Bulls coach Johan Ackermann lauded his team after their 56-20 defeat of Stade Français in the Investec Champions Cup, but insisted it wasn’t easy.
Ackermann’s men ran in eight tries against the understrength visitors at Loftus on Saturday to begin their European campaign with a five-point log haul.
“The win is the most important thing, and the bonus point is in the bag too,” he said. “But it was a fight, it wasn’t as easy as the scoreline shows.
“We made it a little difficult for ourselves with penalties conceded in the first half and execution not quite there.
“The [hot] conditions were tough out there, so any win is a good win, and I’m proud of the fight of the players.”
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Ackermann was encouraged by his team’s intensity over the full 80 minutes, rather than easing off late.
“We showed some good signs, it’s something we’ve worked on. A big part of our strength at Loftus is the altitude and the heat, and we back our conditioning.
“We scored the tries we needed to make sure we weren’t chasing the game, and our defence held firm, we didn’t allow their first try until late on. It comes down to fight and determination.”
Ackermann had particular praise for his front row, who never stopped working, and singled out debutants Luan Giliomee and Sango Xamlashe for assured performances.
Wing Sebastian de Klerk also had “a great game,” while Ackermann was especially proud of Man of the Match Cheswill Jooste, who overcame illness early in the week to score three outstanding tries.
“He only got in on Thursday, got through training, and we selected him, and he backed it up with a good performance,” Ackermann said.
“The challenge now [for him] is to stay humble and keep learning. There were still moments he could have made better decisions, but I’m pleased with where he is from a confidence point of view, and how he’s grown since starting senior rugby.”
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Asked about South African sides’ chequered history in the Champions Cup, Ackermann conceded the difficulty of competing on two fronts, but remains determined to succeed in both.
“My first year [2025] was a new experience, playing both the URC and the Champions Cup. The big thing is home games. We lost to Bordeaux, then had to travel to Northampton, and in between there are big decisions about how much you invest in each competition.
“We had a fair number of injuries last year, and squad depth became a real challenge. We’ve improved our competitiveness and depth since then, the players know how we play now, there’s more cohesion.
“If we stay healthy and win our home games, I’d love to stay competitive in both, because I still think this is one of the best competitions out there.”
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
The post Ackers hails fighting Bulls appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Bulls coach Johan Ackermann lauded his team after their 56-20 defeat of Stade Français in the Investec Champions Cup, but insisted it wasn’t easy.
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