Bulls wary of misfiring Lions
10 Apr 2012
Frans Ludeke says the Lions’ poor run of form belies their ability to hurt teams on their day.
The Lions have won just one of their six matches, their latest defeat coming against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. The Bulls travel to Ellis Park heavy favourites and full of confidence after victory over the Crusaders at Loftus on Saturday.
The Lions have pointed to their injury list as the mitigating factor for their poor form, but coach John Mitchell’s refusal to veer from a flawed expansive approach is also central to their struggles. The Lions have resolutely stuck to the belief they can run teams ragged without earning the right to through erosive phase play.
Like those before them, the Cheetahs exploited the fundamental errors in their strategy by dominating the gainline on defence and ensuring a slow recycle which allowed their defensive line to set. They also worked from preceding teams’ blueprints in isolating runners in the wide channels and regularly forcing turnovers or penalties.
Mitchell insists that they will continue to play this way, explaining that the problem lies in the execution of the method and not the method itself. Ludeke highlighted the Lions’ potential threat if they managed to find synergy on the day.
‘They’ve played that way under John Mitchell since the start of his time their as coach and there’s no reason to believe they’ll play any differently against us,’ Ludeke told keo.co.za. ‘It’s not up to me to prescribe to them how they play, only to prepare my team for what we expect to be a match where we have to make a lot of tackles, especially in the wide channels.
‘We defended well for a long time against the Crusaders, absorbing a lot of pressure, but there were some soft moments at the end of the match that allowed them in,’ Ludeke added, reflecting on his side’s 32-30 victory at the weekend.
‘Dominating the gainline will allow us to control the game better. But we take nothing for granted. We respect the Lions’ ability to hurt us with their running game and we have to keep improving defensively and not losing concentration at crucial times.’
The Bulls have shown their ability to severely punish teams who seek to play expansively against them without depleting their defensive line by bossing the tackle fight. The Cheetahs and Reds were victims of 51-19 and 61-8 hammerings respectively and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Gauteng derby ended with the Lions on the receiving end of a similarly brutal mauling.
The hosts could be without captain Josh Strauss and lock Paul Willemse, who are awaiting the results of scans on injuries sustained in the defeat to the Cheetahs. The Bulls are likely to be bolstered by the return of Deon Stegmann and Willie Wepener from injury. They are unlikely to make mass changes, but this website understands that they will give winger JJ Engelbrecht a start at outside centre, with Johann Sadie playing off the wood.
Meanwhile the Bulls have refused to apologise to the Crusaders for eye-gouging allegations that there dismissed due to insufficient video evidence. They said in a statement: ‘The rules are clear and we applied them 100 percent correctly. We had the right to raise the matter with the referee and we accept the fact that there was no video evidence.
‘Our players’ integrity is just as important to us, as the Crusaders’ players integrity is to them. I feel the players will not make unfounded accusations unless something has happened.
‘For them to suggest we must now apologize, just because there is no video evidence available, would mean we have lied. It is ridiculous to suggest that every time there is a citing and there is not enough evidence, the other team should apologize. It is a pity they have raised the matter through the media, as our doors of communication with them have always been open for a direct approach. We would have followed the official and appropriate channels.’
36 Comments
10 Apr 2012, 10:11 am
the lions always play the bulls like it’s their worldcup final or something….
nonetheless, the bulls must take 5 points from this game.
10 Apr 2012, 10:37 am
Poor run of form? *****, I dont know any side in the competition that could be competitive with this sort of injury toll. Yes we all know depth is crucial, but when 15 players or something stupid are sitting on the sidelines its a bit hard for a side to get going.
10 Apr 2012, 10:40 am
Bulls should nail this one. Lions are a mess right now.
10 Apr 2012, 10:46 am
Going to be a slaughter.
10 Apr 2012, 11:12 am
“The Lions have pointed to their injury list as the mitigating factor for their poor form, ”
@Kiefpant(Kiefpant)-2: I think it is Mitchells own fault that he is in this predicatment now. Why offload all those talented players at the beginning of the season? Those players could have come in handy now. Just because they didnt fit in with Mitchells vision? A bit short sighted from such a great coach.
