Rugby: Chiefs guilty of underestimating Bulls, Colin Cooper says

Brodie Retallick scored two tries in the Chiefs win over the Bulls in Hamilton. Photo / Getty Images.

Chiefs coach Colin Cooper admitted his side were guilty of taking the Bulls lightly in their Super Rugby match in Hamilton on Friday night, and were almost made to pay for it.

The Hamilton-based side found themselves 28-14 down at half time, after the South Africans exploited the Chiefs' blindside defence to run in four tries to two in the opening 40.

While the Chiefs held the visitors scoreless in the second half to run out to a 41-28 win, Cooper said there were some important lessons to take from the match.

"I think we took them too lightly with their skills," Cooper said. "So at half time, again, it was just spread, mark up, scan, have a look rather than just bringing line speed thinking we're going to knock them over.

"We honey-potted and just brought line speed thinking they were going to drop it but they kept catching us out, particularly in that first half.

"Credit to (Bulls coach) John (Mitchell) and his team they played really well and there's some x-factor speed in their backline."

After imploring his squad to play smarter in the build up to the match, Cooper saw some glimpses of that in the second period with the Chiefs controlling the ball much better and committing fewer penalties.

In the first half, the Chiefs had conceded nine penalties to two. At the end of the match, they still had a higher count, but only gave away three in the second period.

"When we put phases together we looked quite good, so there are a lot of positives out there."

With their resources stretched, the Chiefs pack put in a big effort to lead the comeback, with lock Brodie Retallick playing a dominant part in the match, scoring two tries.

"You can see why the Chiefs, All Blacks and New Zealand Rugby work so hard to not just keep him in the country but to manage him, really take no risks with him, because that's the sort of performance you get from him," Cooper said of Retallick's impact on the game.

Tighthead prop Angus Ta'avao also put on a strong showing, playing the full 80, while fellow front-rower prop Jeff Thwaites, who was in line to make his Super Rugby debut off the bench, wasn't called upon.

It was a precautionary measure from the Chiefs ahead of their trip to face the Sunwolves next week with the front row stocks riddled by injury.

"We kept him in cotton wool really."