Jake White confident of Vodacom Bulls progress

BBCo Director of Rugby, Jake White has been left encouraged despite his side’s loss to Munster, saying that his chargers played well and were never out of the game.

“It was tough, playing against experienced players but we will get better. I was proud of the way the boys fought back and this is a good way to learn, a good learning curve for them. It is not ideal because no one wants to lose; but we are a young side and we will get better as we learn,”

“We are still long way from where we want to be, yet we have shown that we can play. Munster put six forwards on the bench and I take that as a complement to how well these youngsters are playing, and teams are taking us seriously, seeing us as a side with a great forward pack and yet five of our forwards are still 25 years or younger” White concluded.

A spirited Vodacom Bulls side recorded their second loss of the 2022 Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign, against Munster in Ireland. The round 5 battle was a tightly contested affair in the South of Ireland, at Thomond Park, infront of some 12 218 fans.

Playing in tricky, wet weather conditions that included strong gusty winds, the hosts used their home ground advantage well, crossing over the line for two tries a half plus a converted penalty, for a well-earned 31-17 victory over the #BullsHeard.

Despite building good momentum throughout the second half, scoring two tries (Steenkamp 50th, Kriel 64th) the men from Pretoria were denied their comeback as Munster defended well. Denying their visitors, a try in an enthralling final 10 minutes of rugby that saw the Vodacom Bulls camp outside the Munster 5m-line area till the end of the game. In the end, what would have been a bonus point earning try, turned into a turnover and the hosts recorded a bonus point victory on the night.

The Vodacom Bulls mentor also gave credit to the experience of the hosts, touting them for a good showing as the Vodacom United Rugby Championship season continues.

“They are a good side, with international players, experienced players like Conor Murray. They will not be bottom of the log for long (with the caliber of players they have), they are going to climb and tonight they showed it,”

“This is a wonderful place to play rugby, a great stadium with a great atmosphere and I am sure we will come back here in a year or two and get the result we are after. We might even return later this season and get the result because I am fully confident, we will get better” White concluded.

On the two forced substitutes at the halftime break, the Vodacom Bulls mentor said: “Cornal (Hendricks) felt a bit of a tight groin, so we did not want to risk him. Johan (Goosen) fell on his back shortly before the half time break and (subsequently) did not pass his HIA test.”

The Vodacom Bulls next face Benetton, on Friday 21 October 2022, at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo in Italy.

ENDS

VODACOM BULLS TOURING SQUAD:

FORWARDS (17): Gerhard Steenekamp, Simphiwe Matanzima, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Bismarck Du Plessis, Francois Klopper, Mornay Smith, Walt Steenkamp, Ruan Vermaak, Ruan Nortje, Janko Swanepoel, Marcell Coetzee (c), Wj Steenkamp, Marco Van Staden, Reinhardt Ludwig, Elrigh Louw, Dylan Smith and Joe van Zyl

BACKS (13): Zak Burger, Embrose Papier, Johan Goosen, Chris Smith, Stedman Gans, Bernard Van der Linde, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Lionel Mapoe, Morne Steyn, Cornal Hendricks, Wandisile Simelane and Kurt-lee Arendse

MANAGEMENT: Jake White - Director of Rugby, Nollis Marais - Breakdown, Russell Winter - Forwards, Chris Rossouw - Backs, Elias Bennett - Team Managerr, John-William Meyer - Technical Analyst, Dr Herman Rossouw - Team Doctor, Lance Lemmetjies - Senior Physiotherapist

Vodacom Bulls tour itinerary:

8 October 2022 at 20:35

Sctoland, Scotstoun Stadium - Glasgow Warriors 35-21 Vodacom Bulls

15 October 2022 at 20:35

Ireland, Thomond Park - Munster 31-17 Vodacom Bulls

21 October 2022 at 18:30

Italy, Stadio Monigo - Benetton vs Vodacom Bulls