Grocott's Mail spoke to team management and players after the Vodacom Bulls vs Southern Kings Super Rugby match in Port Elizabeth on Saturday 9 April:
Grocott's Mail spoke to team management and players after the Vodacom Bulls vs Southern Kings Super Rugby match in Port Elizabeth on Saturday 9 April:
Deon Davids (Southern Kings head coach): “I’m still wondering what happened… We played well in the first half. We had ample opportunities to capitalise, which we didn’t. I think just before half-time, we were in a good position to score. Unfortunately for us, it didn’t happen – and I just felt, coming out second half, conceding that early try after what happened just before half-time maybe just put us on the back foot, and things just escalated from there. At the end of the day, as a team, we’ve got to look at that. I think we’ve got to learn those lessons very quickly and it’s just important for us to take these lessons from this game and bounce back as quickly as we can.”
“Some of the guys – it’s been a long time since they have been with their families… Maybe [the Kings’ bye for next weekend]might be coming at a good time for us. But the challenges won’t get easier – getting the Lions back and then going away on the Argentinian tour – but we’re confident. It’s a dark night tonight for us, but I believe the sun will shine again.”
Stefan Watermeyer (Southern Kings centre): “I think the Bulls had a bit of an upper hand [with communicating to Japanese referee Shuhei Kubo]. The guy was speaking to him in Japanese! No, but he layed down the laws quite well. I think he had a couple of 50-50 calls, but ja, so, it’s part of the game.”
“I think the scoreline doesn’t say it, but I think we’re still growing as a team. I think there’s a lot of positives. We put ourselves in great positions to score points. We just haven’t capitalised and I think that’s just inexperience. I think as we grow as individuals in the team, I think we’re definitely in the right direction. Nobody thought it would work off the bat, [but]I think we can tick a lot of boxes personally in the game of what we did well – but also, there’s a lot of soft moments that we need to cut out.”
Nollis Marais (Vodacom Bulls head coach): “I think we were quite good in the beginning [of the first half]. We made mistakes in the end. I mean, we were 17-6 ahead, then we kicked for touch in our own 22 and we were on the attack, lost the ball, and spent the next 10 minutes in extra time of the first 40 on our own tryline. You know, two yellow cards – I don’t know if it’s yellow. I still have to go watch it again. But I think what the guys did well – we fought, you know, in those 40 minutes, we kept the Kings out. And then in that second half, I think the guys played well.”
“The guys showed a lot of character [after Marcel van der Merwe and RG Snyman received yellow cards at the end of the first half]. They fought – with six guys in the scrum, they battled… Last week, as well, we fought for 80 minutes – but today, we really fought.”
Adriaan Strauss (Vodacom Bulls hooker and captain): “There’s always some things that you can improve on, and [you can]always work hard on a couple of things – but overall, I’m very happy, and, like Coach said: character is something and you can’t coach that – and I think the guys showed that tonight when we were 13 on the field and six in that scrum and had a back here and there helping out and joining in. I think the guys put up their hands and showed a lot of character and it was an honour for me to play with players like that.”
“I think it happened once or twice [Strauss getting frustrated with Kubo’s refereeing], but I think overall, he had a good game – and you know, his decision is final… It all happened so fast, so we’ll have a look at that and assess it. But, you know, first game for him and I think he did a great job. I think there was a lot of rugby being played as well, and, you know the ball was slippery out there – and I think he made it a game that you can look at from a spectator’s view (sic)… So credit to him. I thought he was good.”
sport@grocotts.co.za
