9 Mar 2014

Blues too slow to get going for Sir JK

6:09 pm on 9 March 2014

The Blues coach Sir John Kirwan is quickly getting frustrated at his side's inability to start well, following their 38-22 loss to the Bulls in their Super Rugby match in Pretoria on Sunday morning.

The Bulls led 25-12 at half-time.

Kirwan says it was a mistake-riddled effort which handed the Bulls points through errors, and it's something they simply can't afford to continue doing.

While the coach was more than happy with his 20-year-old first five eighths Simon Hickey, who nailed all six kicks - a conversion and five penalties - Sir John's rueing the slow start. He says they came screaming back into the game and need to sharpen up from the start.

The veteran All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu sat out the game with another calf strain - but Sir John says that was just precautionary, given Mealamu's history of calf trouble.

In the morning's other game, a South African derby, the Sharks beat the Lions 37-23.