Bulls boss identifies Leinster's big threat

Johan Ackermann has flagged James Lowe as a player the Bulls need to contain in Saturday's URC final.

Ackermann issued a warning that the Leinster winger will arrive at the Aviva Stadium with extra motivation if it turns out to be his final appearance for the club.

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"I think it's just extra motivation for him personally to put in a good performance," Ackermann said.

"The bigger concern is that obviously that will be a part of what he wants to show us, or show the world in his final game, and that he'll have a massive contribution to a team that opened up a lot of doors for him."

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Lowe set a new Leinster try-scoring record in their quarter-final win over the Lions, and Ackermann acknowledged the winger's all-round threat.

"He's a quality, quality player,” the Bulls coach said.

“He's got the knack of finishing amazing tries and he's got an all-round game. He's strong. He does a lot of things out of the box. So we have to contain him."

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However, Ackermann also drew on his own experience as both a player and coach to offer a note of caution about making too much of individual milestones before a game.

"I'm always nervous when it comes to those things,” said Ackermann.

“My own experience in the past, playing and also now coaching, is that every time you make a big hoo-hah of something, it goes the other way."

He pointed to the Bulls' own approach to Johan Grobbelaar’s 150th cap in their semi-final clash against the Glasgow Warriors as an example of that philosophy in practice.

"That's why we didn't make a big thing of Grobby's 150th,” he said.

"I can just say congratulations for what he's achieved, but hopefully he doesn't have one of his greatest finals against us."