Jake insists Bulls take long view of URC: 'Crusaders finished last in first Super Rugby'

Despite having established themselves as the most successful South African franchise over the past two years, Jake White insists the Bulls aren't feeling the pinch from a less than stellar start to their United Rugby Championship campaign.

While the men from Loftus are expected to repel the Lions at home on Saturday, they are currently languishing in 13th position on the overall log after coming into the inaugural campaign as local rugby's hottest tip.

Yet White, the Bulls' director of rugby, continued to compare South Africa's first foray into Europe with the start of Super Rugby back in 1996 and in particular sees parallels with the Crusaders.

"Look, we don't want to lose anywhere. It doesn't matter where we play," the former Springbok mentor said on Friday.

"But circumstances dictate what happens. We don't want a situation where winning at Loftus becomes more important than the endgame and that's something we're mindful of.

"This group is growing together. It's their first year in Europe. In 1996, the Crusaders came last in that opening edition of Super Rugby and went on to become the most dominant team in the history of the competition."

White believes the Bulls are going through similar growing pains.

"It took the Crusaders one to two years to find out about recruiting, game plans, coaching staff, whatever they had to work on," he said.

"Look at the success they achieved eventually."

The Bulls also aren't too concerned nor preoccupied by outside opinion arguing that they are underachieving in the URC currently.

"I'd like to tell you there's internal pressure, of course there is. But there's no pressure from outside," said White.

"The nice thing about rugby is that it's fun. You've got to enjoy it. The highs are really high and