‘We’ve achieved nothing yet’
9 Mar 2010
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke says his champion side refuses to buy into the hype surrounding them.
Three wins from three, including a couple of comprehensive ones over some highly rated opposition. A fluent attack and improving defence and match winners across the track – the Bulls look the business.
In addition, they are heavily favoured to beat the Highlanders at Loftus on Saturday, stretching their unbeaten run at the ground to 14 matches. Yet Ludeke maintains perspective.
‘What have we done? We’ve won our home games. With the greatest humility, that is expected from a side who back themselves to contend for the title,’ Ludeke told keo.co.za.
‘We’ve achieved nothing yet. We haven’t toured Australasia, and we are still to play the Highlanders and Hurricanes at home. This tournament has a habit of humbling you if you get ahead of yourself and start believing the hype. We’re guarding against that, and we’re demanding an improved performance every time we step onto the field.’
Ludeke’s charges returned to training on Monday refreshed after a week where most of them were given the complete break. He said the benefits were patent in training, with the players exhibiting a fresh focus and looking sharp in their sessions.
The break also gave Ludeke the opportunity to consolidate his thinking regarding tactics and team selection, and to analyse the Highlanders closely. That analysis has lead him to identify the set phases and breakdown as their primary threats.
‘They’re a very good srcummaging unit and very competitive at the lineout. When those aspects of their game have operated well, they’ve asked big questions of some really good teams,’ he said.
‘They’re also one of the few teams who still contest the breakdown strongly despite the new law interpretations. They’re strong at the tackle point and counter-ruck with force. If they are able to slow the recycle it’ll be difficult for us to get the momentum that’s been at the heart of our success.
‘The guys are on high alert. They know they have to be switched on.’
Ludeke said they were focussed, although not exclusively, on shoring up their defence. They’ve leaked 10 tries in three matches, which is uncharacteristic for a side who have generally been one of the best defensive units over the last four years.
The Highlanders have punished teams who have had lapses in concentration or flat periods, and Ludeke was acutely aware of their penchant for the sucker punch.
‘It needs to be an accurate 80 minute performance on defence for us. We’ve probably let ourselves down slightly in that area and we can’t afford to rely on our attack to get us out of trouble,’ he said. ‘The best teams make themselves incredibly hard to score against and that’s what we are aspiring to.’
Ludeke has a selection conundrum in the back row with the return of No 8 Pierre Spies from injury. It is likely that he will thrust the hard running Springbok back into the fray immediately, but also has the option of playing Dewald Potgieter or Danie Rossouw there.
The combination of Rossouw (No 8), Pedrie Wannenberg (blindside flank) and Derick Kuun, who started against the Waratahs, looked cumbersome and unbalanced, and Ludeke should opt to reunite the regular trio of Spies, Potgieter and Deon Stegmann.
Outside of the back row reshuffle, there is unlikely to be any changes to the starting line-up who fronted the Tahs a fortnight ago.
By Ryan Vrede
225 Comments
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9 Mar 2010, 08:09 am
No one achieved anything its round4. A lot of rugga to be played
9 Mar 2010, 08:18 am
I like his attitude…
same as in 2009….
there is no freebee in life.. .you got to work for it… but even then things can go wrong!
so let’s just take it game for game….
the losie is stocked full of Biltong and versnappings… will be there to watch…
let’ hope for the best.
9 Mar 2010, 08:23 am
Tell your fans with their big mouths that…
9 Mar 2010, 08:23 am
“Four wins from four starts” Um, ok.
9 Mar 2010, 08:23 am
Can someone confirm what the Bulls’ overseas fixture list looks like??
Who do they play away from home??
9 Mar 2010, 08:24 am
Jy is ‘n bevooregte man Staal om jouself in ‘n losie te bevind . Ek sal wel ook daar wees maar op die Pawiljoen.
Die Bulls moet net daarop bedag wees om nie met die afskop weer punte af te staan nie. As so iets teen die Stormers gebeur gaan hulle nie die agterstand kan uitwis nie . Die Stormers is op hierdie stadium na my mening die span wat die beste verdedig.
9 Mar 2010, 08:25 am
@wezz: lmao they won their bye by default
9 Mar 2010, 08:26 am
@SpringbokSarah: Thanks to the Reds and the Cheetahs
9 Mar 2010, 08:32 am
@SpringbokSarah: Unfortunately every-ones fans have big mouths!
Some of the Lions’ supporters have started talking their team up after 4 straight losses, and the Stormers have been hyped up by the Cape media and their fans since their first game of touch rugby in their first training session in January.
The Bulls will do well to ignore the hype of their fans and keep their feet safely on the ground.
9 Mar 2010, 08:38 am
I agree, nog baie rugby wat gespeel moet word. Must work on their verdediging.
Four wins from four starts? Make that three, but still top of the log met ‘m game in hand.
9 Mar 2010, 08:38 am
just keep doing what you’re doing Frans and players… dominate the S14…
and really hope you guys travel well and klap the ANZACS at home too…!!
