"Lions Den" - Springboks legend Victor Matfield - Bulls ready for Croke Park 'tribalism' in URC Final

Croke Park in Dublin provides the back-drop for this year's finale, with the GAA stronghold converting into a rugby pitch, as Leinster chase down back-to-back league titles. The occasion is always amplified when the Dubliners arrive at the spiritual home of Gaelic Football and Hurling, as the 82,000 capacity stadium imposes one of sport's most hostile atmospheres for visiting players.

One man who knows this all too well, is former Springboks captain Victor Matfield. The legendary lock looked back upon his sole visit to Croke Park in 2009, with the Bulls set to take centre stage for the same colossal task on Friday night. Matfield reflected upon this 15-10 defeat to Ireland, in what was one of the toughest environments he'd ever come up against, as he led out his world-class Springboks in Dublin.

"I've got a podcast with Jean Kleyn, and we've been talking about tribalism, teams having the fans around them. It feels like, for me, Croke Park brings that out of the locals. It feels like you go into their den. We [South Africa] went over in 2009 after a very successful year with the Springboks, we beat the British and Irish Lions, beat New Zealand three times, then we went to Croke Park, and we absolutely got smashed.

"I remember, we arrived there, the mist was hanging, you couldn't see the ball. Wind was kicked up in the air, it was really cold, and the fans just felt like they were louder than ever before. A great experience to go there, I think it's going to be amazing, on Friday night, two teams going at each other, it's going to feel like that tribalism.

"The Bulls need to go into that lion's den and go and try and slay that lion. It's not going to be easy, but it's going to be a great experience. So, it's a pity I only played there once. Could have been nice to get a victory there as well at some stage!"

The Bulls enter the title decider out to end a wretched curse. Having lost their last three URC Grand Finals, the Pretoria side have established an unwanted habit of falling at the final hurdle, with defeats to the Stormers in 2022, Glasgow Warriors in 2024 and most recently against Leinster in 2025. Whilst Matfield expressed how this would shake the psyche of any team, the fresh coaching set-up will be a huge benefit.

Johann Ackermann took over the Bulls ahead of the current URC season, following last Summer's exit of former head coach Jake White. Matfield believes that this could alleviate the nerves and ditch any pre-match hoodoo ahead of the Bulls' fourth URC final in five years.

"I think it's there [past concerns], but a lot of the time when you change coaches, it's a bit different. He [Joahnn Ackermann] looks at it completely different than the previous coach, I think if you have had the same coach, it might have been a bigger problem.

"When you get new coaches, a new environment, a new way of thinking, then it doesn't have that big influence. Of course, you always need to learn out of past experiences, as a player, those are the big things, especially when you lose, because you see the certain things that you can do better, see things that happen in a game that you can take from the other team, and actually put into your thinking.

"So, of course, there's things to learn about without having that 'stick mark', of 'you can't win a final', but with those changes in the coaching staff and environment, it [past defeats] won't have such a big role."

Matfield then thought back to his own show-piece matches with the Bulls, as the legendary lock led the Pretorian side to the 2007, 2009 and 2010 Super Rugby titles. Back when Matfield captained the side, the Bulls truly believed within their 'never-say-die' mentality, even when facing the mightiest odds.

"That Bulls team, we were in semi finals, where we were, I think, 33-0 down against the Crusaders team with Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, all those guys. It's about that belief in the team that we can come back from anything, we just need to win the next moment, we need to get the momentum back in the game. Once it's coming our way, we can score two or three tries in the last 20 minutes.

"We always believed in that. So it's all about believing in your structures, believing in how you can come back when you're not in front, how you want to play when you're behind."

Keeping the New Zealand legends in his mind, Matfield expressed how this current Leinster side are facing 'All Blacks levels' of external pressure. Much like how the New Zealand supporters expect their side to win every time they take to the pitch, Leinster carry the weight of an fanbase, that views anything less than silverware as a failed season.

"It's almost like the All Blacks. South Africa lose two games, [but] e've got the best coach in the world, they [All Blacks] lose three games and they fire their coach. I think Leinster is almost in the same position. Being in two finals almost every year, Leinster is the ultimate club at the moment to play against in the final. This is going to be a huge challenge for the Bulls to go over to Croke Park."

Matfield added how the Bulls are currently bouyed with belief that they can get the job done on Friday. The South African side battled back for a memorable semi-final triumph over Glasgow Warriors, having wrestled the win out of Glasgow's grasp despite an 18-point deficit. The Bulls are taking the URC more serious than ever in Matfield's eyes, with a renewed approach to overseas fixtures reaping the rewards.

"The more you get through games, like the Bulls did against Glasgow [semi-final], and to be able to get back from that, that will give them so much belief, that they can come back if things go bad."

"Johann [Ackermann] came in, and they were in trouble in the beginning of the year. They travelled every time with their best team, and they created belief. They've got a fantastic record in the last few games overseas. They've got momentum at the moment. I think it's eight consecutive wins in the URC, and if you listen to Marcell Coetzee's speech after the game last week, they were under pressure away from home against a fantastic Glasgow team, the team believed that they still can come back, that believe is special.

"I've had teams where I captained them, when you talk to them, and you're down and out, you can see in their eyes that the belief is there. They believe you're going to do it, and the other teams, you can say whatever you want, but you can see in the eyes they don't really believe. This is a team that really believe they can go overseas and win big games away from home, John Ackerman had a big role with that."

Looking ahead to the showpiece match, and Matfield is excited to see two of the world's best scrum halves go toe-to-toe. Jamison Gibson-Park has been nothing short of world class this season, yet his regular place in the URC Team of the Season was surpassed by Embrose Papier of the Bulls. Matfield is eager to see Papier's performances rewarded with a Springboks run this July, as the first ever Nations Championship gets underway, with South Africa taking on England.

"One that probably stands out for me, Gibson-Park in the heartbeat of the Leinster attack and Ambrose Papier has been outstanding. I think he's got like six or seven man of the matches. Hopefully, he gets a good opportunity with the Springboks as well. We've all been waiting for him to get that opportunity.

Rassie has got some quality other nines, and there's a lot of injuries. He'll probably get his chance this year, but he's just been outstanding. On attack, his kicking game is spot on, especially those high kicks."

There is so little between Leinster and the Bulls at this late stage of the season, with Matfield sharing his personal prediction on how the final will play out. The revered second row enforcer sees just one point separating the teams, once the full-time whistle goes at Croke Park.

"It's a difficult one. Leinster must be the favourites, but I'm going to go with my heart. I think the Bulls are going to graft, it's not going to be easy. They'll have to be at the utmost best. They will need to be so physical if they want to compete in this final, but the momentum, the belief that they've created in this last eight to 10 weeks is there. The unity that they've got as a team is fantastic. Bulls by one. I'll take one!"