Coach Johan Ackermann says the Vodacom Bulls are hurting after a 21-12 Vodacom URC defeat against the Sharks in Durban.
In a gripping, tightly contested match at a near-capacity Kings Park, the Bulls dominated large periods, particularly up front, but were unable to convert pressure into tries – a theme that left Ackermann visibly frustrated.
“At the moment it still hurts a lot,” he said. “We felt we were in the game for most of it and then it slipped away from us at the end.
“In the second half we got turnovers and some reward, but we didn’t capitalise. Two or three phases later we’d give the ball away again.
“Then there were crucial moments – a penalty on halfway, a breakdown, an aerial contest – and suddenly we were pushed back and they scored.”
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The result is a fifth consecutive defeat across competitions for the Pretoria-based side.
Ackermann felt the Bulls lost control at the decisive stage late in the match.
“It’s one of those things that’s hard to explain. The harder you try, it feels like nothing wants to come your way. Every little bounce, every 50-50 decision, it just didn’t go for us.”
The Bulls’ inability to turn scrum dominance into tries was a major source of frustration.
“We got penalties from the scrum, kicked to the lineout, and then we’d lose the lineout or lose the breakdown a phase or two later,” Ackermann said. “We didn’t use our opportunities. That’s the reality.
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“But I can’t fault the effort. The players kept fighting right to the end. But when you lose, there are things you have to fix. People want results, and that’s what we need to deliver.
“We have to learn quickly. The effort is there – now we need to turn pressure into points.”
Despite the disappointment, Ackermann praised the atmosphere at Kings Park.
“It’s great for South African rugby to have a local game with a crowd like that. It felt like the old days – that deafening noise. It’s special for the players, and you could see how much it meant to the Sharks supporters.”
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The Bulls now face a daunting meeting with the unbeaten Stormers in Cape Town on 3 January, which Ackermann described as a “massive challenge against one of the best teams in the competition”.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
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