9 Mar 2010, 08:50 am
Well he has to say that, but we all know that he’s sleeping better than any of the other coaches at the moment. And well he should.
Interresting one to throw out there for comment, iafrica.com released their team of the week this morning (courtesy Iafrica.com):
iafrica.com Team of the Week, Round Four:
15 – Stefan Terblanche (Sharks):
He may have his critics and has lost a yard or two of his pace, but he was not out of position once and played a big role in steadying the Sharks’ ship when it was floundering.
Bubbling under: Hennie Daniller (Cheetahs)
14 – Lelia Masaga (Chiefs):
There’s never been doubt about his talent. He’s now hit a rich vein of form.
Bubbling under: Lionel Mapoe (Cheetahs)
13 – Robbie Fruean (Crusaders):
One of the brightest young prospects in this year’s competition. He may well be around for a long time top come and earn more than just a handful of senior international caps.
Bubbling under: Morgan Turinui (Reds)
12 – Meyer Bosman (Cheetahs):
He may not be the most consistent player around, but when he is on song, he is an awesome sight.
Bubbling under: Ryan Crotty (Crusaders)
11 – Bryan Habana (Stormers):
It was an easy decision. Simply the best left wing in the world.
Bubbling under: Jongi Nokwe (Cheetahs)
10 – Dan Carter (Crusaders):
Simply the best!
Bubbling under: Quade Cooper (Reds)
9 – Will Genia (Reds):
Tough call to make and it certainly caused plenty debate. Genia again showed how vital he is to the Reds’ cause.
Bubbling under: Dewaldt Duvenage (Stormers)
8 – Ryan Kankowski (Sharks):
He is playing some of his best rugby at present and if his teammates can follow his example the Sharks will be on the winning track in no time at all.
Bubbling under: Kieran Read (Crusaders)
7 – Juan Smith (Cheetahs):
He was immense on both attack and defence and his return has played a big role in the Cheetahs’ improved form this year.
Bubbling under: Daniel Braid (Reds)
6 – Schalk Burger (Stormers):
The Stormers need his physical presence and overall energy.
Bubbling under: Rocky Elsom (Brumbies)
5 – Andries Bekker (Stormers):
The manner in which he is beginning to ‘throw his weight around’ in the contact situation gives him the one dimension his critics said he always lacked.
Bubbling under: Walti Vermeulen (Cheetahs)
4 – Ben Hand (Brumbies):
This was another very tough decision. Ben certainly didn’t win Hands down.
Bubbling under: Anton van Zyl (Stormers)
3 – Owen Franks (Crusaders):
We did debate this one a bit as well and while WP Nel made some strong claims, the Crusaders prop out-scrummed him (figuratively, of course!).
Bubbling under: WP Nel (Cheetahs)
2 – Deon Fourie (Stormers):
Another position where the competition was tough and the debate lasted for some time.
Bubbling under: Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs)
1 – Ben Robinson (Waratahs):
The front row was a really tough call to make in all three positions. Robinson was up against a World Cup-winning Springbok, who will now find a few dents in his reputation.
Bubbling under: Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
Some food for debate there. Let the provincialism begin!
9 Mar 2010, 08:53 am
Blue Bulls – Season Tickets
Two Jews walk into the Loftus Versveld ticket office and ask to buy season tickets.
The Lady behind the counter asks “Are you circumcised?”
The Jew replies “Yes, of course!”
The lady then says “I’m sorry, sir, but you have to be a complete **** to be a Blue Bulls fan…”
9 Mar 2010, 08:58 am
I met Ludeke at a wedding last year.
A very humble, soft-spoken, decent man.
9 Mar 2010, 09:00 am
Albert Einstein arrives at a party and introduces himself to the first person he sees and asks, “What is your IQ?”
to which the man answers “241.”
“That is wonderful!,” says Albert. “We will talk about the Grand Unification Theory and the mysteries of the Universe. We will have much to discuss!”
Next Albert introduces himself to a woman and asks, “What is your IQ?”
To which the lady answers, “144.”
“That is great!” responds Albert. “We can discuss politics and current affairs. We will have much to discuss!”
Albert goes to another gentleman and asks, “What is your IQ?” to which the man answers, “16.”
Albert responds, “Hoe gaan dit met die Bulle”?
9 Mar 2010, 09:23 am
People
Who the heck is Patrizio.
9 Mar 2010, 09:34 am
well “it is not rock science” frans
nobody achieves anything after 3 games of super rugby.
9 Mar 2010, 09:36 am
@Transformation:
What’s your problem?
9 Mar 2010, 09:43 am
@Tacitus: you have a real problem if you think by posting my thoughts i have a problem.
9 Mar 2010, 09:44 am
@Tacitus: I would like your take on this, maybe staal’s as well?