10 Apr 2012, 11:12 am
The reverse happening to the no names cc chumps this year. Wonder what the tickets promo are at ellis park – buy one, get 4 free! Def more bulls fans to attend the game than those fickle lions supporters. Bulls by 40+
10 Apr 2012, 11:19 am
Hopefully the 1 week off, 1 week on trend of the Bulls will continue.
Then again a off week for the Bulls will still be good enough. ;(
10 Apr 2012, 11:20 am
wikus is the biggest injury at the minute.
personally, he’s been my form 4 for the past 12 months.
legend of a player. should’ve played more tests.
10 Apr 2012, 11:24 am
That Paul Willemse laaitie smashed Johnson properly in those first 10 minutes
10 Apr 2012, 11:33 am
The Lions have finished games strongly this season. But often by halftime they are already hunting 2 or 3 tries to get back into contention.
I think they would do well to play the territory game for the first 15 or so just to get themselves into the game.
10 Apr 2012, 11:42 am
@Kietzphat(Kietzphat)-9: he did, made his biaatch
10 Apr 2012, 12:21 pm
@Transie, yeah thats true but the lions are everybody’s biaatches.
10 Apr 2012, 13:13 pm
from articles on this blog and from Keo’s tweets I am wondering what Lions management must have done that created poisoned pens?
10 Apr 2012, 15:15 pm
Where are the lions fans today? We are waiting on the excuses and moaning to begin. Keo’s really bashing the lions on twitter and theres no respite or sympathy. Absolute disgrace to sa rugby for 10 years and no crowds at ellis hillbrowpark , yet they want to keep their superugby spot.
10 Apr 2012, 15:39 pm
Lions for the win!!
10 Apr 2012, 17:28 pm
Here are some viewpoints of the lion fans on another lions site… ” why are everyone nailing us, the WP/Stormers have a k@kker record than us for the past 10 years “:D ,and the best one so far today ” I think the lions are failing because of JM’s training drills. He uses SAS drills and training suited for polynesian people, and obviously this would not work for our boere and semi boere”
wtf these okes are deluded!
10 Apr 2012, 17:48 pm
@Slappes(Slappes)-16: For a Stormers/WP supporter visiting Lions website kinda says a lot about you. Obsessed much? Now scoot, they know they are playing k@k rugby.
10 Apr 2012, 18:04 pm
@Slappes(Slappes)-16: Well, the part about the records of the Stormers is just not true!
But honestly, the Lions are improved. Firstly and most obviously, they won the Currie Cup. Now ok, that is not Super Rugby, and the bigger teams were weakened for at least part of the competition. But still, come semi-final time and final time they pulled it out of the bag.
Secondly, they played stretches of really good rugby these last weeks. Against the Stormers for example. They let in the early points, but then pressured the Stormers all the way. Now you can say the Stormers just played shittely, but it was still a decent showing.
There was one almost try the other week, I think it was against the Crusaders, that would’ve been one of the team tries of the year. There was some beautiful linking play, offloading time and again just when you thought they could not possibly continue the move.
So what am I saying? They don’t look quite so bad as their log position suggests. And when they have some players coming back from injury I would not be surprised when if they win some games.
Having said that, it might all be too little too late. If they finish last of the SA sides as now looks likely, their only hope that the very professional SARU can convince SANZAR to have more teams. Which is quite a small hope.
10 Apr 2012, 18:28 pm
@Tuna, I support WP??? Moan, moan, moan – you and your deluded buddies are farkin hilarious.
10 Apr 2012, 18:56 pm
@wpjoulekkading(wpjoulekkading)-18: Jy mors jou tyd… die man sukkel nog met sy Graad 8 eksamen. Ek weet nie hoekom reply ek op die paloeka se goed nie.
10 Apr 2012, 19:12 pm
@Tuna, jy reply want jys n spanner. Domleeudamduiker
10 Apr 2012, 19:47 pm
@Slappes(Slappes)-21: Wat is jou obsessie met die leeus!
Ons leeus supporters is hier. Ek hou die dinge maar dop op die site en lees al die kak wat jy te sê het.
Almal weet die leeus lyk sleg, so wat is daar om nog te sê!
Ek support die leeus deur die goeie en die slegte jare en vat dit op die ken.
So weereens wat is jou obsessie met die leeus?
10 Apr 2012, 20:10 pm
Lionsfans ¿how did play Paul Willemse and Ettiene Osthuizen? probably they will be in the U20 world cup squad.
