Bulls left wanting at the breakdown

The Bulls are disappointed to have started their Super Rugby campaign with a defeat and are most concerned with their breakdown work, but there are positives from their 23-15 loss to the Sharks in Durban at the weekend, according to coach Pote Human.

“It’s not the way we wanted to start the year, but it is our first game and there are still many more matches to play. You have to credit the Sharks for playing well to the end, they were good at the breakdown and that’s where they won the game. We didn’t use our chances, there was an open tryline and we dropped the ball, but the breakdown is my main concern,” said Human after their loss.

“We have to look up in defence, keep a high line and make the hits. But we never stopped fighting, even though we had to play catch-up rugby, and unfortunately they scored that try right at the end. But I’m proud of the guys because it’s a new team, and the scrums and lineouts were good. The conditions were difficult, it was very wet because it was so humid, so there were lots of scrums which is what we expected.”

Against one of the Conference favourites on their home turf, the Bulls were certainly not a soft touch and whatever the match lacked in running rugby, it made up for it in terms of intensity, with both sets of players obviously eager to get into action after a long pre-season.

Celebrated Bulls flyhalf Morne Steyn played his first Super Rugby game in six years and impressed with his kicking and some lovely touches, including a well-taken drop goal.

But the Bulls now face an even greater challenge as they take on the Stormers at Newlands this weekend.

“Morne was really good because there was lots of pressure on him with people saying he’s old and can’t do it anymore. The game wasn’t a spectacle although both teams wanted to play,”