Bulls Coach Johan Ackermann Urges Calm Amid Criticism
Bulls coach Johan Ackermann calls for unity and accountability after the team's loss to Ulster, amid criticism from president Willem Strauss.
“Obviously there are going to be a lot of people with comments, and that’s fine...”
Bulls coach Johan Ackermann is urging his team to remain calm and focused despite scathing criticism from Bulls president Willem Strauss. Strauss described the team's 28-7 loss to Ulster as “arguably our worst performance since joining the URC” and expressed disappointment with the team's lack of effort.
Ackermann emphasized the importance of unity and accountability within the team. He likened the team's dynamics to a family, saying, “Families go through tough times. Show me one family that's perfect, that doesn't fight or go through difficult moments.” He encouraged the team to take responsibility for their mistakes and work together to improve.
The Bulls' defense has been a major concern, with the team conceding 14 tries in just three games. Ackermann acknowledged that the team needs to work on their tackle dominance and defense to prevent opponents from scoring easily. The Bulls face Connacht in Galway this weekend, looking to bounce back from their loss to Ulster.
Bulls rugby union president Willem Strauss slammed the team's performance after their 28-7 defeat to Ulster, describing it as “arguably our worst performance since joining the URC. Terrible effort. Not interested and disconnected. We’ve now conceded 14 tries in just three games. We need urgency and intensity asap.”
#LunoMatchMoment of the week 😍 @Vodacom #URC | @URCOfficial_RSA pic.twitter.com/rxgSfQCmTC
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) October 13, 2025
Coach Johan Ackermann wouldn't comment directly on Strauss's criticism but emphasized the need for accountability. “Obviously there are going to be a lot of people with comments, and that’s fine,” he said. “But for us, the reality is that families go through tough times. Show me one family that’s perfect, that doesn’t fight or go through difficult moments. It’s the same with a team.” Ackermann added, “We’re in a relationship – players, staff, everyone – and we’re in this together. There’s no hiding and no easy way out. All we can do is look at ourselves, fix what needs to be fixed, and take accountability.”
“We can either sit and sulk or we can stand up. As South Africans, we’ve shown many times that we can stand up when it matters.”
The Bulls started the season on a high note, defeating the Ospreys 53-40 and Leinster 39-31 in their first two matches, both played at home. However, despite these wins, the team showed defensive vulnerabilities, appearing shaky against their opponents' attacks.
“Ultimately, it’s tackle dominance. There are too many times where someone has to cover for someone else, then it’s a ripple effect,” Ackermann said.
“There are a lot of factors I can hide behind because our preparation wasn’t great. We didn’t have numbers, injuries etc. Maybe we were undercooked from a contact point of view and now you try to play catch-up during the season.
“We need to fix it and we have to fix it quickly if we want to concede fewer points. Defence does win you games. We are going to constantly work on that and make sure that from us as coaches to players, we take responsibility to improve that area.”
Tough start, we go again next week 💙🐂@Vodacom #URC | @URCOfficial_RSA #TheUnbreakableLine pic.twitter.com/CjGTsGd3t7
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) October 11, 2025
The Bulls' next match is against Connacht Rugby in the United Rugby Championship on October 17, 2025, at 6:45 PM UTC (7:45 PM WAT) at the Galway Sportsgrounds.
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