothing that Leinsterโ€™s players wonโ€™t be used to but that combination of things, it will feel hostile. The fact that theyโ€™ve such a long trip down there, the fact that the Bulls are going to be up for it, the fans are going to be up for it, maybe theyโ€™re sort of levelling factors.โ€

Jackman said: โ€œItโ€™s obviously a contest, I accept that the travel and the home crowd make it harder for Leinster but I think they will win by more than four points . . . I think Leinster will do a job on them. Leinster unfortunately have cracked under similar circumstances so thereโ€™s a doubt there but I donโ€™t think the Bulls are as good as Toulouse or La Rochelle potentially could be. Leinster should be able to win this one.โ€ 

If you are not already a subscriber then sign up here to listen to this podcast and enjoy unlimited access to The 42. 

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    Mute Gus Lynch
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    Jul 25th 2011, 7:44 PM

    Heโ€™s entitled to his opinion, just as Iโ€™m entitled to the opinion that heโ€™s a self-aggrandising twit, who courts controversy with his ramblings just for the sake of it.

    For someone who played at such a high level of the game, he displays a remarkable lack of understanding of it.

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    Mute Steve Crowley
    Favourite Steve Crowley
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    Jul 26th 2011, 10:03 AM

    Brolly u are a plonkerโ€ฆ

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