'We're not a Mickey Mouse team': Stade Français coach livid after Bulls loss
REACTION: Stade Français head coach Paul Gustard cut a frustrated figure after his side’s heavy 20-56 defeat to the Bulls in the Investec Champions Cup on Saturday.
The visitors, who fielded a second-string team featuring a handful of academy players, were outplayed in almost every facet of the game.
After trailing by 15 points at half-time, Stade Français made a promising start to the second half, scoring two tries through Petero Mailulu and Jacques Botha.
They eventually cut the deficit to eight points before the Bulls’ replacements came on and made an immediate impact.
Gustard didn’t hold back after the match, voicing his frustration with his side’s performance.
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“At 60 minutes, the game was very close; just before the water break, they scored a try that went 80 metres when we had the opportunity to score,” he said.
“And then, unfortunately, in the last 15 minutes, the quality of the Bulls’ bench, Jeandré Rudolph in particular and Willie Le Roux, made a difference.
“I’m hurting with the final result. We’re not a Mickey Mouse team; we’re a big team, and to take 50 points is hurtful.”
Gustard selected five players who graduated from the club’s academy last year, along with six rookies who lack experience at the highest level.
He felt his players had come up short in crucial areas, and the Bulls’ Bok power got the better of them.
“The basics of the game are a good scrum and a good line-out, and unfortunately, we were second best in scrum and line-out.
“We got our benefits from the maul, but other than that, they’d win the ball when they wanted to win the ball, and we lost too much ball in the first half.
“I felt what the Bulls did really well was that they found space in our backfield and exploited it through speed. But I think the scrum and line-outs were a big factor.”
Meanwhile, French international Moses Alo-Emile refused to blame the altitude and weather conditions for the defeat.
The match was played in scorching heat, with temperatures reaching 32 degrees at kick-off.
“The heat and altitude are definitely two factors that we think about as players,” the prop said.
“But at the end of the day, they’re just excuses. We’re 15 against 15. I felt confident in the young boys that came here; unfortunately, the Bulls were just a better squad today.
“There were just some handling errors we made, and they played the full 80 minutes.
“In the last 20 minutes, we conceded some easy tries, and I think that’s something we need to work on, and just playing the full 80 minutes.”
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