Bulls set for Stormers ‘Test’
26 Mar 2012
Frans Ludeke says their clash with the Stormers will be ‘like a Test in every way’.
The north-south derby at Newlands on Saturday sees the unbeaten Stormers pitted against a Bulls side who have surpassed expectations after a mass exodus of senior players. They smashed the Reds 61-8 at the weekend and victory would see them leapfrog the Stormers in the SA conference.
On a winning streak and in front of their loyal supporters, the Stormers must be considered favourites. However, they will face stern opposition against an extremely efficient and well-coached outfit who have largely exhibited composure under pressure thus far, retaining faith in their trusted method.
That method is one the Stormers have replicated in recent years. Gone are the days when they thrilled with cavalier attacks from deep in their territory. They now prefer a pragmatic kick-chase approach and back their defence – excellent for three seasons – to pressure the opposition into turnovers or infringements.
This fixture used to be a clash of contrasting styles. Now it is a test of patience and execution between sides who mirror each other tactically. That pattern will strongly resemble one seen in Test matches, Ludeke said.
‘The last few games have been won by the team who has been excellent at the fundamentals – a solid set phase, sustained accuracy in defence, well-placed tactical kicks and making your chances count,’ Ludeke told keo.co.za. ‘This match is going to be like a Test in every way.
‘We’ve lost concentration at times at Newlands in the last couple of years and the Stormers have punished us. In matches like these errors are amplified because teams are so switched on that they simply don’t make many. The teams are so well matched, neither give you an inch, that, like a Test, it could come down to goal kicking.’
Asked what the key performance areas would be, Ludeke offered: ‘The forward battle is crucial to win. Dominating that gainline gives you the chance to control and shape the match. It becomes very hard when you’re losing the tackle fight. The Stormers are the best team in the tournament in this regard. We know we will have to lift our game at the gainline hugely.’
The Bulls come into the match still buzzing from the confidence gained from their demolition of the defending champions at Loftus on Saturday. They were slow to find their stride but gradually got going and converted the majority of the scoring opportunities they created. Ludeke said he was encouraged by their slickness.
‘I had the sense that if everything came together we are capable of a result like that,’ he said. ‘The guys were really focussed in the build-up to that game and they won’t need any motivation for the Stormers. They won’t offer us as many opportunities as the Reds did so we can’t waste the few that will come.’
By Ryan Vrede
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85 Comments
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26 Mar 2012, 08:27 am
Clash of the TI…err DRAGONS!
26 Mar 2012, 08:37 am
Regardless of all the nonsense posted on here it comes down to who plays the best this weekend.
Either team is capable of beating the other.
If we play the way we did on Saturday we won’t stand a chance.
If the Bulls played the way they did against the Blues they won’t stand a chance.
Bring it on.
Let’s go after the Bulls and see who comes out on top.
Can’t wait.
26 Mar 2012, 08:45 am
I couldn’t help but grin at the outcome of a little exchange on Boots and All last week.
Naas wasn’t in studio, but had been asked to do a little segment on the Bulls approach for the Reds game. It was pre-recorded, and in it Naas advised that the Reds are a great attacking team, but the way to beat them was for the Bulls to run at them all day long as great attacking sides don’t always like it if the game is in their faces and they have to defend for long stretches.
The merit of this advice aside, the idiots at Boots and All displayed some bad form by having Ewen Mckenzie in the studio with them while Naas’s segment was being played.
So straight afterwards they asked the perpetually bedonnerd looking Mckenzie to respond to Naas’s comments. I thought this was quite unfair, as Naas had obviously prepared it for an SA audience and from a Bulls perspective. To have Ewen sitting there ready to criticise his comments was unfair on Naas, who would have been more circumspect had he been sitting in the studio with the grumpy Reds coach.
In any case, an irritated looking Mckenzie responded sarcastically by saying: “What Naas forgot to mention is that the Reds are one of the best defensive teams in the competition, and we welcome it if they try and run it at us”
Well, 61 points later it seems as if his opinion changed to such an extent that he couldn’t even be bothered to do a post match interview.
26 Mar 2012, 08:47 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-2:
Good comment.
Furthermore, this Saturday’s clash won’t be the last word on this matter, just like the Bulls narrow victory over the Sharks in Round 1 didn’t settle the matter between those two teams.
This competition is a marathon, and it is quite possible that the form teams of the early season could fall apart completely come the latter half of the tournament.
Anyway, did you see my post on the latest Repucom stats? Very interesting.
26 Mar 2012, 08:48 am
The Stormers players have the talent, but their coaching and management does not. Specifically AC and Robbie Fleck, I feel these guys are holding the players back rather then pushing them forward on to bigger and better things. So much talent, but so little threat from a try scoring perspective.
26 Mar 2012, 08:50 am
Must admit there have been some tense awesome games of rugby with this S15 – must be the best comp in the world.
