Jake White rues the one that got away
REACTION: It may sound like a fishy story, but the Bulls let a big one get away.
Lyon came from behind to snatch a dramatic (29-28) bonus-point win over the Bulls in their Champions Cup Round Two encounter at the weekend.
It is the French team’s first win of the campaign – following their dramatic 34-36 loss to Bristol Bears in Round One.
In contrast, the Bulls came into the match on a high – following their impressive 27-16 win at home against Saracens in Round One.
It left the Bulls hovering perilously in third place on the Pool One standings – behind two French teams, Bordeaux and Lyon.
Speaking after the match in Lyon, Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White admitted it was a game that was there for the taking.
“We are disappointed to walk away from the match as the side that lost,” he said.
“We feel as if we should have won that one.”
White also saw a positive in the loss, having left the bulk of his first-choice players at home to prepare for a crucial United Rugby Championship trip to Cape Town and a Round Eight encounter with the Stormers.
“It is a sign of the great depth that we are working on as a franchise, to be able to rotate our side and come to France and take the game to them like we did,” White said of the trip to Lyon this past weekend.
“To stay in the game and in the end lose by one point is a sign of how tight and how tough this competition is.
“You need to be ontop of your game from start to finish otherwise you allow the other side an opportunity to steal it from you.”
Mpilo Gumede that is FILTHY! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/jw423JTTg8
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) December 17, 2023
The Bulls boss said he is “extremely proud” of the character and spirit that the team showed.
“To stay in the fight right until the very last minute and the last play of the match, the boys must take that as a pat on the back.
“We will get better and we will learn as we go forward, even if sometimes the results do not go your way.
“We now return home with a point away from home and we will go back to work on Monday as we prepare for another big week ahead.”
@rugby365com
