GAME DAY I Johan Ackermann admits fast-tracked pre-season leaves Bulls under pressure against All Blacks

Bulls coach Johan Ackermann anticipates the All Blacks to improve substantially when they face his team at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, with a week remaining until the first Test against the Springboks. Ackermann stated that the All Blacks will likely come with a Test match mentality due to the proximity of the first Test. The Bulls, however, are under pressure as they are still in the midst of their pre-season preparations, having not played a match since June.

This has left them with less time to prepare compared to other South African franchises, as they reached the URC final and had to fast-track their conditioning. Ackermann noted that after three or four weeks, the body loses its contact ability, requiring the team to fast-track their preparations. He acknowledged that this situation has added pressure to the Bulls' game.

In contrast, the All Blacks have used their first three matches in South Africa to provide game time for various players, allowing coach Dave Rennie to assess their performance and identify players who can push for jersey spots. The Bulls coach also expects the All Blacks to continue improving as they acclimate to the South African conditions, which they arrived in late July.