Red card sinks battling Bulls

A turnaround plan has apparently been instituted, starting with “wide-ranging consultation”, as the misfortune currently overtaking the Bulls continued at the weekend in their 17-10 loss to the Highlanders in their Super Rugby match at Loftus Versfeld.

The franchise issued a statement an hour after the Bulls scored a 72nd-minute try, which was then disallowed due to red-carded lock RG Snyman’s illegal clean-out at the previous ruck, and then conceded the decisive 76th-minute breakaway try to centre Malakai Fekitoa, saying “we will be taking advice from various roleplayers, former players, coaches and various other forums, to ensure we implement the best possible solution.”

Coach Nollis Marais (above) was crushed after his team once again allowed victory to slip from their grasp.

“Obviously it’s very disappointing. We were on attack the whole time in that second half and we thought we had scored the winning try, but then came the red card. We had them under the cosh and the seven points were there for us, but it was a very costly turnaround. Just one mistake cost us. The guys are so down, they really wanted to win and we had it in our hands,” Marais said.

The coach was pleased, however, with the overall performance of the side after he backed youth and installed a new captain in 21-year-old Hanro Liebenberg.

“I would have liked the win, I certainly needed it because that’s the only thing I’m measured on. But I believe the guys pitched up and I’m extremely proud with how the youngest Super Rugby team we have ever fielded came back in the second half,” Marais said.