Stormers /Bulls clash will be no exception , will be very close
Bulls by 2
26 Mar 2012, 08:51 am
Gonna be massive!
Got my tickets!
26 Mar 2012, 08:55 am
Tight five battle.
That’s all that matters. That Kitshoff chap is good. As is Etsebeth.
On the other hand, in the tightloose you won’t find a stronger beast than Dean Greyling.
Will be a very good game, I reckon.
26 Mar 2012, 08:59 am
Should the game resemble/ come close to test match standard i can only see the bulls winning it. Duvennhage and grant will not get tthe stormers the field position they would need.
26 Mar 2012, 09:00 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-8: Yip. Wors is massive.
Think some urgent work need to be done on Werner Kruger scrumming technique this week.
26 Mar 2012, 09:01 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-8: kruger & greyling must be in the lead though when it comes to penalties conceded @ the scrum.
26 Mar 2012, 09:01 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-8:
Back three: Stormers
Centres: Stormers
Half Backs: Bulls (by a mile)
Front Row: Bulls
Locks: Stormers
Loosies: mmmm.. tough one.. Maybe Bulls now that Spies is playing much better.
I wonder who will be the referee?
26 Mar 2012, 09:05 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-4: True, we play all SA teams twice, and we still have to play both other teams away, which is a big thing,
What I found to be coming true, and what many of us have posted on earlier this season is that bonus points are vital, as witnessed by the fact that in spite of losing a game the Bulls are only 1 point behind us.
On the Repucom Stats, where did you post it?
Would be interested to watch.
I did read an article a week or so ago that showed that the viewing stats for the late night cage fighting on E were higher than any of the Super Rugby comp stats. for the same weekend.
26 Mar 2012, 09:06 am
“Tight loose” sounds phoney.
Better in Afrikaans.
“Vaste los”
26 Mar 2012, 09:06 am
Stormers must be the favourites?
I think I know a little boy who is going to need a lie down.
26 Mar 2012, 09:07 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-12: I think our front row is playing better than yours, we’ve had numerous tight heads this season (against the opposition, unlike in previous seasons) and we may just shade you there.
The scrums will be very close. Much will depend on how the ref blows it IMO.
26 Mar 2012, 09:08 am
Another crappy romcom on Mnet last night.
Watched “Contagion” on Box Office.
26 Mar 2012, 09:10 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-13: watch = see.
26 Mar 2012, 09:14 am
Gonna be a huge game… very very physical… pity that schalk is injured… his presence would be a massive bonus for this game in particular…
but i do expect the guys to front up and give it their all…
whatever happens…. it’s gonna be a very close game going right down to the wire… and lots of spectators gonna need oxygen due to holding their breath too long…
26 Mar 2012, 09:14 am
What is really good to see is the level of rugby being played now by the SA sides. Apart from the Stormers and Cheetahs who I think had the toughest warm up matches the other sides have taken a bit longer to get going however the Bulls have stepped up quicker than the rest and were awesome against the Cheetahs and again against the Reds.
Those overseas folks who were having a go at the Cheetahs and suggesting they were fodder after the Bulls result are probably thinking differently about them now. This Bulls side may lack experience but they are excellent athletes and they are still not at full compliment with Potties out. I think that if they can stay calm and patient that they will outmuscle the Stormers, however the Stormers have a lot of experience at super 15 level in their backline.
The thing that would be a concern for me if I was a Bulls supporter would be Morne’s temperament when Hougaard or FDP is not playing inside him and for the Stormers it would be the scrumhalf/flyhalf axis.
One things for certain the Saffer conference is looking to be one of the most competitive ever.
26 Mar 2012, 09:17 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-16: Sorry boet I meant that our front row is playing better than theirs.
I’m still lame from the extera event yesterday. The mountain bike routes are amazing. Google Oak Valley in Elgin. I’ll definitely be back for that.
The run was worse than bad. Straight up into the flipping mountains.
You can keep that sh ite.
26 Mar 2012, 09:18 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-16:
Tough one indeed.
I do however expect us to win the game- if we cannot beat the Bulls at NEWLAMDS we in trouble- Loftus is another story.
My major concern is our halfbacks (specially no 10).
Interesting comments from John Dobson in the newspaper this morning re JP du Plessis. He rates him very high and compares him favourably to Sadie (Bigger, stronger and 2 years younger)- hope they take him on tour instead of the useless Brache.
26 Mar 2012, 09:27 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-21:
Did not know you took part. Was it a full event including the swim?
I watched the prologue of the Cape Epic yesterday standing on top of the big climb at Hillcrest. Amazing how quite a number of the participants struggled up there- i was quite disappointed, but maybe they are conserving their energy.
