The Bulls are to host the bottom of the log Lions this coming saturday. With one glance at the log standings one can be forgiven for thinking this will be a walk in the park. Many South African rugby fans will know that this is never the case in a local derby, just ask the Sharks after last weeks encounter.
This is what Bulls coach Frans Ludeke had to say in a interview…
Brenden Nel
Pretoria – It may be met with cries of disbelief, but the Bulls do believe they are in a “desperate” position at the moment.
For a team that is joint top of the log, second only on points difference and tasked with facing a team that hasn’t won a game this weekend, it all bordered on the dramatic as coach Frans Ludeke tried to talk up the importance of the fixture.
But in a way he is right, and the Bulls do need the five points from their home game as the Super 14 gets interesting to ensure they can secure that all-important home semi-final spot.
After that comes matches against the Sharks, Crusaders and Stormers and without any disrespect to the Lions, but the season has proved they are not in the same league as these other three sides.
Still, Ludeke maintains the neighbourly derby is a “massive game” for the Bulls, who will switch over to their traditional finals mode this week as they plan their defense of their title in earnest.
When it was put to him that the Lions are a team that will arrive at Loftus “desperate”, Ludeke joined the club in claiming his side were the same.
“We are also in a desperate situation, its close and nobody is safely in a semifinal spot just yet. We still need to make the cut. That is why this game is still massive for us. It’s going to be a big one,” Ludeke said.
In order to counter the effects of jetlag the Bulls have given the team today and Thursday off, with just the Wednesday session to perfect their game plan against the Lion.
Ludeke explained it was necessary to ensure the team remained fresh and mentally ready for the Lions challenge.
“We need to make sure we are at our best every weekend. That means we need to manage our recovery better, put the game plan on the table and execute it on the weekend,” Ludeke added.
“The Lions game is massive for us, which is why we need a full tank.”
The Bulls were in good spirits in their Monday training session, buoyed by the homecoming and time with their families.
“A day at home feels like a 1 000 days on tour, “ Ludeke joked, “You can see it in the way the players are as well. Their spirits are up and they have enjoyed seeing their families. We had a good four weeks but it’s nice to be home.”
“We had a good session yesterday, just to get the guys right and to shock their bodies a bit after the jetlag. We gave them off today to give them some space and to allow them to recover a bit more.
“You can’t gain anything now – at the moment all you can manage is the mental state of the players.”.
The fact remains that some of the Bulls players have not yet had any real rest in the competition so far. It will have to happen at some stage and we all know the games are not getting any easier towards the end.
So the question remains…when will some key players get a rest ?
Ek se steeds die game om die manne te rus is die game teen die Leeus !!!
Watter ander game sal ons kanse beter wees ?
Victor kan dalk teen die Sharks gerus word as Bakkies terug is…
Talk up the Lions, Fransie, talk them up.
If the Bull;s don’t give the Lions a snot klap of note I’ll be most surprised.
In the aftermatch interview on saturday I though “Baywatch” was going to burst into tears.
He looked like the 6 year old kid on the beach telling Michael Hasselhof that the local bully had stolen his ice cream!
FFS when are the Lions going to grow some B@LLS?
If the Sharks hadn’t butchered a few opportunities they would have won by 20.
‘n Ander ding as mens die Bulle gevolg het die laaste paar weke het hulle elke week omtrent net 2 goeie oefen dae ingesit. Lyk nie of dit vir hulle gewerk het nie 🙁
Miskien is die manne meer uitgerus as wat ons dink en hule moet net vir ‘n slag weer begin oefen.
Hulle almal se golf handicap moes oor die laaste 3 weke met ten minste 2 houe afgekom het… 😆
2 – Hello Scrumdown, Yip feel for the Lions supporters really. You right Stefan and JPP messed up a few where we could probably had another 2 tries. Just pleased my team won. Was far to close for comfort. Sorry about your team though.
Think Spencer at FB was far better too. Don’t think Bulls will mess up like the Sharks. Bulls should win with the bonus.
Stay focussed Bulls…. and plan well for this game!!
