VIDEO: Bulls wary of 'wounded' Lions
REACTION: Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White expects a ‘backlash’ from the Lions when the two teams meet in a return match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The Bulls, after a rocky start to their season, bounced back with an impressive 34-10 win over an out-of-sorts Lions outfit in Johannesburg this past week.
It was the kind of result that prompted veteran Springbok Jaco Kriel to question the “lack of intent” and “attitude” of his Lions teammates.
However, White feels the Lions will have a very different mindset when they arrive at Loftus Versfeld this week.
He spoke of the “composure” the Bulls showed, something that lacked in the (26-30) loss to the Stormers the week before.
White, a World Cup winner as Springbok coach in 2007, touched on the team’s attitude in the final minutes against the Lions – when they were leading 34-10 with a bonus-point win already secured.
However, they continued to defend as if their lives depended on it.
“The way they defended, if though they had the bonus point and won it, makes it special,” White said, adding: “I am hoping we use that in the next couple of weeks.”
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The coach said there was “more urgency” at training and admitted they have expected things to ‘just happen’ against the Stormers and the result was a loss.
“There was a little bit more urgency and focus in the training sessions,” he said, adding that it assistant them, in playing at a higher tempo.
White admitted the Lions are unlikely to be so lacklustre in the return fixture at Loftus Versfeld.
He said the Bulls will ‘tweak’ their tactics, but there won’t be major changes.
“You need to find a way to bring a surprise element,” the Bulls’ Director of Rugby said, adding: ” Maybe change one or two players.
“Maybe look at the way you did certain things – on attack and defence.”
He admitted he expects the Lions to be ‘more committed’.
“They are not going to change too much, other than the fact that they will come with a different mindset.
“We will have to match that as well.
“They beat the Stormers away from home, so we won’t be underestimating them at all.”
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