Gavin Rich's final preview argues that the Bulls' only realistic path to a first URC title is to replicate what the Boks did to Ireland at the Aviva last November — bully Leinster into submission through the set piece rather than trying to match them in open play. The Stormers' semifinal showed the template works: suffocating defence and scrum dominance had Leinster rattled before the red card undid everything. The Bulls have the pack to do the same, with Wilco Louw and Jan-Hendrik Wessels capable of causing real damage at scrum time.
The concern Rich raises is whether the Bulls are clear enough in their identity. Their tendency to drift toward a more expansive game — and their sluggish semifinal start against Glasgow, when they were 21-3 down heading into the final quarter — suggests a team that can talk themselves out of playing to their strengths. If Leinster, with Nienaber running the defence, get a significant early lead, there's no coming back. Rich's read is that the selection of Klopper at tighthead over Louw from the start may already be a misstep if the intent is to make it a forward battle from the first whistle. He predicts Leinster by 10.