Ex formula one champ Alain Prost (57 years old) came past like a breeze. Very impressive. Elama Meyer pushed up that hill, took huge straim- she is going to have a terrible week ahead of her. Andrew Patterson was also huffing and puffing, much slower than the the ex racing driver (and much younger)
They doing about 120 km’s today with a total vertical climb of about 2300 metres. Going to be hectic for quite a few.
26 Mar 2012, 09:27 am
jeez, but how panic stricken was that Stormers coaches box on saturday? dumb & dumber
26 Mar 2012, 09:27 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-22: I hope so too.
I’ve never rated Brache. He’s Vodacom Cup level IMO.
I haven’t seen enough of JP Dup. Nice to read that about him, hopefully he comes through nicely,
How many players do you think they’ll take on tour?
I’d use Grant as 12 cover, Brian as 13 cover, Hekkies to cover the back, and then take another back to cover the rest, a guy like Poolman or JP.
Gary Van as obvioously to cover at 9, although I’d be tempted to use Duvenhage as 10 cover with groom cover at 9.
I know you rate groom higher than Schreuder but did you see that clearance kick from Schreuder late in the game? He can kick that fella.
26 Mar 2012, 09:30 am
Difficult game to call!! If it was at Loftus it would be the Bulls! At Newlands with Bulls playing the way they are… 50/50!
26 Mar 2012, 09:32 am
We are the champions my friends
And we’ll keep on fightin’ till the end
We are the champions, We are the champions
No time for losers ’cause we are the champions
…Of the world…
26 Mar 2012, 09:33 am
Anything can happen… could be bulls by 7 or even bulls by 70…..
26 Mar 2012, 09:33 am
The new potgieter makes vermuelen look like a flattrack bully, doubt the stormers backrow will compete with the bullss.
Also, i;d take the bulls backs over the stoermers anyday. Ndgane remains the most intelligent winger i have seen sa produce in my lifetime. An extra yard of pace would have seen him an 80 cap test veteran. Kirchener is playing really well and basson provides serious pace and then with jj coming on laterr….
Also, i wouldn;t swap the bulls centers for the stormers ones. Sadie looked well settled on the weekend and nobody fcks with wynand at superlevel.
Another player going largely unnoticed is flip, he is quietly going about his business and playing some of his best rugby.
Personally, i think the stormers could come under pressure at the lineouts. Bekker and liebenberg are both flakey.
As a side note, chilli has been playing great but did anyone notice weepenaars awesome 20 minute cameo?
The bench could well be what decides the outcome and bulls have more calibre in that department.
26 Mar 2012, 09:36 am
expect kossie to go through his own personal 127 hours experience compacted down to 80 or so minutes come saturday.
i forsee him biting off his own arm in a ruck to save himself.
26 Mar 2012, 09:36 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-11:
Agreed. Major attention needed to their binding technique. Very frustrating to watch. Needless penlaties at crucial times being conceded in that area.
26 Mar 2012, 09:39 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-29: akhona gets into good positions quite often but he so useless he just runs straight into the arms of the defender, no guile, no sidestep, nothing!
all the space ndungane got on saturday, hougaard, ioane, dagg, gear, willie le roux – damn, even paul jordaan would’ve smoked the last man.
26 Mar 2012, 09:43 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-32:
Ndugane does so much right though, 1 of the best chasers in the game, solid defence(clever enough to keep the line) and can interlink and pass. Will take him over Habana any day of the week….
26 Mar 2012, 09:45 am
Brigadier. So the Bulls are clearly favourites then?
26 Mar 2012, 09:46 am
Not true in my opinion, that is his lack of pace that you critisize but there is no better winger who looks at keeping the ball alive and making the pass playing with his head up and runs angles that we dream of sa cennters running. Even way back in 2007 at the death in the last movement of the game he made yards and stepped inside from touch to keep the ball alive.i,m convinced that had that been habana he;d have been pushed into touch and game over, ironically, ndgane would neever score a try like habs did.
26 Mar 2012, 09:50 am
I was disappointed in the way that Ndungane got himself isolated on the touchline when he got the ball in space this weekend.
Knowing his limitations he should try and play back to his supporting players when he gets the ball. He ain’t gonna beat someone one-on-one.
That said, he is a good player, despite not having pace, size or a sidestep. But lots of rugby intelligence.
However, I think JJ Engelbrecht is now better than him.
26 Mar 2012, 09:50 am
Gonna be an interesting match. I’d have some reservations about the Bulls result, because they were as good as the Reds were bad. The Stormers would’ve had a serious jolt of reality after their performance and they know a repeat performance would see them get thier arses handed to them ( Not that they don’t mind a bit of hand on arse).
AC seriously needs to get more cerebral (if possible) about the decisions he makes, starting with team selection. If anyone still wonders why Duvenhage is ****, look at his latest performance. Lacked tactical awareness and basic skills execution. Time to cut the losses and go with Schreuder and Groom. Koster showed again why he’d be more comfortable with touch rugby. Joe P adds no attacking value and should be replaced by Aplon with Hekkies coming onto the wing.
