VIDEO: How Bulls ended 10-match losing streak
The Bulls improved two key aspects of their game, allowing them to end a 10-match losing streak with a 40-3 Currie Cup win over Griquas at Loftus Versfeld this past Friday.
The Bulls headed into the fixture having lost all four of their Currie Cup outings this season and 10 consecutive losses in all competitions – including the European Cup and United Rugby Championship.
the Bulls’ forwards coach, Russell Winter, called it a ‘step in the right direction’, but admitted there is a lot of work to do going forward – ensuring they ‘build’ on this win.
The seasoned coach – with stints at the Lions and Stormers before his arrival at Loftus Versfeld in 2020 – said two things stand out of this past Friday’s performance.
“Our defence was really good tonight [Friday],” he said of the 135 tackles, at a completion rate of 87 percent.
“It was far better than it has been in the last few weeks.”
Discipline was the other aspect Winter felt the Bulls made a massive step up.
(Article continues below the Russell Winter interview …)
They conceded just 10 penalties, a significant step up for their most recent losses to Stade Toulousain (9-33) and Ulster (23-32) – games in which they conceded a combined total of 30-plus penalties.
“Discipline was massive for us,” he told a post-match media briefing on Friday.
“We have allowed so many entries into our 22 in the last two or three weeks, because of a lack of discipline.
“That really hurt us.
“Even though we did give away one or two unnecessary penalties and we are still going to work on it, it [the improved discipline] helped us.”
The fixture was also Jake White’s first official Currie Cup game in charge after Edgar Marutlulle’s demotion.
The Bulls, who featured the likes of Canan Moodie, Kurt-lee Arendse, Elrich Louw and Ruan Nortje in their starting XV, scored six tries.
The men from Kimberley failed to register a try and only managed to produce a George Whitehead penalty.
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* Picture credit: @BlueBullsRugby
