Jake White sticking to rotation plan after Bulls win over Lyon

Bulls boss Jake White is sticking to the plan of fielding two competitive teams this season after a largely changed side edged Lyon in a thrilling Champions Cup clash at Loftus Versfeld.

White shocked many when he named his team to face the French outfit with most of his front-line starters missing from the team, including Springboks Ruan Nortje, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Canan Moodie. However, the Bulls charged into a 28-0 lead after 25 minutes and won the enthralling encounter 42-36.

Tries from Sibongile Novuka and Nizaam Carr, either side of a brace from Bernard van der Linde gave the Bulls the upper hand in the opening 25 minutes, but Lyon fought back to set up a nervy finish, with the hosts securing the result in the 85th minute.

White believes that inexperience led to his young side relinquishing control of the match.

"In the beginning, it came off, and we looked like a well-oiled team. In the end, if we have to be really critical, we probably just got too loose. It started to become easy for us to play the ball and run from everywhere," White said.

"It's typical⦠It's just inexperience, and it's about understanding that because you are up 30 points, it doesn't mean you've won the game. And I think they realise that now. When you play against good teams," he added.

The former Springboks head coach said the clash with Lyon was the start of what he describes as â˜two months of hell' for the Bulls.

The Pretoria-based outfit head to England for round two of the Champions Cup, where they will face Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.

They return to South Africa for local derbies against the Stormers (23 December) and Sharks (31 December). They are on the road again in the new year with an away URC match against the Dragons (6 January) and host Exeter Chiefs at Loftus eight days later. Away games against Lyon and Scarlets round out January for the Bulls.

White has played for two months of hell and says he has the buy-in from the players.

"I've worked the plan out, and we are going to stick to it. I think these boys who have just beaten Lyon are obviously chomping at the bit to go on tour and play against Exeter next week," White said.

"The plan is clear, and the boys have bought into it â- I gave them the plan after we came from the holidays, and at this point in time, barring injuries, I will try as much as I can to get two teams that are competitive and can obviously win.

"This is two months of hell for us! We've got seven games, of which two are at home. And we fly via Doha, and not direct to London or Cardiff. The travel and experimenting with different combinations is something coaches have to do."

White was also full of praise for Exeter Chiefs ahead and says they will provide somewhat of a litmus test for his side.

"Exeter are an incredible team and were champions of this tournament two years ago, so it will be an interesting check for us to see whether we are good enough to play away from home against a good side," he said.