Lastly, why AC decides to sub his best forward at a crucial time is absolutely mind-boggling. The funny thing is he did the same vs the Blues and the result was that the Blues then gained the ascendancy. It was clearly obvious that the Lions were targeting channel 1 which meant that the Stormers would need their most effective front-on defenders. The substition of Duvenhage was way too late as well.
BTW. What’s up with kicking and up-and-under from a free kick when you are on your own 22m line. Talk about playing like robots.
26 Mar 2012, 09:51 am
34…….really depends on how they start. If the stormers get off to a great start on the scoreboard the bulls youngsters will feel the pressure. If the bulls get off to a big start the stormers will take 30-35. If the games stays close who knows, a penalty or ref could decide it.
26 Mar 2012, 09:51 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-21:
What?
26 Mar 2012, 09:51 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-35: you talk about keeping the ball alive, i’m talking about finishing! which is what a wing should always be sniffing to do. ndungane is safe, he doesn’t threaten te opposition backline.
i know heyneke rates him very highly – he said so on robert marawa’s sport show – for his dependability & resilience – 2 broken leg ops but he is dead average to me
26 Mar 2012, 09:54 am
This will be a big one… a big dissapointment for us Stormers fans though. JDv seemed to have given up in his interview already!1
I have been struggling with my opinoin on the stormers coaches for some time now and I can only conclude this:
1. They seem to have the right tactics going for them in some games and we win games that are tight.. and then we have games like Saturday where it seems like no coaching have taken place for ages. I feel the comment that they are keeping great players from reaching their potential to be true.
They way games go these days for the stormers it is like our third team at school… they just pitched for the games and did theor best… come what may…..
the stormers have become the tahs of yesteryear… very boring, predictable, will always be there and there about but never champs…..
26 Mar 2012, 09:55 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-10:
Who’s wors is massive?
26 Mar 2012, 09:55 am
I mean whose.
26 Mar 2012, 09:55 am
@pompies2(pompies2)-37:
I don’t take much from the Reds result at all. I thought the Bulls were poor in the first half, missing about 4 or 5 try scoring opportunities, and in the second half, the Reds just fell apart.
I think Saturday will be much more like the Sharks game in the opening weekend, than the Reds or Cheetahs games.
Hard, grinding stuff, with players all nervous, with butterfingers, and penalties being eked out.
The clash of the driving mauls will be awesome to behold. Many teams that are good with attacking mauls, are not that good defending against them. I think we’ll see a lot of mauls being set up, hoping for penalties from defensive collapsing of the advancing maul.
In the end, the benches will decide this one. And if Steggies is back, we will have CJ Stander, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Jano Vermaak, JJ Engelbrecht all chomping at the bit to come on in the second half.
Appetizing clash.
26 Mar 2012, 09:56 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-32: What i like to call a vanilla player. Some do like them, but they like excitement and creativitiy. He had 3 or 4 one-on-one’s this past weekend and didn’t manage to beat the sole defender once. No step, no swerve, no power. Just a sitting **** waiting to be tackled.
26 Mar 2012, 09:56 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-21: what xterra was that? i did the grabouw xterra on 25 february.
26 Mar 2012, 09:58 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-23: Yes I would have gone if I didn’t do the adventure race.
Nice to see Prost still fit and healthy. Being a small chappie really makes a difference for sure.
Curious to see how Elana does. She must be fit obviously, but MTB is a different proposition to running.
Pattie is always going to struggle on a bike with his bulk. It’s tough to drag that weigh up those hills, ask me I know
I hope that they will be giving it some decent coverage on Supersport this year.
It really is a showcase for SA Sport. Numerous celebrities and many current and past cycling World Champs each year.
26 Mar 2012, 10:00 am
@the peanut gallery(peanut)-46: It was the Quantum Adventures summer race series. At Oak Valley Farm.
26 Mar 2012, 10:01 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-38: I do not think so… I belive the stormers will lose this one with between 3- 8 points…
this is the Beauty/sad part of their type of play… they never beat (Poor) teams by much and when they face good opposition they also win by a whisker or lose by a whisker.
Should the bulls though score early.. it will be interesting to see if AC let them kick for touch to score or go for posts…
This team has a lot of potential, but it is not coming through for almost a year now. J Pietersen has become the new Jantjes.. kicking every thing up and never attacking. I blame Fleck for the poor backline play… wish slaptjips would help….
26 Mar 2012, 10:02 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-23: i was also there.
i’ve done that climb many times and sometimes you expend so much energy riding up there that you’re fooked for the rest of the ride. tou can also walk up there at about the same speed as you can ride.
i was more disappointed in the poor technical skills of most of the riders on the single track.
great event the epic – great sport mt biking.
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