Ackermann labels it 'boring'

 

"The first half especially was so poor, we just couldn't get our game to flow," Ackermann said after the game.

 

"The Bulls would just bomb it back, we wouldn't be able to control the ball so we'd scrum again. It was the most boring game of rugby I've seen in a while and it's not good for the supporters either.

 

"It was just penalty after penalty, high ball after high ball. A disappointing match with strange decisions."

 

The Bulls dominated territory in the first half as they racked up a 19-12 lead at the break.

 

The home side then stretched that to 29-12.

 

The Lions dominated the final quarter and the introduction of Sevens Springbok Albertus Smith at No.8 and fullback Andries Coetzee moving to scrumhalf saw them score two tries in five minutes to close the gap to 29-26.

 

But the impressive comeback was ended in the 79th minute when the Lions were penalised at scrum time, with the Bulls front row going up. Lock Grant Hattingh scored from the rolling maul set up from the lineout.

 

Ackermann said the decision by referee Marius van der Westhuizen puzzled him.

 

"I'd like to know what we did wrong at that last scrum when the score was 29-26. 

 

"Is the referee saying you're no longer allowed to dominate a scrum?

 

"I think the referee wasn't certain what was happening in the scrums. All the props were guilty of not binding properly, but it was 'one penalty for me, one penalty for you' the whole match."