Edinburgh the next phase in Ackermann's Bulls bail out
The Bulls, fresh from their season-changing win over Pau, head to Edinburgh for a crucial United Rugby Championship face-off on Friday.
It went down to the wire in Pau, as the Bulls came from behind to end Section Paloise’s impressive home record.
The French club had lost just once at home this season, but the Bulls ended their own seven-match losing streak with a 26-24 victory at Stade du Hameau.
It was a vital result that earned the Bulls a Round of 16 (knock-out) trip to Glasgow for a face-off with the Warriors in early April.
However, for the next two months, which include a three-week break in February, the Bulls shift their focus to the URC.
It starts in the Scottish capital on Friday, where they meet Edinburgh in the 7,800 capacity venue next to Murrayfield Stadium.
Bulls coach Johan Ackermann, who was a relieved man after his team ended their losing streak in impressive fashion in France, admitted they have a long way to go and that a ‘one-off’ win will not ease the pressure.
“We are still striving for that 80-minute performance,” he said.
He said they must focus on the aspects they can control, like limiting the unforced errors and improving their discipline.
“If we want to progress in any competition, we have to get the balance right between our kicking and running games,” the Bulls coach said.
“It is a process of building.
“We also gave away some soft penalties [against Section Paloise this past weekend],” he said of the 13 penalties and another yellow card.
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“That allowed them to pin us down, and we had to defend a lot,” he said of the 240-odd tackles, while the French outfit made just 68.
“We had to defend several mauls and 22 entries from them.
“That is the next step for us, to get our game accurate for longer periods.
“No game will ever be perfect.
“You will make mistakes and be without the ball for periods of the game.
“We need to be more clinical with the ball.
“We keep working on the same aspects in training, so hopefully we can now transfer it onto the field.”
Ackermann added that they will have to show the same ‘character’ in Edinburgh that was on display in Pau last week.
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