Bulls, White take lessons in art of refereeing communication after Sharks drubbing

A grizzled skipper truly does make a difference.

That's the harsh, frustrating lesson that the Bulls were reminded of following a humbling 47-20 loss to a canny Sharks outfit in Saturday's New Year's URC derby at Kings Park.

On an evening where referee Marius van der Westhuizen again raised eyebrows with his officiating, it was noticeable how the Sharks' leadership corps - led by Siya Kolisi - turned the tide from an iffy start by not only rolling up their socks, but also becoming distinctly vocal in their communication with him.

By contrast, the Bulls' rookie skipper Ruan Nortje and his young lieutenants still have to find their proverbial voice in this regard.

Whether Kolisi and co's "chats" go against the ethos of what refereeing really should be about is irrelevant - it's a reality. 

READ | Grizzled Sharks combine skill with ref street-smarts to thrash listless Bulls

"You saw it. I didn't say it. But that's how it works," said Jake White, the Bulls' director of rugby.

"We probably had the rub of the green when we had Duane Vermeulen captaining our team when we won two titles a few years ago. That's what happens. You have an older, wiser and perhaps even more respected captain within your ranks and then you start getting one or two calls that would go against you going for you suddenly."

With Marcell Coetzee currently on a sabbatical in Japan, White has decided to use his temporary absence as an opportunity to cultivate a leadership group that could in a few years time possess the same street-smarts as a Kolisi and Vermeulen.

But there will be "painful" experiences along the way

"It's part of the learning process. You can't fast forward is, it's not like my players are going to wake up tomorrow morning and be way older. There