I had my first outing in the Newlands press box and what an experience it was. I unfortunately ran into communications problems as I am sure you guys know by now. Below is the Bulls press conference with word by word commentary. Nothing left out and nothing added.

I will write a follow up on the WP press conference so look out for it.

Enjoy……………

Frans Ludeke asked whether he was relieved to be in the final.

No for sure, the progress to the final it was a goal at the beginning of the season and the way the guys did it, a lot of character in the last few minutes so we were glad to win the game.

Frans Ludeke on the importance of having a good goal kicker in the side

A goal kicker is always vital in a final or semi final. It is the small margins that makes the difference. Today was exactly that. It was a special kick that gave us the lead. The guys fought till the end. It was great.

Victor Matfield praat oor die hoe dit voel om Morne Steyn as spanmaat te hê

Ja, dit is wonderlik. Ek het nou daar in die kleedkamer vir iemand gesê baie mense vergeet hy het omtrent seker 2 / 3 jaar by die Bulle op die bank was waar hy geduldig was, waar hy altyd positief was en net aanhou werk het en uiteindelik het hy sy die kans gekry en ek dink hy is ‘n voorbeeld vir baie ander spelers wat partykeer ongeduldig raak. ‘n Ongelooflike jaar en die beste ding van hom is hy is ongelooflike nederige ou en hy hou altyd sy voete op die grond, so ons is baie bevoorreg om hom in ons span te hê.

Victor Matfield asked whether he thought they could come back after trailing in the game.

Ja, I always knew that our team could come back. We been down further, I think against the Crusaders in the semi final 15-16 points we were behind and the guys stuck to what we know, so we always knew it would come to that but saying that, we always knew that Province always play awesomely out there and we knew it wasn’t going to be easy and they actually gave us nothing. Luckily a high tackle gave us an opportunity which we took.

Hoe moeilik was dit om die Springbokke terug te integreer in die week voor die semi-finaal? Hierdie vraag is deur my namens Rugby-Talk aan Victor Matfield gevra.

Ja, dit is vir ons altyd ‘n groot voorreg om vir die Bulle te speel. Ja, die eerste paar weke was die ouens dalk ‘n bietjie emosioneel uitgeput. Dis moeilik na veral ‘n Leeus en ‘n Tri Nations waar elke game die druk op was, maar ek dink die ouens eers toe ons hier by die semi finaal kom was die ouens was regtig opgewonde. Van die ouens dink ek was meer senuweeagtig vandag as met enige toets hierdie jaar, want ons het geweet dit gaan baie moeilik wees. Die ouens love dit en die ouens kan nie wag om op Loftus die finaal te speel nie.

Victor Matfield asked to elaborate on why they were nervous coming into the game.

It is just funny, it is just the way it reminds me so much, especially when we heard there is a chance of playing at Loftus and there is so much on the cards and the guys just really felt pressure coming here knowing there are 40,000 Province supporters behind them and we only had Bull supporters and I also think the whole pressure in the week of the favourite tag, everyone said we can’t do it here and we knew this is an awesome team we are playing against, so there was a lot of pressure on us, the players.

Frans Ludeke asked whether he thought it was easier to play the Cheatahs in Pretoria than the Sharks in Durban

No, if you know anything about the game, there is never an easy final. It is about opportunities. So, you saw today the guys was going to guts it out. Small margins makes the difference. So it will definitely, for the moment we will relax, take a break next week in terms of mental pressure and stuff like that and regroup Monday, a week.

Frans Ludeke on the the two halves

I think that in the first half we created a lot of opportunities. We were in the right areas. Maybe missed out on two tries there. Second half it was all about work rate and commitment of the players. I must say Victor kept the guys cool on the field, because of some solid calls and the guys kept on fighting and that’s what gave us the results in the end.

Frans Ludeke on the battle of the front 3

 Ja-nee, ek kan jou verseker, dit was ‘n sleutel battle gewees in die game en die manne het ‘n goeie werk verrig, selfs toe die plaasvervangers opgekom het, het hul baie goed gedoen daar.

