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Ackermann rues fine margins after Bulls fall short
The Mercury
|January 05, 2026
BULLS coach Johan Ackermann admitted the pain was still raw after his side's narrow 13-8 loss to the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday, a match that once again slipped away despite a brave effort.
The Pretoria side, currently on a six-game losing streak, was right in the contest until the end, but a combination of individual errors, missed chances, and a powerful Stormers maul proved decisive in the United Rugby Championship (URC) north-south derby at the DHL Stadium.
"It's obviously disappointing at the moment. We're all emotional, and it hurts to lose like this," Ackermann said after the match.
The coach felt that small moments and fine margins went against his team, adding to the frustration of coming so close without reward.
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