Frustrated Bulls draw curtain on ‘disappointing season’

Assistant coach Hugo van As has all but admitted that the Bulls season was failure by described their now completed 2022/23 campaign as ‘disappointing’.

The curtain fell on the Bulls’ turbulent season following their humiliating 39-10 defeat against the Cheetahs in the semi-finals of the Currie Cup on Saturday.

It was a match one would expect the Bulls to win, given their URC-powered squad that was in action. But the performance was a microcosm of the Bulls’ entire season: a squad full of talent who failed to translate a campaign full of promise into success.

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BULLS LEFT PONDERING WHAT IFS

But according to backline coach, Van As, the Bulls’ disintegration towards the end of the season was mainly due to fatigue and exhaustion.

“It’s been very disappointing. Let’s be honest, the Bulls are a proud organisation and we’re definitely not happy falling short in the quarter-finals of the URC and now the last four of the Currie Cup,” said Van As during the post-match press conference on Saturday. 

“However, credit must also go to this group, who decided that they want to participate and be part of this campaign, particularly in light of us being pretty much down and out after the first six rounds. There was a lot of character shown, but the outcomes weren’t great.

“It’s been a long season, this team has played a helluva lot of rugby. As much as these men showed resilience and a willingness to keep on fighting in making the semis, it probably counted against them in the end.”

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MISSED A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO STAY IN TITLE RACE

Commenting on the Bulls’ sub-standard performance in Saturday’s Currie Cup semi-final, Van As lamented the team’s poor execution.

“We are very disappointed,” Bulls backline coach Hugo van As said in the wake of the defeat.

“In the first half, we had a lot of opportunities and didn’t use it. There were one of two tough decisions and the bounce of the ball didn’t go our way, like the grubber we lost behind the try-line.”

“The last quarter was nothing to do with the discipline, it was more frustration that crept in and the fact that we created opportunities and the Cheetahs kept us out.

“So, a lot of credit to the Cheetahs, they brought physically and rushed us on defence. The breakdown was messy That is why they are number one and have the potential to win this competition.

When asked about Bulls fullback Johan Goosen’s exchanges with the referee Cwengile Jadesweni, Van As said: “Goosen asked the referee a question and I don’t think it was handled in the best manner.

“However there’s nothing we can do about it now.”

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