Jake White has urged the Vodacom Bulls to remain positive in a tough run-in that includes two games against the Irish giants to secure a Vodacom United Rugby Championship playoff place.
A surprise defeat to the Lions in the Jukskei derby at Loftus Versfeld has left the Vodacom Bulls in sixth place, six points behind the fourth-placed Glasgow Warriors.
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While the Vodacom Bulls can be thankful that the Sharks did not complete a late comeback in Cape Town, their place in the top eight is still under pressure. There are just five points between the Pretoria outfit and ninth-placed Benetton, after the Italian side grabbed an away win against Ospreys.
In their final three games, the Vodacom Bulls take on Ulster and unbeaten Leinster, in between a home game against likely wooden spoonists Zebre.
“This is one of those seasons where we have to stay positive,” White said in the aftermath of the Lions game.
“The Stormers lost to Benetton last year and ended up winning the competition. There are three games left, we just have to make sure we play as well as we can. We have made it tough for ourselves. Leinster and Ulster are two very big teams to play against.
“Our destiny is still in our hands. We don’t want to be relying on other results to make the playoffs. As long as we have that, we have hope.”
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As a further boost to the Vodacom Bulls, Springbok backline duo Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie are expected back from the international training camp this weekend.
“They finish the camp on Friday,” White confirmed. “As soon as they are back, I will integrate them into the team.”
Analysing the Lions game, White felt disappointed with his team’s lack of composure and agreed that they got beaten by a team that was more desperate than them.
“It was the little things. We got a penalty on the halfway line early in the game. We tap and and run, we knock it on, they get a scrum, we give away a high tackle, they get a penalty and three points. How do we get ourselves into that situation from a penalty on the halfway line?
“I don’t think we were desperate enough in the beginning. It was just words and that’s why we feel a bit disappointed. We can’t just say things and not understand.”
It was not all negative for White, as he was happy with the way the Vodacom Bulls fought their way back into the match.
“One of the things that happened, we were 12-3 up [against the Stormers] and then when the Stormers took the lead we started to panic. This time we were 20-3 down, but we stuck in the fight and we ended up taking the lead. The fact we scored four tries and had one disallowed – that’s five tries.”
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