The Sharks will need to bounce back quickly as the Currie Cup semi-finals await this weekend.
They host the Pumas in the second game of the afternoon.
The Durban side were walloped 44-5 by Western Province. And now they are desperate to get the win and move into the final.
Cell C Sharks captain Reniel Hugo has heaped praise on coach Joey Mongalo for his efforts this term.
“He said at the start that he wanted us to play the season, every single game, as desperate men. He likened our season to a 16 round boxing fight. He said you had to do well through to round 14 in order to still be in the fight in round 15. Every game was about getting ourselves a chance to fight in round 15 and 16, and we have achieved that.
“We’ve been living the desperate men culture. We have been good to each other, obedient in terms of following the plan and the goals that have been set and we have served each other. We care for each other and want the best for each other.”
The Bulls lost to the Cheetahs in an exciting last-round match on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld, but they still managed to secure the final position in this season’s Currie Cup semi-finals.
Jake White’s team, who were bidding farewell to Morne Steyn and Bismarck du Plessis, needed just two points to qualify for the play-offs going into the game, and they did it by scoring four tries and losing by less than seven.
“It was bad to lose, especially when we were playing for Morne and Bismarck. We fought to try and win. The game changed when Elrigh got the red, we tried to stay in the game and a lot of teams would have simply given up,” said Johan Goosen to SuperSport.
“We can take confidence out of that. At the end if we scored we would have won. The other way to look at it is that we have played them now, we know what they want to do and what their strengths are. It is bad to lose, but I’d rather lose that game than the one this weekend that is ahead of us. “
They will now travel to face the Cheetahs on home soil.
The home team are intent on keeping the Bulls at bay.
“We can’t afford to concede those soft penalties,” Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie said.
“There will be penalties and mistakes, but it depends on how we react to those that will determine the outcome of the game. Last week, when we conceded penalties, we had to defend our tryline with our lives and we succeeded.
“But this is a new game and we start from scratch. We have to be a lot better.”
Western Province finished fifth despite the 44-5 win over the Sharks on Saturday at DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
Currie Cup semi-final: Toyota Cheetahs v Vodacom Bulls
Venue: Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Date: Saturday, 17 June
Time: 15h00
Currie Cup semi-final: Cell C Sharks v Airlink Pumas
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Date: Saturday, 17 June
Time: 17h30