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Ackermann demands accountability after Ulster loss
The Star
|October 13, 2025
AFTER a lukewarm display in his United Rugby Championship (URC) debut, Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard will not be available for the Bulls' next game against Connacht this weekend.
Head coach Johan Ackermann confirmed that Pollard is heading back to South Africa to support his wife, who is due to give birth soon. That rules him out of the next Irish clash and the third tour match against former champions Glasgow Warriors.E
Pollard, along with the rest of the Springbok reinforcements, failed to make a significant impact against Ulster, who claimed a convincing 28-7 win over their visitors.
Following the defeat, critics were quick to speak out, but Ackermann insisted the team wouldn't be distracted by outside noise. The focus now shifts to fixing key issues ahead of a tough assignment in Galway. He pointed to missed opportunities and poor ball retention as major reasons for the loss.
This story is from the October 13, 2025 edition of The Star.
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