Quick lesson needed
Kings coach says team must learn from loss and bounce back
CONCERNED Southern Kings head coach Deon Davids said his team must learn their lessons quickly and bounce back after they crashed to a 38-6 defeat against a dominant Bulls outfit in a Vodacom Super Rugby clash.
An expectant crowd of 10 347 fans arrived at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium hoping the Kings could pull off an upset win after they knocked over Japan’s Sunwolves in their previous game.
But they left disappointed after the Bulls outscored the home team by six tries to nil which left Davids and his young team with much to ponder on during their bye week.
Speedster Jamba Ulengo (2), SP Marais (2), Jan Serfontein and RG Snyman all crossed for tries while the Kings could only muster two penalties in reply from the boot of Louis Fouche.
Just before half time, when the Bulls were reduced to 13 men after two quick yellow cards, Davids must have been expecting his team to claw their way back into the contest at a time when they were trailing 17-6.
But with wily Bulls skipper Adriaan Strauss showing his experience in slowing the game down, the Kings were unable to hammer home their numerical advantage.
“Just before half time we were in a good position to score, but unfortunately it just did not happen for us,” a disappointed Davids said.
“I’m still wondering what happened. We played well in the first half and we had ample opportunities to capitalise which we did not.
“I felt coming out in the second half and conceding that early try put us on the back foot and things just escalated from there. As a team we have got to learn those lessons very quickly. We must take the lessons from this game and bounce back as quickly as we can,” Davids said.
Playing against a depleted Bulls team because of the yellow cards, Davids instructed his team to pile on the pressure during his half-time team chat.
“I told the players we must get territory advantage as quickly as possible and apply the pressure if the opportunities are there and also to speed up the game.
“But if you look at the second half, I got the impression that the game was a bit slowed down and scrums and our lineouts took time.”
Davids said his team were guilty of losing concentration against a focused Bulls side. “The biggest disappointment at this point in time is that we are conceding soft moments,” he said.
“We are in a position when we are on attack where we can capitalise in terms of opportunities that are front of us.
“But it is a lapse, whether it is a catch, kick or pass, when we lose concentration and the opposition get a turnover and they capitalise on it. This is something we continually have to work on.”
Bulls coach Nollis Marais said his team had played with guts and praised their defensive efforts when they were down to 13 men.
“In the second half, the guys played well. Usually in the second period we have had a bit of a dip in the last few games, But the guys stuck to their guns,” Marais said.
“There were a few handling errors here and there, but we started playing and believing in the second half and we were not just defending.”
The Bulls, who earned a bonus point win over the Kings, host the Reds next week in Pretoria and improve their hopes of taking the lead in their conference.
After their bye weekend, the Kings, who have managed only one win in six outings, return to Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium to play the Lions on April 23. Scorers: Bulls 38: Tries: Jamba Ulengo (2), SP Marais (2), Jan Serfontein and RG Snyman; Conversions: Tian Schoeman (3) and Deon Brummer.
Southern Kings 6: Penalties: Louis Fouche (2).
