In a match that left fans on the edge of their seats and hearts in their throats, the Vodacom Bulls bowed out of the quarter-finals with a narrow loss to Edinburgh. Emotions ran high in the post-match press conference, where Bulls head coach Jake White faced tough questions — none more direct than that posed by former player and founder of Octafield Renaldo Bothma.
Renaldo, echoing the sentiments of many Bulls supporters, questioned whether there was enough “willingness to win” from the squad in the first half, especially when compared to the energy shown by the second-half replacements. It was a bold question — one that hinted at something deeper than just tactics.
Jake White, ever the seasoned campaigner, took a moment before responding.
I don’t know if I agree that there was a lack of willingness in the beginning,” White said. “If you’ve played rugby, you’ll understand — we played 14 minutes with 14 men from the very beginning. We gave them a 14-point start, and we didn’t touch the ball.”
Jake White
It was a telling reminder that rugby is as much a game of moments as it is of momentum. The Bulls, reduced early and defending fiercely, found themselves under immediate pressure.
White highlighted how Edinburgh capitalised on that pressure, pinning the Bulls deep and denying them crucial possession.
Every time we basically defended… they didn’t allow us to get our hands on the ball,” he explained. “And when we did, we got charged down. We got into the 22 and were held up, turned over… it just didn’t stick.”
Still, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. White was quick to defend his players’ intent and effort, reinforcing that the first and second-half squads shared the same hunger. What differed was the tempo — and the opportunity to build phases.
I don’t think it was anything to do with lack of desire. It was how they played. We probably didn’t adapt as quickly as we could. It took us 50 minutes to find a way to put them under pressure. But we just ran out of time.”
It’s a sentiment that many Bulls fans might agree with. Despite the slow start, the team surged in the second half, showcasing glimpses of brilliance and fight. As White noted, with another five minutes on the clock, the result could’ve looked very different.
This loss will sting — not just because it ends the Bulls’ playoff hopes, but because of how close they came to pulling off a comeback. Still, White’s words reflected a coach who knows that growth often comes from these moments.
Sometimes it happens in rugby,” he said with a wry smile. “That game got another five minutes… I’ve got no doubt we had them with their backs against the wall.”
For fans, it’s a bittersweet pill to swallow. The Bulls didn’t go down without a fight, and while the journey ends here, the hunger and fire are far from extinguished.
One thing’s for sure — this Bulls side, and their coach, will be back. Facing Munster next, they’ll be ready from the first whistle.
