If the Vodacom Bulls are to have any chance of progressing further in the playoffs of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, it will need to be on the back of some stern defence, especially in the latter part of the game.
Soft moments cost championships and there is nobody who knows that more than Jake White, which isn’t a surprise that he was in a bit of a disappointed mood after his URC-laden side had their game wrapped up by half time last week before slumping and allowing Griquas to score five tries in the second half.
It’s been a trend for White’s side in the URC as well, as they led Munster by a healthy margin and allowed them to come back. Despite winning games against Dragons by a big margin, they allowed them to come back in the second half and allowed Ulster to score late in the game as well.
Against Glasgow Warriors they were cruising and then allowed Glasgow a late try which made things tense in the final minutes and had a late try not been disallowed, it could have been a tough finish for the Bulls.
The point is, while they start slowly, their second half power has gotten them through most of their games but come the playoffs, such gaffes late in the game – those moments when the concentration drops for a second – are the difference between Championship teams and those who wonder what could have been.
White knows this all too well, and has constantly reminded all who would listen that his side are still building.
There aren’t too many outside Pretoria who would probably believe him on that one, but in terms of being a European-quality Championship side, he probably is right.
There is enough of an altitude factor, a hard field and a highveld push that gives the Bulls their right at Loftus to claim games at times despite late comebacks but next weekend against the Ospreys they will need to be a lot better than at home, especially now that the Welsh shield will also be on the line.
The Bulls know they are in the playoffs already, but it is those small moments that will make the difference between them being a good side and a side that can challenge for honours.
That’s why White said after the game that the Bulls need to look at themselves in the mirror for how they let the Currie Cup game slip. And he was clearly eluding to the URC slumps as well in the same breath.
“First half wasn’t outstanding – we were all right. We did enough, but also made a lot of mistakes. But I am very disappointed that in the second half, we let them score four tries. When you play for the Bulls, it’s a pride thing that you need to do, especially on defence,” the former Springbok coach said.
“So, I am a little disappointed in them, and they know it. I am thankful that we won, but we need to look at ourselves in the mirror.”
“It comes easy in the beginning, and to be fair, we scored 36 points and it could have been a lot more. In fact, I’ve just had a debate with the referee and TMO now – that one try that we scored, they took a quick (goal-line drop-out) and were quite clever. They took a quick drop-out when the replays were still being shown – and that would have been a try as well,” he said.
“That’s the problem sometimes… when it becomes too easy and you get a little bit loose, you probably play into Griquas’ hands as well. But still, I’m disappointed by the way we defended. If you’re comfortable and so far ahead, then it’s even more of an indictment on our guys because that’s when you’ve got to keep them out as well.
“It’s something that we are going to have to get right, and I’m obviously going to have to sit with the players – we can’t just keep talking about it… we have to get it right.”
White is right on this one because the Bulls will get away with it at Loftus, but as the business end of the URC approaches it will be the difference that sees how far the Bulls get in this year’s Championship.