Bulls flyer Stedman Gans says his team will only snap a five-game losing streak if the players keep faith in each other and the same processes that served them so well earlier in the season.
The Bulls host Stade Francais on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld in a Champions Cup match (3pm kick-off), and while the competition is now meaningless to them, the match is of utmost importance.
Rugby followers around the globe are nonplussed that a team that are in fourth place on the United Rugby Championship points table are currently winless across all competitions since beating Benetton in a URC game on October 25 last year.
Jake White and his assistants have had their say, and Gans has spoken about the Bulls’ predicament from the players’ point of view following last weekend’s 49-10 Champions Cup defeat to Castres in France.
“The message coming from us, the players, is how to become part of the solution. We have had these losses, and it is very easy to become negative as a player group,” the former Blitzboks star said.
“The leadership group and the players are having conversations about what we need to do on the field and also off the field to stay positive, and find solutions to getting back to winning ways.”
There is possible salvation for the Bulls in that they can qualify for the Challenge Cup if they start winning, but Gans said this is not front of mind.
“We have not spoken permutations to make another competition,” he said.
“The conversation is exactly the same as it has always been. We wear the jersey with pride, play hard and to win.
“We cannot go onto the field wanting to put up a specific score. We have to focus on getting the job done first. That is our sole preparation.”
Gans said adversity had taught the players some lessons.
“From a player perspective, the most important lesson we have learned is that we have to stick together,” the 27-year-old said.
“It is very easy for heads to drop. We are not doing that. We are fighting to get better every day, and each individual is trying to figure out how he can make a difference.
“It is easy to start pointing fingers, and we don’t want that to happen.”
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Gans added that players understand that they have to stick to the programme and not do anything reckless.
“The important thing about team sport is that you have processes that you follow on the field, and each player contributes. It is important to stick to the processes, whether it is going well or badly,” he said.
“We are in a place where there is outside pressure on us, and the challenge is to ensure we keep calm and stick to the processes.”
Gans admitted that the Bulls have been their own worst enemies, and several of their losses were gifted to the opposition.
“We have been making unforced errors that kept teams in the game and some cases gave them the win,” he said.
“A big focus point this weekend is maintaining concentration for the entire match.
“It is very important to win to get our confidence back by beating Stade Francais.
“We are right there at the end of games and in a position to win.
“In previous years, we pulled those games through. It is small stuff, and this squad is more than capable of correcting those things.
“We need to focus, and stay positive, and I am sure we will turn it around.
We don’t want to go into a downward spiral where we start to compound the negatives on and off the field.” | Independent Media Sport