Strauss demands improvement from Bulls

Editor

Bulls captain Adriaan Strauss has urged his side to deliver an improved display when they face the Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

After suffering a heavy defeat against the Stormers in their opener, the three-time champions are unbeaten in their last four matches but they are yet to deliver a dominant 80-minute effort.

And Strauss admitted the side owe it to themselves and their coach Nollis Marais to be at their best against the rejuvenated Kings, who are on a high after beating the Sunwolves last weekend.

The Bulls, by contrast, had to work hard before securing a narrow 23-18 triumph over the Cheetahs in Pretoria.

"We certainly do owe ourselves an 80 minute performance," Strauss told IOL.

"It is not just a mindset or an attitude thing necessarily. It is a combination of a lot of things but I think technically we have let ourselves down especially with penalties and that is where the momentum shifts.

“This past weekend we conceded in the scrums and other weekends we do it at the breakdown or other aspects of the game. We owe ourselves and the coach an 80 minute performance and hopefully we can do it this weekend. 

"At the end of the day I would still take an ugly win rather than a beautiful loss."