{
  "id": 13655432,
  "title": "‘We had to be at our best,’ says Johan Ackermann after Bulls thrash Lions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/we-had-to-be-at-our-best-says-johan-ackermann-after-bulls-thrash-lions",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-11T05:42:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/rugby/had-be-best-ackermann-bulls-thrash-lions/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "United Rugby Championship clash between the Bulls and Lions ended in a decisive 57-15 victory for the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. Coach Johan Ackermann commended his team's exceptional performance, noting they had to be at their peak to defeat the in-form Lions, who had recently upset the Bulls at home. The Lions, who had stunned the Bulls last season, were eager to upset the hosts again. However, Ackermann emphasized that the Bulls are still capable of even better results. Bok star Cameron Hanekom, who returned from international duty, delivered a standout performance, earning man-of-the-match honors. Ackermann praised Hanekom's seamless integration into the lineup, highlighting his significant contribution to the team's success.",
  "summary": "The Bulls racked up a half century of points against the Lions for the second straight season, after doing the same at Ellis Park last season.",
  "key_points": [
    "Bulls defeated Lions 57-15 at Loftus Versfeld",
    "Johan Ackermann praised exceptional team performance",
    "Cameron Hanekom earned man-of-the-match honors"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}