'Cash' warns Bulls of Dublin's 'Crusaders': Enviable depth, quality of Leinster outfit praised

Lions coach Ivan "Cash" van Rooyen issued a not-so-subtle warning to the Bulls about the Leinster threat they need to quell at Loftus on Saturday.

The Bulls, who upset Leinster at home in one of last season's URC semi-finals, will know everything about beating the Dublin-based side.

Except, the difference is that this season's Leinster side isn't just unbeaten, but has depth so enviable, not even grass can be greener with jealousy.

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The Lions experienced first-hand Leinster's quality in depth at Ellis Park on Saturday when they let slip a 26-14 half-time lead, then a 36-24 buffer with a two-man benefit to lose 36-39 in the end.

The Bulls had played the earlier game in the first of two Highveld double headers in which they belted Zebre 78-12, a win that saw the Bulls end an irritating losing streak.

This weekend Loftus Versfeld hosts the second URC double header on the Highveld, with the Lions taking their turn at Zebre and the Bulls meeting log leaders Leinster.

Van Rooyen said Leo Cullen's side is cut from the Crusaders' cloth that allows players to blend in seamlessly.

"You can compare them to the Crusaders," Van Rooyen said.

"They had young Sam Prendergast playing in his first game and he's been a superstar with the Irish Under-20 team.

"It doesn't matter whom they seem to pick, but their system seems to flow with so much cohesiveness, rugby intellectual property, and game understanding.

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"It doesn't matter whom they pick because the difference in quality is about one to two percent and there's a reason why they haven't lost a