Victor Matfield on the WP performance on the day

Ja, it is difficult to take individuals out, in a great team effort like that. I think they grew a lot and the way they played tonight they were very physical, they were very direct. Something in the past they didn’t do, but they just showed they can keep the ball and they can compete completely. That’s why they were in the game for 80 minutes.

Victor Matfield speaking on the quality and the standard of SA Rugby looking at the 2 semi finals.

Ja, it shows there is a lot of depth but again I think the big thing is for the younger players to make the next step to supporting level. I think that is where you will see the players come through. Great for South Africa to have four teams of the same standard. We knew it was going to be tough down here. There is never an easy game an Newlands.

Frans Ludeke on why Bryan Habana was taken off.

You never take Bryan off if he has’nt got an injury. He had a slight niggle and was uncomfortable and had some cramps in his hamstring. It wasn’t due to performance or mistakes. Exactly the player you want in the last few minutes. A few season’s ago we all saw that he could do something special.

Frans Ludeke asked whether Bryan Habana was still comitted to the cause at the Bulls.

Ja, for sure, Bryan is not a quitter, obviously he’s got one game left. Victor took the mickey out of him after the game and it is a big competition for Bryan as well, so I think it was a good team effort today for all 15 players. For all 30 players actually. In fact it was a very good game of rugby today.

Frans Ludeke on what it means to be playing in the final

Like I said, it was the goal at the beginning of the season. Any team would like to play in the final. Province and the Sharks both missed out and that’s why it is a great opportunity for us in two weeks time. That’s all about 80 minutes again. The team that wants it the most.

Victor Matfield gevra of hulle op ‘n spesifieke gedeelte van WP gekonsentreer het in hul voorbereidings.

Nee ek dink taktiese skopwerk op die oomblik is die belangrikste aspek van die game in wêreld rugby. Ons het altyd geweet dis waar ons druk op hul wil sit – op hul 9 en 10. Dis altyd deel van ons game plan, maak nie saak teen wie ons speel nie. Weereens ek dink nie daar is iemand wat swak gespeel het nie. Hul was in die game tot die einde. Great team effort van hulle.

Frans Ludeke on the plans for next week

We haven’t made final decisions, but I think Monday / Tuesday it will be as business at the office as usual. Obviously the guys played a lot of rugby. Two weeks to work towards something I think mentally a break would be nice. We haven’t made final decision. We will regroup on Monday.

Frans Ludeke oor Jaques-Louis Potgieter se goeie form in die eerste semi finaal.

Gelukkig is dit nou twee weke van nou af se probleem. Ek dink Jacques het ‘n baie goeie seisoen gehad. Ek het nie die wedstryd gesien nie, so ek kan nie regtig kommentaar lewer oor die Sharks / Vrystaat game nie. Net gehoor die laaste een was ‘n skepskop. Die hoekom ‘n skopper so vital is in enige span. Jacques-Louis het ‘n goeie seisoen gehad, dis hoekom ons ons oë op hom gehad het en dis great om hom by ons te hê.

Victor Matfield on area’s the Bulls can still improve.

In the first half we had probably two / three great opportunities to score where we turned it over right at the line. We will definitely go and have a look at that. We have to play so much better if we want to beat the Free State. We’ll go back and put in everything for that 80 minutes that is going to be so important.

Frans Ludeke oor of daar enigiemand met niggles in die span is?  ‘n Rugby-Talk vraag.

Nie op hierdie stadium. Eintlik net Bryan. Gelukkig het ons tyd aan ons kant. Maandag sal ons beter weet. Na die game is bietjie vinnig om te sê.

Frans Ludeke lewer kommentaar oor sy rol in die Bulls set-up.

Must say I must be the luckiest or most blessed coach in the world to have players like Victor, Fourie, Morné and Bryan all those guys around you that know how to win games. It’s all about getting the right environment, keeping them hungry and they are motivated, they want to win games. It was easy for me. Looking at it that way it was a huge team effort. It was easy for me to get in there. There wasn’t need for all my plans and all my ideas. It was all in place. Hyneke worked hard, many seasons with all the senior guys and with Victor there to put structures up. I am just in a lot of ways glad that things kept going there and that we could make another final, all due to hard work and commitment, honesty, character and guys that stick together.