Watch VideoAckermann confident Bulls stars will keep Springbok ambitions on hold ahead of URC final

Eye on the prize.Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann believes his players will only focus on their Grand Final and not on Springbok ambitions just yet ahead of their clash against Leinster next Friday. Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann believes his players will only focus on their Grand Final and not on Springbok ambitions just yet ahead of their clash against Leinster next Friday. Bullscoach Johan Ackermann is confident his players will put all Springbok thoughts on the back burner and focus solely on theUnited Rugby Championship (URC)final against Leinster ahead of the Dublin clash next Friday evening.

The world championswill start their international season on the same weekend as the URC Grand Final, and for several Bulls stars, a Bok call-up could be on the cards after stellar seasons for their domestic franchise. However, they were not consideredfor the clash against the Barbarians or Zimbabwedue to their involvement in the final, but could come into contention for the Nations Championship squad, which starts in July against England. While head coach Rassie Erasmus named an extended squad that will represent the Boks and SA ‘A’ next Saturday, he will trim his group for the incoming Tests.

That means the final next Friday will serve as a final audition for players looking to state their case for Springbok selection. But according to Ackermann, he knows his players will focus on the job at hand and see it as another opportunity to strengthen their claims. “I will be surprised if our players think about the Boks, to be fair,” Ackermann said.