Jake White Bulls loss to Sharks 31 December 2022 Photo Gallo Images

The Bulls defend a maul against the Sharks. Photo: Gallo Images.

Jake White: Bulls hurting after Sharks beatdown

Jake White says Bulls’ 47-20 loss against Sharks at Kings Park on New Year’s Eve hurts but insists experience comes through wins and losses.

Jake White Bulls loss to Sharks 31 December 2022 Photo Gallo Images

The Bulls defend a maul against the Sharks. Photo: Gallo Images.

Jake White says the Bulls’ 47-20 hammering against the Sharks at Kings Park on New Year’s Eve hurts but insists experience comes through wins and losses.

The Bulls were handed a 27-point defeat by the high flying Sharks at the Shark Tank on Saturday after the home side running in five tries. The result saw the Sharks move up to fifth on the United Rugby Championship table, just five log points behind the fourth-placed Bulls, who had play two more games than their Durban-based rivals.

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The Bulls initially looked strong as they sped out to a 13-6 lead, but they suffered a double blow when both Canan Moodie and Cyle Brink were yellow carded, which allowed the Sharks to storm back and seize control of the contest to ultimately secure a handsome victory.

The manner in which the Sharks wrested the momentum to down the Bulls was of that a nature that White could only manage to applaud Neil Powell’s men for their performance.

“At times you must give credit, this is a tough place to play! Once they play their power game, get in the 22 and use their forwards, they can score against anybody,” White said of the Sharks.

“It was difficult for us to stop them, even more, difficult to stop them with 13 men on the field. We fought bravely but we cannot make up things, it will not get easier but we just got to make sure we get things right.”

“The irony about tonight is that we beat the Sharks at home with a bonus point, and that means we are now identical (after this result). They must still play the Stormers and that opens up all the possible permutations in the tournament.”

ALSO READ: Match report here

Asked about Bulls star Moodie’s two yellow cards, White let slip that the teenager is not handling it well, but added that he hopes the player’s two yellow carded offences which resulted in a red card will serve as a learning curve for the youngster.

“You can imagine Canan is feeling down, I thought he was a bit unlucky. I understand by the letter of the law the ref’s decision was right but was it a scoring opportunity? Perhaps not. Canan will learn and he will become better for us,” explained White.

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WHITE: BULLS HURTING, BUT READY TO FIGHT FOR PLAYOFF SPOT

The loss was the Bulls’ fourth of the season in the United Rugby Championship, their second defeat in a row as well as second consecutive loss in a local derby.

White, though, is adamant that while their recent struggles against South African opposition hurt, that his team will come good in their quest for a spot in the eight-team playoffs.

“We will get it right. One thing about sport is it takes a while. This time last year we were in the same boat, bottom of the log and wondering whether we will get into the playoffs and we did,” White added.

“The players must go through this and it’s painful but I am confident that we will get it right. They are a good bunch of guys and they are hurting but they will get it right,” he concluded.

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White also had some words of thanks to fans who have travelled to spend their holiday season watching Bulls at Kings Park in Durban.

“The numbers we have seen over the last two weeks have been fantastic and I believe that the support will still grow for the competition, the more our rugby audience learns and understand the competition.

“Playing during this time of the year is different but we have enjoyed the incredible support, thank you to the fans.”

ALSO READ: Jake White — Bulls ready to fight for playoff spot

Jake White and Bulls lose to Sharks full-time graphic
The full-time result graphic after the game between the Sharks and Bulls.