Bulls had to work harder than scoreline suggests – Ackers

Bulls centre/wing Canan Moodie was replaced at half time for a hamstring niggle. Picture: Huw Fairclough/Getty Images Bulls coach Johan Ackermann praised his team for “grinding out” a 47-7 win over the Dragons in Newport on Friday night. He also lamented the hamstring niggle suffered by centre/wing Canan Moodie that may make him unavailable for next week’s clash against Scarlets in Llanelli.

The Bulls are already missing the services of wingers Stravino Jacobs, Sebastian de Klerk, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Cheswill Jooste due to injury. The Pretoria sidescored seven tries to one, but the bonus-point win could not see them rise from eighth on theURC tableas Cardiff and Munster also secured wins. Five of their tries came in the second half, extending their 12-7 lead at the break to a commanding win.

There are now only three games left before the playoffs. “The scoreline doesn’t really reflect the true match,” said Ackermann. “We had to grind and fight hard.

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We couldn’t put them away in the first half. They defended well and kept us out, and we made hard work of it. “There was a feeling at half-time that it would take a grind and that we just needed more patience.” The Bulls coach praised the leadership ofMarcell Coetzee, who has been challenging players to raise their standards all season. “Marcell has been outstanding for us over the last few weeks, not just on the field but off it as well,” Ackermann added.

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