Assistant coach Neil de Bruin is revolutionizing the Bulls' approach, advocating for a fearless, deep-field rugby strategy and encouraging players to trust their instincts in high-pressure situations. In an exclusive discussion with RugbyPass, De Bruin shared his vision of transforming the team’s playstyle based on his successful stint with the Lions, where the goal was always to cross the tryline rather than settling for penalty kicks.
De Bruin, at the helm of fostering this dynamic gameplay, is not about overhauling the foundational skills of established players like Handré Pollard and Willie le Roux, but rather optimizing their roles and decision-making on the field.
“I’m not going to teach Willie how to attack. It’s about putting him in positions. And still being hard on him,”
De Bruin emphasized consistency in coaching across all players, regardless of their experience or past accolades. He holds everyone to the same standard, ensuring fairness and growth among the team.
“I’ve got to be the same with him as I am with Keagan Johannes. Players, they see through that. There will be critique, criticism and tons of praise. My dad always said to me, ‘catch people doing things right’. That’s the way I coach.”
Last season, the Bulls led the URC in tries, notching up 92, with a significant number of those being five-pointers from their own 22. This statistic underscores De Bruin's strategy to exploit the ample space available deeper in the playing field, where defensive lines are slower.
He advocates for shedding the fear associated with playing close to one's own try line, suggesting that the rewards for overcoming such fears could be substantial.
The Bulls are set to commence their 2026-27 URC campaign with a match against Zebre in Italy. This is followed by a face-off with Munster in Limerick. They then return to Loftus for four consecutive home games, including a key clash against Stade Français on October 17, as part of the Investec Champions Cup pool stage.
Under De Bruin's guidance, the Bulls are not just playing rugby; they are reinventing how the game is played at their club, blending experience with innovation in a bid to dominate both domestically and on the European stage.
