URC: Lions coach Ivan van Rooyan disappointed after Bulls loss

The visiting Bulls ran in a hat-trick of unanswered in quick time at Loftus Versveld, though the Lions rallied to reduce the deficit to just three points at the break. But the forward dominance took its toll in the second stanza, leading to two converted tries that was enough for the Bulls to earn a bonus point win.

"Hugely disappointed," said van Rooyen after the match.

"To start the way we did and then come back halftime to allow yourself to get a result and put in all the hard work and not get it - it's frustrating.

"Their scrum has had dominance the last month. We know they've got a good maul so if we could neutralise that with some fresh bodies, we feel we had the opportunity to expose one or two other things.

"We felt we played to their strengths. Their wingers and back three defend in a certain way so if you get momentum, we felt we can expose that and we showed that a couple of times.

"Maybe [we were] unlucky with one or two final passes or one or two breakdown decisions."

The local derbies continue for the Lions, who now face the tough prospect of back-to-back matches against a resurgent Sharks outfit coming fresh off a bye.

"We wanted to keep the momentum from last weekend, it's logical," continued van Rooyen.

"Beating the Stormers last weekend, come to Loftus, two games in a row against the Sharks. It's also four derbies [for the Bulls and us]. We know it's a tough month.

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