AUDIO: 'We are not good enough at the moment'
The Bulls may be on a six-match losing streak and facing exiting both the Champions Cup and United Rugby Championship competitions, but they are not ready to throw in the towel just yet.
Ackermann selected a powerful starting XV, with 10 Springboks in the starting line-up, which Ruan Nortje will again lead.
Bristol have a full house of points in the Champions Cup – two wins from as many starts – while the Bulls have yet to record a win after two matches.
This fixture, therefore, looms as a must-win affair for the home team if they are to keep their play-off hopes alive.
The Bulls coach added that there is a lot of fight left in his charges.
“I can see when a player gives up,” Ackermann said, adding, “When you go through adversity, you either give up or fight through it.
“That’s the beauty of the game, it teaches you life lessons.
“If you think life is just easy, you are in the wrong business.
“We won’t give up.
“It doesn’t matter if we lose another 10 games; we won’t give up.
“Nobody wants a losing streak,” Ackermann said of the losses against Glasgow Warriors (12-21), Lions (33-43), Union Bordeaux Begles (33-46), Northampton Saints (5-50), Sharks (12-21), and the Stormers (8-13).
Ackermann said they will continue working on improving their ‘ranking’ and get back into the play-off race.
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“Because the Bulls were so successful [three URC finals in four years], anything other than winning is not good enough.
“Obviously, we are not good enough at the moment.”
He said having the full squad at his disposal for two successive weeks creates a different vibe in the camp.
“Hopefully, we can now get consistency in our selection.
“We are close, so if we get more players back and get consistency in our selection, we will have a ‘new’ start.”
Ackermann admitted Saturday’s face-off with the English visitors is crucial if they are to revive their season and stay in the play-off race.
“Tomorrow [Saturday] is the decider,” he said of their Champions Cup prospects.
“We have worked hard on the things we haven’t done well, and we have been hard on ourselves.
“Against Union Bordeaux Begles, we let a good lead slip away, against the Sharks, we were leading 12-7, and against the Stormers, it was eight-all with two minutes to go.
“We play a very good team [Bristol Bears] and we have to ensure we play for the full 80 minutes and not switch off at times in the second half.”
The coach added that being ‘accountable to the jersey’ is one of their core values.
“The moment you put on the jersey, you represent more than yourself,” Ackermann said, adding, “Players don’t go out to lose or make mistakes.
“I expect to see 15 players playing with passion, commitment, heart, representing the people who make an effort to come to the stadium.
“We are not playing [against] Mickey Mouse [opposition]. We are not playing against a school team. We are facing the best in the world.
“Bristol is fourth in the Premiership standings.
“If we go out, give our best and then lose, so be it. If we don’t give our best, people will be upset.
“I want a team that is proud of what they do.”
@JanDKrugby
@rugby365com
