Missed bonus point could come back to haunt Bulls
REACTION: Bulls head coach Jake White was not too disappointed after failing to secure a bonus-point win over Lions on Saturday in Pretoria.
Jake White’s men are currently third on the table of the South African Rugby Shield following the 21-13 victory over the Lions.
The Bulls (16 points) are on the same number of log points as the Sharks, but with an inferior points difference.
While the Stormers lead the summit with 18 points.
The Pretoria franchise had a golden opportunity to be in an even better position going into next weekend’s URC match against the Sharks.
However, Jake White’s men fell short of securing the bonus-point victory over the Lions.
The Bulls were 34-10 winners when the two sides met in Johannesburg last weekend and the Loftus Versfeld faithful expected much of the same.
Taking a 21-6 lead after 49 minutes, the Bulls spilt chances, especially in the first half where their backs fluffed a number of opportunities.
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“I said to the players [in the changeroom] that we are never going to get arrogant about [a victory],” White told reporters after the match.
“We managed to get nine points against the Lions in two weeks.
“Considering where we were — we would’ve taken it,”
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‘It isn’t ideal’
Just two weeks ago the Bulls side found themselves bottom of the South Africa Shield log after the shock defeat to Stormers at Loftus Versfeld.
“Two weeks ago, we were coming into the changeroom [after the loss to the Stormers] and we had to find a way to jump up the log.
“I would obviously like a bonus point, but we must not get ahead of ourselves.
“We had enough chances, and we didn’t score.
“Canan Moodie at the end kicks the ball out [with an opportunity to attack]. Shame I asked the 19-year-old him why he kicked it out he said he felt isolated.
“It’s the right answer. He’s on his own there and probably thinking [he could get turned over].
“It isn’t ideal, and I would’ve liked to have got a bonus point — not because it’s the Lions, but because we had set it up quite nicely to get a bonus point.
“But I’m not going to get too hard on the guys.
“We’ve got a massive game against the Sharks, and then we go to Zebre.
“So, we’ve still got out destiny in our own hands as we go along.”
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