10 Apr 2012, 20:25 pm
@Markel77(Markel77)-23: Paul Willemse has a good game. Had Ashley Johnston’s number in the 1st half with 2 massive tackles. He went into the tunnel at the end of the 1st half and did not return because of the injury. Ettienne Oosthuizen didn’t have enough time to show us what he got. Actually I lost interest during the 2nd half and started with the fire.
10 Apr 2012, 20:25 pm
@Chris4lions, ek dink ek ken die slappes knaap van my Polisie dae af, hy skuld die Newlands hotel R10 vir die black label en die gebruik van die stoor kamer. Hy het gevlug na die Republiek van Kaapstad. Elke Paas naweek moet hy vlug na die weskus want hy is bang die eienaars van die Newlands hotel gaan hom opsoek.
die ou is n senuwee wrak as hy n gp nommer plaat sien.
nou ja dit is hoekom hy ons plek so afkraak want hy verlang maar is te bang om terug te kom.
10 Apr 2012, 20:31 pm
Paul Willemse looked real good in the first 25 minutes. He had Johnsons number on defence and attack. I dont know if it was his injury or a lack off fitness caused by the speed the game was played, but he faded after 3o minutes.
He is a massive prospect for the future. He is way bigger than Bakkies and he can still grow, and he is not scared to make contact. I just hope the Lions signs him in a good and proper contract.
Ettienne Oosthuizen also looked good in the minutes he played, looks like a strong ball carrier.
Its good to see the young players comming through.
10 Apr 2012, 20:33 pm
Thanks HHS. Good to see 20 years old youngsters playing Superrugby.
10 Apr 2012, 20:44 pm
Good report, gracias Chris and Go Lions
10 Apr 2012, 20:55 pm
@Chris4lions, niks teen die lions self nie, net die unie wat dit toegelaat het. Die unie het almal in die steek gelaat wat admin etc betref. Die lions se probleme huidiglik het te doen met: nie genoeg ervare spelers nie, nie die regte conditioning vir die spelers nie, gameplan wat nie aanpasbaar is nie.
10 Apr 2012, 21:01 pm
Ook daars altyd plek vir kakbyt op keo! Manne julle moet sterk wees, en dit nie te ernstig opneem nie.
10 Apr 2012, 21:18 pm
@Slappes, gaan kyk bietjie op ‘n goeie Lions site hoe realisties en hard hulle is teenoor die unie en die spelers ( We talk rugby) Aan die ander kant ondersteun ons nogsteeds deur al die hartseer en vernedering ons span. Ek dink wat die ou op die ander site probeer se het dat alhoewel die Stormers elke jaar veel beter doen as die Lions hulle nogsteeds nie ‘n trofee het om te wys nie. Dit word verwag van die Lions, maar met die span wat die Stormers het is dit underachievement. My opinie…
10 Apr 2012, 21:45 pm
@Leeubrul, stem saam oor die stormers.
soos ek gese het julle leeu manne moet tough wees want hier op keo is dit rof!
10 Apr 2012, 21:51 pm
@Slappes(Slappes)-32: why do all these lions supporters always think it is stormers supporters ribbing them?
10 Apr 2012, 22:31 pm
5 points on offer here.
Bulls just need to maintain their composure.
11 Apr 2012, 00:49 am
“The Lions have pointed to their injury list as the mitigating factor for their poor form, but coach John Mitchell’s refusal to veer from a flawed expansive approach is also central to their struggles.”
The first part is fact, Ryan, the second your blissful ignorance. Why should anyone place any store on what you say, as it has as much or as little value as any blogger here? Your predictions are k-a-k, your sanctimonious view that you know better than Mitchell, will make a better, more insightful coach, is just plain laughable and delusional.
As for Slappes, there is something called loyalty, and there are many long-suffering Lions fans who continue to stick by the side because it is their side. You probably can’t comprehend the concept as you seem to get your rocks off religiously trashing the Lions rather than supporting your own.
You’re a very sad case, far more sad than any true, loyal – and, yes, long-suffering, Lions fan.
11 Apr 2012, 09:26 am
Hi gents
Hope the bulls do well on the weekend anda tha lions will give a good competition but will be liitle weak. Sugestion maybe bring in da rose brothdas because da a good.
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