Target on the back? Bulls actively embrace favourites tag against Sharks: 'We're proud of it'

It says much for the, pardon the pun, bullishness for the Bulls ahead of Saturday's United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-final against the Sharks at Loftus that they're embracing their favourites tag.

Thomas du Toit, the Durbanites' skipper, had earlier in the week noted that the hosts' billing means they start the match with a target on their collective back, a suggestion that in previous years would've been rebuffed.

Indeed, South African rugby in general, has never been too comfortable with that label.

Yet Bulls mentor Jake White on Friday, went as far as actively stating his chuffed with the "honour".

"I've read a lot this week and I don't want to get into a debate, but I'm really proud that we're favourites," he said.

"We lost twice to the Sharks with their five World Cup winners this season and we don't have one incumbent Springbok. It's fantastic then that we're now being seen in this light. It's a feather in the caps of our coaches and players to get that 'accolade'.

"We can enjoy that. Hopefully, history doesn't repeat three times in one season, but we're really excited. There's a buzz at Loftus, almost like the old days. People are still coming in to get tickets, there's really a sense that something is happening. We want to make them proud by playing as best as we can."

The Sharks have indeed been the Bulls' nemesis in this campaign, first claiming an efficient 30-16 victory at home back in December before prevailing 29-22 in a more chaotic outing in Pretoria in February.

Both results were defined by, at least from a Bulls perspective, mitigating factors.

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Firstly, the irrepressible Lukhanyo Am poached a vital interception at King's Park and then claimed a