Jake: All that matters is who lifts the trophy
REACTION: A pragmatic Jake White remains upbeat about the Bulls’ Currie Cup, chances despite their loss to the Sharks this past weekend.
White is looking at the rest of the season and is very clear that the Currie Cup remains their aim and is within reach.
The log-leading Bulls play Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday, 50 years after their shock defeat in the 1970 Currie Cup Final.
“We still have our own destiny in our hands,” White said after the Sharks loss.
“We just want to win on January 23. That’s when the trophy gets handed out. No one’s going to remember who won this past weekend.”
The Bulls coach pointed out his team’s problems at the breakdown and too many errors that cost them the game, but also had praise for the Sharks’ win.
White said he thought the Sharks slowed down the ball effectively and that kept his side from getting any momentum.
“When we did, we obviously looked dangerous, but we seemed not getting as much ball as in the last couple of games. The Sharks have obviously relooked at the way they defended at the breakdown. Credit to them.
“They are good at the breakdown, that’s why they are all or nothing. They get up, then it’s a turnover. If they don’t they slow down the ball. We will look at it in detail.
“I think that they’ve obviously gone up a notch in terms of the way that they are attacking the breakdown. That is probably why we struggled to get a bit of momentum.”
White didn’t want to comment on some of the referee Marius van der Westhuizen’s decisions as power cuts made replays impossible but was gracious in accepting the calls made.
“The game ended up in a positive way, the referee made some calls. He made them both ways and we can’t blame anybody. We lost the ball four times in their 22-metre area. Once, when we didn’t find touch they scored.
“We then turned the ball over, carrying it into the 22′ and knocked and then we lost two line-outs right there in our 22′.
“I think at the end of the day, it’s not about the officiating or anything, it’s about us making sure that we get better.
“I’m appreciative of the fact that the margins were so small and, as I said many, many times, it’s a team that is still growing together. We learned a lot and will take a lot from this result.
Seeing the players’ disappointment in the change room after their first defeat since September, White said that was part of the process.
“If you have that sort of players, can read the disappointment in their eyes, you know that you can build something together. I’m happy about where we are, but there are lessons to be learnt.
“It is our work as coaches to ensure that we get everything into place in the month left before the final.
“I’m fully positive about the fact that we’ll grow.”
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