The Bulls' season is in freefall and this latest defeat only highlighted what ails the team – a porous defence that Ackermann simply cannot plug.
The coach said he expects better from the experienced players in his team, but also suggests that with results as they are, perhaps there is an element of trying too many things and not sticking to the basics.
“No player goes out to make a mistake and obviously there is a bit more expectation on your senior players,” Ackermann said after the loss.
“But is it because they are playing harder and almost want to do stuff by themselves? I’m not sure but the reality is we are playing a lot of rugby against ourselves by the kind of mistakes we make.”
The Bears scored three tries in the first nine minutes of the game through Bulls mistakes, putting the hosts on the back foot immediately.
“Then you play a bit out of character because you start forcing offloads and things. At one stage, we got it right and then we gave away an intercept try because we forced things,” Ackermann said.
But he also accepts that as coach of the side, he must take responsibility and lift the team.
“The reality is it starts with me. I must believe, and I believe,” he said. “I could write a book about adversity, about so many things that I had to overcome.
“I’ve been in teams that had to overcome. I’ve lost 64-0 against the Brumbies (with the Cats in 2000), and we went and played in the semi-finals.
The Bulls are next in action away at French side Pau on Friday.