VIDEO: How Jake's Bulls upstaged the 'multi-million Rand' Sharks
REACTION: The Bulls head into their November break sitting pretty in third place on the United Rugby Championship standings, looking as impressive as the team that reached the inaugural Final.
The Bulls climbed to third place by holding off a Sharks fightback to record an impressive 40-27 bonus-point win in Pretoria at the weekend.
Despite their mid-season wobble – with losses to Glasgow Warriors and Munster – the Loftus Versfeld-based outfit is in a good space according to Director of Rugby Jake White.
The Bulls boss said the platform for the win over the Sharks was laid in the first 20 minutes, even though the Sharks came back to hold a slender lead (20-19) going into the final 15 minutes.
“It is never easy against the Sharks,” White said, adding: “They are a multi-million Rand team and it is nice to get a win [against them].”
He admitted there is plenty of aspects the Bulls still have to work on, despite already being seven games into the competition.
The Bulls boss spoke about the ‘soft moments’, including a try just before half-time, that are still costing his team.
“It is not just the defence,” he said, adding: “There are a lot of things we have to work on.
“We have five wins from seven games, with four try-scoring bonus points.
“There are 14 games left to get to the Final.
“There is no reason why we can’t get better when we get back [from the November international break].”
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White also spoke about the scrum dominance of the Bulls, until recently regarded as the soft underbelly of the Bulls.
“We were under the pump in the scrums when I started here,” the 58-year-old 2007 World Cup-winning coach said about his arrival in Pretoria in 2020.
“Our scrum now looks like one of the strengths of our game.
“It is great that aspect of our game has come right.”
He said there is a “lot of excitement” going into the break and return with the energy they have in the changeroom after the weekend’s win.
White said the team showed how effective they can be when they play according to their potential.
While the team can recharge and refresh for the next three weeks, they will also be sweating over potential injuries to those players on national duty – with the Springboks and South African ‘A’ teams.
Wing Sibusiso Nkosi, one of three Bulls on duty with the Springboks, hurt his ribs and was replaced at half-time.
“Our doctor and medical team will talk to the Boks’ medical team about the injuries we have,” White said.
“The national team will then make the call about his availability.”
White also said he hopes to get some extra resources back after the break – with players like Elrigh Louw, Johan Grobbelaar and Cyle Brink likely to have recovered from the injuries that have sidelined them.
Jacques du Plessis is also set to return from a long-term injury.
“The break comes at a good time for us,” the Bulls’ boss said.
“We have done well in the last few weeks and got our campaign back on track.”
The Bulls restart their campaign with two home games, against Welsh outfits Ospreys (November 26) and Cardiff (December 3) – before the start of their European Cup journey.
