Bulls got 'summed up'

Bulls captain Flip van der Merwe said that their defeat to the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday summed up their season.

The 21-32 loss has basically put an end to the three-time champions' hopes of securing a spot in the play-offs, leaving them down in ninth place with games against the Stormers and Rebels left to play.

The Bulls were under pressure from the Lions from the start, and threatened to fight back before fading away which Van der Merwe said summed up their entire season.

“It summed up our season, there were a lot of faults at crucial times. We were definitely in the game, we played some good rugby but the Lions played Bulls rugby against us very well,” Van der Merwe told a press conference after the game.

With just two games remaining after the international break, the Bulls trail the sixth-placed Hurricanes by four points.

But the Chiefs (35pts), Western Force (36pts) and Highlanders (38pts) are also all ahead of the Bulls and have three matches to play, while the Brumbies are fourth with 40 points with two games left.

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke said the team’s lack of accuracy on attack had again cost them dearly, as it has in so many of their away games this season.

“The big story was our finishing, we weren’t clinical. We played some good rugby, stringing phases together, but then penalties in the Lions’ half would break our progress, that’s where the momentum swung their way.

“When things aren’t going your way, you need a big moment to ignite the team and it just wasn’t there. It’s disappointing, we played against ourselves but we still feel there’s a small chance of making the playoffs,” Ludeke said.