'One of the best' - Bulls coach has say on Glasgow Warriors ahead of Champions Cup clash

The Pretoria outfit remain the last team to beat Franco Smith’s side on their own turf with a 26-19 win over 340 days ago in April 2025. They also ran the Warriors close back in October but eventually fell to a 21-12 defeat.

The two teams will face off again this Saturday in the Champions Cup round of 16 and while Ackermann says he doesn’t believe in looking at the past, there is a confidence they can take from those last two outings.

Bulls head coach ‘not a believer’ in looking at past records but previous performances can build confidence

“I'm not a big believer to look at the past,” said the former Springboks lock. “Neither the future, you know, things that are out of your control. Like a kind of revenge mindset, you hear a lot of teams talk about that, or you want to take revenge or remember you beat them there last time.

“We don't reflect too much, that's not how I like to do it as a coach, so we haven't referred to that, but saying that, when you play and you had a good victory at a place, it does stick to you and in your mind.

“So the players can take confidence, those who were there, that it can be done. We know that they have a very proud record, I think they only lost like three in I don't know how many games.

“There's a lot of players and even when we played in October, we were close, we were in it until the end. It is a big occasion against one of the best teams in the competition, but like anything you have to believe so hopefully we'll pitch up with a lot of belief that we can do it.”

Bulls named side loaded with South Africa internationals to take on Glasgow Warriors in Champions Cup clash

Ackermann was speaking after naming his starting XV and replacements for this Saturday’s match. There line-up will be littered with South African internationals when they take to the Scotstoun pitch for the knockout contest.

Marcell Coetzee captains the side from the back row in amongst a pack that also contains the likes of internationals Johan Grobbelaar and Ruan Nortjé. It’s in the back line where they really show their strength in depth though with veteran fly half Handré Pollard pulling the strings and regular Boks’ dangermen Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie providing further threats.

Rounding off the Bulls’ squad on the bench is 36-year old Willie le Roux. The 101-times capped South African full-back provides unparalleled experience in their selection.

“There's a few players that are really unlucky not to be involved,” said Ackermann. “But we've got a strong side, and we know we have to be at our best because Glasgow is, in the URC and in Europe, one of the best sides in the competition.

“They've got a lot of internationals and Scotland had a good Six Nations, so there's a lot of players with confidence. They play an exciting brand, score a lot of tries, good set-piece and they've got a massive home record.

“So, it's a big challenge for us,  but it's a great opportunity as well. You play the game to play against the best players in the world.

“You're constantly up to test yourself, and that's what we all get on Saturday, an opportunity to test ourselves. You can only play so much games in your career that is of high quality, and that's a great opportunity, and this is one of those.

“There's some players that have experienced Glasgow now for the last four or five years that they've been in the URC and there's a bit of history with the Bulls and Glasgow playing each other.

“We respect Glasgow, the way they play, the style they play, the brand. They've got a lot of continuity in their coaching with Franco and also with the squad of players that play for Scotland and then back for Glasgow.

“I think both teams know each other quite well. So it's going to be a great game.”

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