Ackers hails Bulls’ character after gritty Pau win

Johan Ackermann praised the Vodacom Bulls’ resilience and fight after Friday night’s Investec Champions Cup victory over Pau.

While the victory keeps their last 16 hopes alive, he has stressed that the job is far from done.

The win means the Bulls remain in the hunt for a place in the knockout rounds, with their fate now hinging on Sunday’s clash between the Northampton Saints and Scarlets.

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Ackermann said the foundation for the result was laid in the opening exchanges, with his players fully committed despite an error-strewn performance at times.

“From the first minute, the players really put their bodies on the line and stayed at it,” Ackermann said.

“It wasn’t perfect but I’m just grateful for the victory. We keep working on the same things week after week, and hopefully we can just keep transferring it back on the field.”

The Bulls were forced to dig deep during the contest, but Ackermann said their ability to stay in the fight under pressure was the most pleasing aspect of the performance.

“There’s a lot of character in the team and I’ve never doubted that,” he said. “We sometimes put ourselves under pressure through errors or our discipline. But without the character, we wouldn’t have been able to hang in there and give ourselves a chance at the end. That’s the part I’ve been most proud of.”

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Despite the significance of the result, Ackermann was quick to play down any talk of a turning point, insisting consistency remains the real test.

“The reality is it’s only one win,” he said. “We next face a tough Edinburgh [away in the URC] which is one of the best teams and a team full of internationals. We will enjoy the win as a group and then reset tomorrow and start focusing on Edinburgh. It’s a step in the right direction, but it’s only one win. Nothing to get overly excited about.”

Photo: Ryan Byrne/INPHO