Bulls aim to get physical

Bulls aim to get physical

27 Jan 2009

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke says his side need to improve exponentially if they are to win a “momentum generating” warm-up match against the Cheetahs on Friday.

The Bulls slumped to a 44-21 defeat to the Lions on Saturday, although admittedly having fielded a relatively inexperienced side. The Lions dominated most facets of play, particularly the collisions and breakdown, the latter an area the Cheetahs are highly effective in.

While he was reluctant to discuss the details of his squad for the match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Ludeke confirmed that they would field a side consisting of the majority of their Springboks. This should aid their desire to improve in the areas identified as a concern.

“We were not competitive in the collisions or at the breakdown and that needs to improve,” Ludeke told keo.co.za. “That forced us to scramble in defence often which wasn’t ideal. It was a real wake up call for us and we’ll have to make big progress in those areas or risk the Cheetahs exposing us again.”

Ludeke added that while he was disappointed in the result he was pleased that some fringe players had a decent hit out and that he had a better idea about the capabilities of certain if those players against quality opposition.

There is however concern about the fitness of prop Rayno Gerber, who’ll is set to be sidelined for two to weeks with a groin injury. Jaco Engels and Pedrie Wannenberg will be out for between seven and 10 days with what Ludeke described as “soft tissue injuries”.

“I’m not going to pretend that the result is of no importance for us,” Ludeke said when asked about his goals for the match.

“Winning is important to any coach and I’m no different. We’re looking for the overall result and that will come from getting results in facets of play like the collisions and breakdown. In warm-up matches getting your execution spot on is key. We’ll be looking to achieve those things and generate some momentum ahead of the opener against the Reds.”

By Ryan Vrede


492 Comments

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  • 451.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 21:38 pm

    Helloooooooooooo,

    Back again……… eishhhhh the visitor was not the dominee, nor the Police…. it was in fact one of the SA Agents for a lot of the Afrikaans musicians and somebody from Masipa Wabenzi… cause Handbriekie is organising some event again…. Red Carpet and all… and the VIP’s have to be carted around in Mercedes Benz cars…

  • 452.JimT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 21:41 pm

    #450 Puma: Cheers Puma & Irish too.

  • 453.JimT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 21:42 pm

    # grootblousmile: Living the celebrity lifestyle, eh GBS?

  • 454.carol: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 21:43 pm

    # grootblousmile: Hello There, Afrikaanse broer how are you doing?

  • 455.JimT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 21:44 pm

    Hi Ed the Lion & hello to you Carol. Back from your shopping expedition for supplies of Powerade & photos? :-)

  • 456.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 21:44 pm

    #453 JimT: Mmmmm looks like it….

    #454 carol: Goed dankie….. ja, sussie…. en hoe gaan dit met jou ?

  • 457.carol: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 21:46 pm

    #455 JimT: Ohh the naked Lions Powerade thingie!!! Peeped in at work and saw that earlier, made me laugh!
    Where are the photos?

  • 458.JimT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 21:50 pm

    #457 carol: The photos are on the BBC website. But first let me first re-assure my female friends here on KEO that I did not linger over said photos. I only quickly surveyed them to ascertain their existence & I definitely did not download said photos to my personal computer :-)

  • 459.DomFok: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 21:50 pm

    #456 grootblousmile: Howzit oom GrootBlou? How are things hanging in good old Brakenjanpan?

  • 460.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 21:52 pm

    #459 DomFok: Nee goed dankie dommes, en daar by jou ?

  • 461.JimT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 21:53 pm

    #443 K9_BaasPatrolliehond: You back again K 9 or maybe you never left in the 1st place, sorry, my belated greetings anyway.

  • 462.carol: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 21:55 pm

    #456 grootblousmile: Dit gan voor die wind hier dankie.

  • 463.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 21:55 pm

    #462 carol: Impressive Afrikaans !!

  • 464.carol: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 21:56 pm

    #458 JimT: Way hay, must look later Heheheh May have to alert the girls!!

  • 465.carol: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 21:59 pm

    #463 grootblousmile: Baie Dankie, however my teacher needs to tell me a few more phrases!! :-)

  • 466.JimT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:00 pm

    #464 carol: Don’t get caught in the stampede :-)

  • 467.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:00 pm

    #465 carol: Oh Karlien… not tonight… will add to the phrases tomorrow…. OK ?

  • 468.carol: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:04 pm

    #466 JimT: Will the website crash do you think?

