Bulls stats tell a sorry tale in Champions' Cup

If ever there was a stat that showed just where the problems for the Vodacom Bulls in Europe lie, it is glaringly obvious by opening the Investec Champions’ Cup stats page on their website.

Because if you turn to the stats page, you will find that despite their exit from the Champions Cup before the playoffs have been settled, the Vodacom Bulls sit atop a very interesting stat - that of defenders beaten.

According to the competition’s official statistics, the Bulls have beaten a massive 94 defenders in their three games, but yet have not registered a single point in the competition thus far. 

In a competition that includes the likes of Bordeaux-Begles, who scored a 69-17 win over Exeter away from home last weekend and who have scored a massive 23 tries in three games thus far, as well as giants Toulouse, Leinster and La Rochelle, the fact that the Bulls attack has had such success in defeat is gobsmacking at the least.

Coach Jake White was naturally flabbergasted after the loss to Northampton at Loftus where the Bulls dominated every phase of the game but conspired to have three tries disallowed and lose by more than seven points at home. 

It was supposed to be the Bulls’ fortress, while their away games against Saracens and Castres saw them remain competitive until after halftime, where they faded, and the opposition ran in big scores.

PROBLEMS WITH BULLS ATTACK

So many questions can be asked about the Bulls attack at the moment, in contrast to other parts of their game. Their lineout has been fairly wonky of late, but their scrums have dominated and have set the tone for their European campaign.

But few sides would want to top a stat of defenders beaten and not come up with a victory. What makes this finishing even more scandalous is the fact the Bulls have scored just five tries in these three games - despite beating 94 defenders in three games? 

In the game against Saracens, the weather conditions made it difficult for both sides, but the way the Bulls handled the blustery winds of Tropical Storm Darragh contributed to their downfall.  

On a night where a flyhalf could have pinned the opposition back, the Bulls had just 13 kicks to Saracens 22. Instead they tried to run, making a massive 133 carries in that game for a whopping 337 post contact metres. Those figures normally would produce points, but instead the Bulls had just one try in the entire game.

Against Northampton at home they were dominant, having almost 70 percent possession and territory, and again kicked less than their opposition (10-19). This time 131 carries produced another big figure of 307 post contact metres. But apart from Cameron Hanekom’s individual brilliance, the Bulls were far off the mark when it came to accuracy.

The Castres result was probably pre-determined when the Bulls sent a team of fringe players to play in one of the toughest backyards in the French Top 14. This time 102 ball carries produced 213 post contact metres - with 20 carries from captain Nizaam Carr.  

But when it came to linebreaks it was Castres 11, Bulls 2. After being just six points behind on the hour mark, the Bulls let in 33 points in the final quarter, for a massive loss.

That loss ended their Champions’ Cup campaign in earnest. And it compounded their woes in a season where they are now on four straight losses.

In the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, despite sitting fourth, the Bulls attack ranks 15th out of 16 teams, with only the last placed Dragons behind them.

Clearly there is work to be done at Loftus. And figuring out what will get the team over the line, when they create so many chances, is a major part of that.

The Champions’ Cup may be over, but their season reboots in earnest on Saturday against Stade Francais, and unless there is a better conversion rate, it may be a long second half of the year after all.