VIDEO: Jake White reveals the real value of win in Cardiff
The Bulls have ‘banked’ a very valuable lesson from their 18-12 United Rugby Championship win over Cardiff at Arms Park this past Friday.
They held on in the face of a late rally and while it was not flawless, the Bulls showed true grit in a hostile environment.
Two tries in as many minutes midway through the first half earned the South Africans a lead they were never to lose and set them on course for a second win over Welsh opposition this season, having comfortably beaten Scarlets in their opening match.
However, it was what happened in the final quarter – just after Cardiff closed the gap from 5-15 to 12-15 with a Rey Lee-Lo try – that gave the Bulls their most valuable lesson.
The Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White was full of praise for new recruit Wilco Louw – the first tighthead prop since White’s arrival at Loftus Versfeld to be named Man of the Match.
“It is pleasing for us,” White said of the 14-times capped Springbok.
Turning to his team’s second win on tour and their third in four matches – which had them at the top of the standings for at least 24 hours – he said winning away from home remains a real challenge in the URC.
“Zebre – a team people think you just turn up, get your point and get out of Parma – has beaten the Sharks.
“Our tour is not over yet, we have a tough match against Edinburgh next week with all their Scottish internationals.
“However, we are very happy to have won two in a row and take a bit of momentum into the next round.”
(WATCH as Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White reveals the real value of his team’s hard-earned URC win over Cardiff at Arms Park at the weekend….)
White, who named a split of six forwards and just two backs on the bench for the first time, admitted he learnt from the Springbok coaching staff that “composure at the back end of the game” is vital.
“It just gives you much more confidence,” the Bulls boss said, adding: “When you put guys like Ruan Nortje and Elrigh Louw on it looks like there is more composure, stability and an understanding of what they have to do.
“It worked putting those guys on at the back end of the game when the pressure builds up.”
He admitted that self-belief is the one big value they get out of the game.
“Right up to the very last line-out we could still have lost that game,” he told @rugby365com.
“You need these moments that you put in your memory bank and the confidence you get out of that.
“Next time you are in the same situation, hopefully, you get the same result.
“It is not just the win, but the way we stuck at it at the end there – despite te vocal crowd.”
No.8 Celimpilo Gumede is the only injury concern, having suffered an ankle strain in the first half.
Although the extent of the loose forward’s injury will only be confirmed on Monday or Tuesday, the rest of the team escape the bruising battle relatively unscathed.
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