Bulls coach Jake White laments 'inexperience' against Stormers

Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White blamed inexperience for his side's failure to beat the Stormers in Friday's URC clash in Cape Town.

While the men from Pretoria were very much still in the match at half-time with the score locked at 13-all, the Stormers pulled away after the break with three scintillating tries to take control of the contest, which ultimately went their way 37-27.

Even as White grumbled about a few high tackles on star winger Kurt-Lee Arendse going unnoticed, he admitted his side only had themselves to blame for the defeat, with their discipline also letting them down at crucial moments.

"(Disappointing to lose by 10 points after 13-13 halftime score), especially as we played 20 minutes with 14 guys. I think we just showed moments of inexperience. I suppose that's the only disappointing thing I can think about... Even that tap penalty on the tryline (by scrumhalf Zak Burger, whose loopy pass was knocked-on by Nizaam Carr) â- we've got probably five or six plays that we run, that we plan and practice," White said.

"But we just tap and run the ball and knock it on. So, that area of our game⦠And also, I was making a substitution there and we got the timings wrong â- that's why there was one less defender on the far side, when they ran the ball out of their (22) from the kickoff.

"So, again, inexperience from the point of view that the guy who was supposed to stand there was on his way off â- to swap with Nizaam â- and there was miscommunication about someone's got to be on the other side there.

"So, it was one of those games that maybe four minutes (in which it was decided). It's quite interesting that we scored three tries to four, got three scrum penalties, which is a massive step from where we were two years ago.

"But we looked a little bit inexperienced with just some of the⦠I don't want to say decisions, but some of the actions that we had. If you look at the pack of forwards â- even though they had some guys out â- every player in the Stormers pack was older than the Bulls. Kitsie is older, Dweba is older, Malherbe, both locks, Deon's older than Marco, Elrigh is younger than Hacjivah⦠And Cyle is (younger than Willie Engelbrecht).

"We still need to build a team to get to where we want to. That's why we are signing long-term deals with Ruan Nortje and Elrigh â- there's a plan for this group of players to grow together."

White suggested the Stormers were fortunate not to receive yellow cards from referee AJ Jacobs for high tackles on Arendse.

"Kurt-Lee was three, four, five times through the holes, 12 (Harold Vorster) was through the gaps... We had lots of chances, and I think Kurt-Lee was tackled around the neck three times, which is actually interesting.

"If you look at all the matches, we are number one in terms of scoring tries from turnovers in the competition. It is a media perception that you are giving⦠We were apparently the weakest scrum, but tonight, we got three penalties against one of the best front rows in the world.

"I am not happy with the result, but to get three penalties in the scrums, from where we were two or three years ago, is unbelievable for me. And the fact that we give the ball to guys like Canan and Kurt-Lee is why we played like we did tonight. They will get better â- they are still young... Canan is 20 years old.

"No, I should be all right (as there were no major Bulls injuries). Just check on Kurt-Lee⦠He got tackled around the neck three times, so I am going to check if he's okay."