Bulls back Cornel Smit insists their win over Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship regular season last month counts for nothing ahead of Saturday’s final.
The Bulls dominated for the opening hour when the sides met at Loftus in early May, racing into a 37-17 lead before the Warriors mounted a late fightback.
READ MORE: Five things we learned as Glasgow fightback falls short against Bulls
The home side clung on to win 40-34, but Smit said that counts for nothing ahead of the final.
The 26-year-old, who made his Bulls debut in their semi-final win over Leinster, six months after moving from the Stormers, said: “We’re trying not to look too much into that game.
“We played against Leinster in the pool games and took 50 [points] but we played them here [in the semi-final] and managed to win.
“Anything that happened in the pool games is irrelevant now. Whoever comes out on top on Saturday has all the bragging rights.”
Smit said the two sides’ most recent meeting was water under the bridge, despite it being just six weeks ago.
“A lot has happened since then. There was a lot said before last week’s games. Everyone was saying it was meant to be a Munster vs Leinster final.
“We’re just going to do our analysis as best we can and not try to look too much into that game. On Saturday, all the bragging rights go to whoever wins.”
Despite being a newcomer to the Bulls squad, Smit insists he’s got plenty of experience at the top level. He could make his first start for Jake White’s side if Springbok fullback Willie le Roux if the veteran does not recover from the head injury he suffered against Leinster.
He added: “It was very special to make my debut in the semi-final, but the most important is the team.
“We all look much better on our CVs if we have a URC championship there. Whatever we can do to help the team, whether that means me starting, being on the bench or even not playing, I’ll happily fill that role to be a URC champion.
“I felt very comfortable on the field. I think I’ll be ready.”
Playing at home, and having beaten Franco Smith’s side recently, the Bulls are favourites to win the title. Smit believes the South Africans have got the tools to deal with the pressure that brings.
“There’s always pressure in play-offs games. In the squad the culture is that pressure is a privilege.
“It is such a privilege to play in front of a packed Loftus stadium. Some people may say we’re favourites but we don’t see it like that.
“We’re just focusing on our week as if it’s a normal week and trying not to let the occasion get the better of us.
“Whether we are favourites or not, anything can happen on the day.”
Meanwhile, Bulls lock Ruan Vermaak is readying himself for a huge physical battle against the Warriors.
The 26-year-old knows it is going to be a tough battle, with Glasgow's maul among their most potent attacking threats.
"We know we're going to have to be up for the challenge," he said.
"They have a pack full of Scotland internationals, so it's not going to be easy.
"We have to make sure we are physically and mentally ready and back ourselves in the scrums and the lineouts."
He also spoke about ensuring the home side do not allow complacency to creep in as they did when the sides met six weeks ago.
Vermaak added: "We got to a quite comfortable lead but in the last 20 minutes we got a bit complacent.
"That's something we've worked on the last couple of weeks to make sure if we are in that position again, we take it all the way and don't let our foot off the gas. We'll make sure we don't get caught in that same trap again."
Not allowing for complacency was a message he reiterated when asked if altitude - Loftus Versfeld is 1,350 metres above sea level - could play a deciding factor at the weekend.
"It can definitely help us," Vermaak, who was Player of the Match the last time the two sides met, said.
He added: "Glasgow are a quality side. They beat Munster on their home field so we can't just bargain on that.
"It definitely helps if you have 55,000 people rooting for you. We're glad we can play on Loftus, but Glasgow is a quality side with quality players and coaches, so they will definitely be prepared for that. We can't get complacent."
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