VIDEO: White admits to Champions Cup frustration
Today at 03:00 AM
VIDEO: Following his side's seven-try whipping of Stade Francais at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, the Bulls' Director of Rugby admitted the frustrations he felt in this year's Champions Cup.
Going into their final pool game, the Bulls were already out of Champions Cup playoff contention.
They produced a strong performance to crush the French 48-7 and outscored their hapless opponents by seven tries to one, thus earning them a spot in the last 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup.
Now they head into the United Rugby Championship where they sit fourth in the standings with a tough derby season ahead as they face the Lions, Stormers, Sharks, and Stormers again in the next few weeks.
As White reflected on his side's underwhelming Champions Cup campaign, he admitted the frustration of not cracking the tournament's code but insisted it is not all doom and gloom.
"You [also] don't want to stand on the cliff and shout into the wilderness where no one is listening. There is frustration because we want to win and I know everyone wants to win," White commented after the game.
He admitted the Bulls are not progressing at the pace they had anticipated for themselves in the tournament.
"We are obviously happy we are alive in that competition [Challenge Cup]. We want to play in the Champions Cup.
"If you drop down from Champions to Challenge you still get a chance to win another trophy and we have to prepare as well as we can and give ourselves a chance.
"Now there are 16 teams left, so anything is possible. It's four games and you win the tournament."
*Article continues below...
Since their introduction to the Champions Cup, the three South African sides competing in it - the Bulls, Sharks, and Stormers - have collectively played 17 away matches. They have won just four.
"I want to see any coach who will sit here and say, 'I don't want to win.' Every coach wants to win and that's why you are in this game. It is a bit like last year and I feel like sometimes we go one step forward and four back."
"The Sharks and the Stormers want to win and every coach who is in this job wants to win, so there is frustration. I want to see whether we are ever going to get to that point and if not, then I'll have to accept the lay of the land is different.
"You then have to re-evaluate what your role is. If that role is to bring players through and give them game time while the overseas players are playing and creating depth for rotation for the national team, then we will have to accept that."
[rp-mc-game id="204|942300|2025"][/rp-mc-game]
White remains a student of the game even with his years of experience and success. He is currently reading Jonny Sexton's book and he shared with the media that he always listening to other coaches to see how they navigate the unpredictable landscape.
"Sometimes it is of our own doing but that's why it is called coaching. The art of coaching is also important and it is not always the science of coaching. That's why I listen to guys like Pep Guardiola and Warren Gatland because everyone has their own uncontrollables they need to sort out and you learn from those coaches.
"I just hope by this time next year, our squad will be stronger. The nice thing is we will be stronger because a guy like Reinhardt Ludwig, who came on after a seven to nine-week injury, will be better next week. Next year he will be a year older and he will be sharper and a more mature player.
"So we are going to get there. It is not all doom and gloom."
