Ackermann lauds Bulls' character after dramatic win

BULLS head coach Johan Ackermann was full of praise for his side’s fighting spirit after they edged Connacht 27-26 in a pulsating United Rugby Championship encounter in Galway, Ireland, on Friday night.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

The visitors looked to be in control for much of the match but were forced to survive a late scare when Connacht scored in the closing stages after pouncing on a wicked bounce from a kick chase. The hosts then had a chance to snatch victory with a last-minute conversion attempt that drifted wide.

There was further drama when the referee ordered a retake after an early charge from the Bulls, but that attempt also sailed wide — much to Ackermann’s relief.

“Obviously you couldn’t get it closer,” Ackermann said afterwards. “Tonight we could have lost it - they had the kick to win it — so we're grateful for the victory, but I felt we did a lot of good things.

“We probably don’t feel too guilty about the win because we really were in control of the game until that last moment when they scored a good try. So we'll take the win.”