  • 469.carol: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:05 pm

    #467 grootblousmile: I will let you off the hook, just this once :-)

  • 470.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:06 pm

    #469 carol: Thanks

  • 471.JimT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:12 pm

    #468 carol: That’s a distinct possibility. Just imagine the fuss in SA if any of these guys get picked for the Lions. The female population will lose it. It’s all over for Percy & JDV. The Lions boys will be the new icons :-)

  • 472.carol: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:15 pm

    #471 JimT: Jim, be realistic NONE of the Lions are a patch on Percy and JDV !!

  • 473.carol: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:16 pm

    #471 JimT: Gavin Hastings and James Hook the best we can field!

  • 474.JimT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:18 pm

    #472 carol: But my dear girl you have not seen the photos yet. he,he :-)

  • 475.JimT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:18 pm

    #473 carol: Gavin & James never looked like this :-)

  • 476.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:21 pm

    It’s awfully quiet here tonight…

  • 477.JimT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:22 pm

    #472 carol: Just think everyone had a hissy fit over Cipriani’s celebrity lifestyle & now this? It’s all Gordon Broons fault :-)

  • 478.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:23 pm

    OK, I’m outa here

    Cheers !

  • 479.carol: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:25 pm

    #474 JimT: Jim, now you have said that I may just have to go and look, in the interests of my girlfriends of course!!

    I may be some time, so Goodnight Jim and all!!

  • 480.JimT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:26 pm

    #476 grootblousmile: I thought you had left us GBS. Your’e like the quiet assassin creeping up in a stealthy fashion.

    Funny enough my Notebook has not crashed today. It must have taken note of your sage advice, just to throw me off :-)

    I had a question I intended to pose a few days ago, how come the Bulls fielded their B or even C team the other day? Don’t they need match fitness?

  • 481.JimT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:27 pm

    #478 grootblousmile: Cheers GBS.#479 carol: And Carol too. Suggest a cold shower or two tonight :-)

  • 482.Darth Vader: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:32 pm

    #480 JimT: The bulls have still two warm-up games against cheetahs and sharks. They chose their weakest team for lions because they thought the other two will be better practice.

  • 483.JimT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:39 pm

    #482 Darth Vader: Oh ok. I didn’t realise they had 2 warm up games left. I guess it also reduces the risk of pre-season injuries. Thanks.

  • 484.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:45 pm

    #480 JimT: Yeah, I would have fielded the strongest side as well to get match fitness drilled in…

    I’m not in favour of persisting with giving the fringe players too many chances… they must earn the chances….

  • 485.Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:45 pm

    #432 K9_BaasPatrolliehond: Jy het pos.

  • 486.JimT: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:46 pm

    well I’m outta here. Got to do battle with USA Rugby over player eligibility. See y’all on the other side of the hill.

  • 487.Ed_the_Lion_in_Boston: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:46 pm

    #486 JimT: See you JimT

  • 488.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:47 pm

    #483 JimT: In the Super 14 you can’t afford to go off half cocked…. it must be an oiled machine from the word go !

  • 489.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    27 Jan 2009, 22:47 pm

    #486 JimT: Cheers Jimmy…. take care of Noah !

  • 490.Ezee-23: Reply to this comment
    28 Jan 2009, 02:50 am

    Seriously though, does anyone expect anything different from the Bulls than what they’ve given us for the past couple of years.

    The Bulls are the most boring South African Super14 team, and have the most predictable playing style of all Super 14 teams. Boring and predictable they may be, I still back them to win everytime they play. Their style is made for winning, whilst every other team is playing the situation and unpredictable they are’nt assured of a win.

  • 491.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    28 Jan 2009, 03:16 am

    #490 Ezee-23: yes, thats why the crusaders,blues & canes bl!ksemed them by more that 50 points, the other teams were playing the situations and the bulls stuck to a k@k gameplan, even when they saw it wasn’t working…

    Did you still back them when their own coach said the reason the were losing was because his players didn’t understand the elvs! Oh dear in week 9 of the competition! When muir’s sharks and rassie’s stormers were competing for top spots these great rugby geniuses were still trying to figure out the new rules?! They set a new standard of being ‘special’.

  • 492.Ezee-23: Reply to this comment
    28 Jan 2009, 13:04 pm

    #491 Transformation: My point about the Bulls is that if they execute their playing style perfectly they cannot be beaten because it’s based on doing the simple things every time regardless of the situation both on defense and offence.

    I know the other 13 teams are also able to outplay each other when on point but the fact that the idea that they play the situation at times makes them susceptible to losing from time to time.

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