VIDEO: Bulls settle for Europe's second tier
Yesterday at 02:05 PM
SPOTLIGHT: The Bulls players' frame of mind remains positive despite the demise of their Champions Cup dreams.
The Pretoria franchise's 10-49 defeat to Castres in Round Three ended their chances of reaching the Round of 16 in Europe's top tier.
The Bulls are one of four teams who have not won a single game in the Champions Cup and are last in Pool Three.
They will host Stade Francais in the final round of league action at Loftus Versfeld this weekend.
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The Bulls will be playing for a spot in the second-tier Challenge Cup knockouts but will need a bonus-point win by 22 points and deny the French anything from the game.
The French side has won one game and is one position above the Bulls with five points and Bulls loose forward Nizaam Carr believes it is an ideal opportunity to not only bag a Challenge Cup spot but also overturn their fortunes this weekend.
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"The last few weeks have been tough and frustrating. The more you see the results go that way the more the boys tend to try harder and things might not still go your way.
"But the chats during the sessions and in the camp is to keep pushing, and things will turn around.
"It is not the end of the world, we are still looking good in the URC table, not too great in the Champions Cup.
"But the boys are positive.
"It's a little bit of a slump with the results not going our way, but we are looking forward to this weekend and trying to turn the corner."
He added: "We are targeting a Challenge Cup spot. We know what is required of us.
"Some results must go our way in other places, but the plan is Challenge Cup."
A win for the hosts will also give them much-needed momentum ahead of the strenuous period which includes United Rugby Champions matches against the Lions (January 25) and Stormers (February 8).
"It is a stepping stone for the URC," Carr said, adding: "We do not see it as a dead rubber.
"We want to play the perfect game. Every team strives for that and we are no different.
"I would not say we are targeting this match, but our mindset is to produce the best 80 minutes.
"There will be some mistakes and challenges, but we just want to hit the road running and be good for the URC."
Carr added: "It is only going to get tougher from here and we are aware of it.
"But like everybody usually says, we just focus on the next one, and this weekend is all that matters right now."
When quizzed about the issues behind the team's current slump, Carr said: "It's not my role to pinpoint what the is the issue. I am only a player.
"We are given plans which we try to execute as best as we can, so I'm not going to throw anyone under the bus by saying this is a problem or that is a problem.
"All I can say is we are trying to be as positive as possible. We try to turn the corner and is not all doom and gloom for us."
