Keagan Johannes Keagan Johannes says the Bulls have learnt valuable lessons from the Challenge Cup defeat to Edinburgh. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
The Bulls may be out of the Challenge Cup, but they are keen to make up for it in the United Rugby Championship after “coming up short” over the last few years.
That’s the word from flyhalf Keagan Johannes, who believes the Pretoria side are well prepared for the “business end” of the season.
The Bulls will hope to bounce back from the 34-28 Challenge Cup quarter-final loss to Edinburgh in Scotland last weekend in Saturday’s URC showdown with Munster in Limerick (6.15pm kick-off).
Jake White’s team will run out at Thomond Park keen to push for a top-two spot on the log, as they are currently third on 50 points – four behind Glasgow, whom they face next weekend in Scotland.
A poor first-half display saw the Bulls go 24-7 behind at halftime against Edinburgh, but they will take inspiration from the second-half display that nearly resulted in an unlikely victory.
“A very difficult first half. I think we didn’t execute our plan as well as we wanted to that in first half,” Johannes said on Tuesday.
“Obviously playing that first half without the ball was quite frustrating.
“At times when we needed to kick, we felt like we had to run because we didn’t have any ball. What we probably learned from that is to stay composed.
“Just do what you have to and what you’ve been training through the week.”
The third week of a four-week tour was usually make-or-break for SA sides in Super Rugby, but the fact that the Bulls have based themselves in Biarritz in south-west France has helped the team settle down in Europe.
White said that they would return to Biarritz to prepare for the Munster encounter, and now it’s all about winning that elusive URC title after losing in the 2022 and 2024 finals.
“I wouldn’t say so (that the third week on tour is the toughest). I think the management has been managing us well,” Johannes said.
“Also, keeping the team’s morale up after the result this past weekend... Everyone is still quite fresh. Like I said earlier, everyone knows what’s needed to do.
“We knew it was going to be a lengthy tour for us. We’ve prepared for it, and it’s going well so far.
“Obviously, we’d love to have won that game (against Edinburgh). As Coach Jake always says, you’re in the competition to win it.
“Our focus is completely from the Challenge Cup now. Basically, everything is towards the URC. We’ve come up short now over the past few years.
“It’s a tournament that we feel like we really need to win. It’s the business end of the tournament: everything has to be clinical, detailed...
“Everyone needs to be on the same page in terms of what we need to achieve and our goals.
“It’s just when it comes to the business end, everybody needs to be focused mentally.
“And we have to know the job that’s at stake over the weekend.
“So, if everyone is ready for that, and concentrates and knows what’s needed, we’ll be fine.
“I think we are one of the best teams when it comes to the business end. Any team wants to be playing their best rugby now.
“And these two games coming up is probably a big test for us for what is coming in the playoffs.”