VIDEO: Bulls were 'naive' in 'unbelievable' conditions
REACTION: The Bulls were not “street smart” against a clinical Saracens side in blustery conditions in London on Saturday.
That was the view of Director of Rugby Jake White after his side’s 5-27 defeat in the Champions Cup Round One clash with Storm Darragh adding a bit of drama with rain and crazy wind gusts.
With the strong wing behind their backs in the first half, the Bulls could only score one try and they found themselves 5-8 behind at the break.
In the second half, Saracens provided the Bulls with a lesson in most areas of the game and they scored three tries to take the game away from the South Africans.
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“Collectively, we weren’t as street smart as we should’ve been and for a lot of reasons,” White told @rugby365com.
“We played against a good team in conditions that I have never experienced in 42 years of coaching and I am sure some of these players from England have never played in conditions like that either.
“We were probably a little bit naive and through no one’s fault.
“An example, we get a mark in our 22 and we forget to tap it and we give them another scrum in our 22. It just shows you that when you are under the pump, you can make those sorts of mistakes.”
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White said his side lacked the killer instinct to put more points on the board, especially in the first half.
“It was just about taking chances when we were down there,” White explained.
“They kept us out for long periods of time and we didn’t finish our opportunities.
“They are a good team. They know this ground like the back of their hands.
“I just think we were not clever enough in the first half to put points on the board and build pressure.
“Once it was 8-5, it was going to be an uphill battle and the summary was very simple. In the first half, they got into our 22 many more times than we got into their 22 and that was the difference.
“You can’t allow a team like Saracens to have so much time in your 22 and expect to win.”
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On the conditions in London, White added: “I wish I could tell you it was overwhelming. It was just unbelievable.
“It’s 50km/h winds. We lost the toss and it was a bit like cricket and we didn’t really want to bat last on a wicket that’s going to turn.
“It’s like a golfer that has to play two days in the wind and then make the cut when other guys played two days with no wind.
“I am not for one minute taking anything away from Saracens’ performance. They bashed us at the breakdowns, they were clinical and they looked like a team that knows how to win this competition because they have.
“The lessons are that we’ve got to make sure that next time we play them or any team that is as good as them, we have to be good enough.”
@rugby365com
