Bulls get backing from a Cape Town legend
SPOTLIGHT: Jake White’s Bulls team may be on an unprecedented losing streak, but they have received ‘encouragement’ from a most unlikely source.
The Bulls’ Director of Rugby, White, described his team’s trip to Stade Toulousain and a Round of 16 European Cup encounter as “a massive task”.
The French giants, who are top of the Top 14 standings, are unbeaten in Europe this season.
In stark contrast, the Bulls are struggling to find any semblance of form.
They have lost their last four outings in the United Rugby Championship, suffered a loss in their last European Cup league match and have also lost all three of their Currie Cup games in 2023.
Their last win in any competition was more than two months ago (January 14), when the Bulls recorded a 39-28 win over a 14-man Exeter Chiefs in Pretoria.
However, retired Springbok legend Schalk Burger Jnr. says he is confident White’s team will turn the corner on this losing streak.
“The Bulls have got enough talent within that group, coaching staff as well,” Burger said.
“It’s not easy.
“You search for things when you’re not in winning form and momentum is key in any sport.
“Where the Stormers have the momentum at the moment, the Bulls don’t have any.
“It’s just a question of patience.
“They’ll turn the corner, hopefully, sooner rather than later.”
White described the current losing streak as a great test for his own coaching as well as for them as a group.
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Burger identified team culture as the biggest reason for the Stormers’ current success – a run that sees them in second place on the URC standings and third in Pool B of the European Cup.
The Stormers host English Premiership side Harlequins in Cape Town this coming Saturday.
“All credit to Dobbo [coach John Dobson] and his team,” Burger said.
“Everyone who puts on that jersey seems to play with the same intensity.
“They get the results. It’s a culture thing.
“I think Dobbo has been fortunate that he’s had quite a lot of time in the seat and we’ve gone through various iterations through Dobbo.
“At the moment they’ve just found a way how to play nicely and have got a good balance in the side.
“But I think culture is the main difference with the Stormers at the moment.”
South Africa’s 2007 World Cup-winning coach, White, is well aware of the challenge his team is facing in France this weekend.
“I’ve coached in France and it doesn’t get any tougher,” he said of the encounter with the five-time European champions.
“Generally, people use that phrase quite often, but it doesn’t get any tougher than playing Toulouse in a knockout game in Toulouse.
“If you look at the Champions Cup historically, that’s one of the strongest home-beds of the European game.
“So, it’s going to be a massive task for us and it’s going to be an opportunity to measure ourselves against some of the best players in the world.
“It’s no use lagging on things that we can’t change – you can only move forward. I said earlier to someone that it’s a great test even of my coaching. I’ve been coaching for a long time and it’s a great test for us as a group and for me as a coach as well.
“These young guys have done well over the last couple of years, but they’re in a place that they haven’t been for a while. It’s going to be a great learn.”
@rugby365com