@ 5 gbs – Wat is jou gevoel oor wanneer spelers gerus moet word by die Bulls.
M.a.w. in watter games ?
Op ‘n ander punt die Cheetahs het weer ‘n goeie span die naweek teen die Chiefs…
Juan is terug en kan dalk net bietjie vuur inblaas…
7 – Blouste who is in from last week for the Cheethas? Thought it was only Juan.
2
Scrumsaam, jis ou ek se jou daai ou kan n goeie speler wees maar te softie as kaptein. Ek het vroeer gese hy moet die voortou neem en bedank as kaptein en Wikus die job laat doen.
@ 8 Puma
I believe the biggest problem the Cheetahs have (biggest not only) is a mentalty or self-believe issue. Juan might bring that back, hence my comment.
6@ Blouste – Bulls sal hierdie week 2 of 3 moet rus… maar die bench sal moet sterk wees om dalk te red as iets sou verkeerd loop…. ONS MOET WEN !
Sou ons mooi wen, dan moet ons teen die Sharks ook 1 of 2 ouens rus, met ‘n sterk bench…. weer sal wen ONONDERHANDELBAAR MOET WEES!
Daarna weer dieelfde, sou ons ook teen die Sharks wen….
Maar 1ste prioriteit is nou om ‘n gunstige semi-spot te behaal.
Help nie as mens ‘n 3de of 4de plek kry nie, mens kort Nr 1 of Nr 2 spot…..
MARRAG bliksems!!
12 @ Asblikkie – Mirrag Gehasie…. vanwaar Gehasie?
gbs @ 13
busy as a bee
busy
busy
busy
14@ Asbak – So jy het weer hommelbysindroom!
Hallo Ashley
Hoe gaan dit daar in die Kaap ?
Shame Ash, ‘n mannetjies by kan mossie steek nie… 😆
gbs @ 15
ja bru, seker so
blouste bliksem @ 16
jeez, jys skaars
moenie vir my vertel jy werk weer vir ñ slag nie?
Wel ek se rus vir FDP, en WO die week
volgende week VM en Steyn, in albei gevalle speel JLP volle games eers in WO se plek en dan in Steyn sn
10 – Blouste, Thought maybe that was it. Chiefs too without some of their players. Chiefs just not playing well at all. Will have to think about my bru picks, but sort of leaning towards the Chiefs being a home game.
Would put my picks in now but see Sharks are still waiting to see how Swannie is. Hope he can play. We really don’t have anyone else.
Ek sal eerder die week teen die Leeus vir M.Steyn rus…
Klink my Doppies gaan ook nie speel nie…
Puma
If the Cheetahs win, it will be an upset, just dont think they’ll be the walk-over team they were in recent weeks…
@ 18 Ash
Ja jong, wat kan ek se… he he he
21@ Blouste – Ek sou ook vir Morne Steyn hierdie week rus…. en Jaco Pretorius inspan op 13 in Dippenaar se plek.
Dan sal ek bes moontlik vir Vic vroeg afhaal hierdie week en volgende week ook… as alles op die veld volgens plan verloop.
Ek sal begin met ‘n Loosie combo van Steggies, Dewalt en Spies, het julle ook opgemerk dat die 2 games wat die Bulle verloor het, het Kuun begin in beide??
22 – Blouste, They still have too many injuries. Though with Juan back Cheetahs will be a lot better.
Blouste en GBS ja enige een van die kombinasies die week dan die ander die volgende. JLP is goed genoeg vir sy volgende twee teenstanders, Herkie en Goode
@ 24
Ek het nie so opgemerk nie, maar dis ‘n baie interessante opmerking.
Kuun het dalk meer tyd nodig om weer aan die posisie gewoond te raak.
Buiten die feit dat hy lanklaas daar gespeel het voor die seisoen, het die reels en toepassing daarvan ‘n paar keer verander sedert hy gespesialiseer het in die posisie.
Sover ek weet vervang Pretorius die naweek vir Dippenaar.
superBul
Julle reen gehad daar by julle in die laaste week ?
Ja daar was lekker reen , op party plekke soveel as 40mm,
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