Bulls didn't lack focus - Ludeke

BULLS coach Frans Ludeke denied that his team's defensive shortcomings in the closing stages of their Super 15 match against the Brumbies were due to the divided loyalties of defence coach John McFarland, who will soon take up the same position with the Springboks.

The Bulls, who led 33-13 at one stage, held out to win 36-34 against Jake White's rapidly advancing team.

McFarland had to spread himself thin last week, joining the Boks in their three-day planning camp and still performing his duties with the Bulls.

"No, it's not because of a lack of focus. John is very committed," said Ludeke. "John had his usual one-on-one sessions with the players and we can't say it was because of his involvement with the Springboks that we missed tackles in the closing stages."

Bulls captain Pierre Spies said: "After we built up a lead we took our foot off the pedal. That allowed them back in."

While the Bulls, who never looked like losing, performed well in the primary phases, the Brumbies punched holes in their defence in the first quarter, as well as the closing stages. The Brumbies out-scored them by five tries to two.

White was gracious in defeat: "I wouldn't say that this was one that got away. (The Bulls) played well and we were well down at one stage. They made a lot of changes in the closing stages by bringing on substitutes - players who perhaps haven't played a lot this season."

White remarked his team might have had the lead at the break had Christian Lealiifano delivered greater accuracy. The Bulls applied the pressure with a penalty and a drop goal before being gifted a try when CJ Stander rounded off a move in which Morne Steyn had knocked on. It was obvious the Brumbies had stopped playing in expectation of the referee's intervention. It never came and the try took the Bulls out of sight.

White was philosophical about the incident: "Of course it wasn't forward because it will say in the newspapers that CJ Stander scored a try."