I think we can all agree that Ludeke was **** at the lions, and i for one shat myself when he was appointed as coach for the bulls….. now the question is:
Was he always a good coach at a bad union
Is he still a bad coach with senior players
Is his success due to the influence of HM
Is his success due to the structures at the BB union
?
9 Mar 2010, 09:45 am
@Transformation:
Why the denigrating language to Frans’s humble, down to earth statement? What need drives you to make such an unprovoked post?
9 Mar 2010, 09:46 am
@brains_trust: Einstein walks further and comes accross R2D2.
“What’s your IQ?”
“Sorry, I’m don’t have a brain, and I need at least half a brain to have an IQ!”
Einstein-very apologetically, replies:”Shame, you must be brains_trusts twin boet. Be sure to convey my sympathy when you see him next!”
9 Mar 2010, 09:51 am
@Tisme:
Was he a good coach at a bad union?
Hell, I think that one is self-explanatory. Nothing has changed, if you look at the trophy closet.
No guys, you will go a very long way to find a better coach or one more in tune with his players.
9 Mar 2010, 09:54 am
It will be four from four after this weekend – 20 points on the log too. Need another 16 to make sure of playoffs.
9 Mar 2010, 09:54 am
@Tisme:
I think the impact of coaches is overrated. In the English premiership they did a study which concluded that the exhorbitant fees paid to club managers are really unjustified, as they had very little impact on the performance of their teams. Instead, it was found that the performance of teams was largely correlated to the amount of money they spent on player aquisitions.
I think what DOES make a difference, is the “fit” between players, coaches, structures, team environment, team culture and management.
Frans fits perfectly into the current Bulls environment. I think he is as good a coach as Jake White, or John Plumtree or Robbie Deans. But I think that Frans can do better in the Bulls unique environment than any of those other coaches would be able to do.
Heyeneke’s brilliance was his ability to build the necessary structures to get the Bulls player base to the top again as well as his ability to emotionally motivate his players. Frans joined them at the right time to continue where Heyneke left off, and is doing an adimirable job.
Pick the most suitable coach, not the one with the best credentials. As an example, what has Robbie Deans achieved with Australia? What has Nick Mallet achieved with Italy? What is **** Muir achieving at the Lions?
Frans could go ahead and build a 10 year legacy of success and achievement at the Bulls. Why? Because he is more SUITABLE to coaching us than the likes of Alan Solomans (who Keo was backing at the time), or Jake White or other coaches of their ilk.
It’s about the right fit, in the end.
9 Mar 2010, 09:58 am
“What have we done? We’ve won our home games. With the greatest humility”
shame then that some, not all, of your fans dont share that humility…
9 Mar 2010, 09:59 am
@Tacitus:
so what you are saying is that a bone-head ******** coach is most suited to the Bulls culture – I AGREE 100%
9 Mar 2010, 10:00 am
@Bill Reyts: ah yes, beaten them before kickoff, always the best way to win a game… still, with four Saffas in control of this one, I guess Id have to agree with you
9 Mar 2010, 10:00 am
@Tacitus: lol…his statement is neither humble nor down-to-earth, in fact it is simply prosaic, akin to stuff like “rome wasn’t built in a day”
9 Mar 2010, 10:01 am
@poppa69: Oh I’m not a Bull by the way! Just know it is going to happen.
9 Mar 2010, 10:01 am
@Transformation:
Get that chip of your shoulder.
9 Mar 2010, 10:02 am
@Tacitus: Thanks for your view
9 Mar 2010, 10:02 am
so what you are saying is that a b0ne-head d-u-t-c-h-m-a-n coach is most suited to the Bulls culture – I AGREE 100%
9 Mar 2010, 10:05 am
KEO is giving away Patrizio’s new album.
Who is Patrizio.
9 Mar 2010, 10:06 am
@Bill Reyts: like you did last year when the highlanders beat them? being the team to beat, every team will raise a notch to try to knock them over..
Tahs a good example, played really well against the Bulls and did trouble them, then they put in that awful performance against the sharks…
while I tend to agree with you that the Bulls SHOULD win this one, nothing is given in a game of rugby… how will the week off effect their timing? has it stalled the momentum they gathered from the first 3 games? will the players be over-confident given the landers poor form last week? will the landers raise their game due to being embarassed about their performance last week?
9 Mar 2010, 10:06 am
Brains trust
Was there ever a more ironic nom de plume?
9 Mar 2010, 10:07 am
@brains_trust: cool comment …
9 Mar 2010, 10:07 am
@Transformation: ag ou transie, you are so negative in anything that relates to the Bulls…… maybe you should give credit where it is due….. ag forget it….
The bulls would rather want to lose one of their home games like the Stormers to achieve something!
9 Mar 2010, 10:08 am
@Dawn: You will like him Dawn. Good looking Italian fellow with a half decent voice. Google him, tall, dark and relatively talented.
9 Mar 2010, 10:09 am
@poppa69: Trust me mate! 20 points after this weekend. It is given.
9 Mar 2010, 10:11 am
@Bill Reyts: 5 from the ref, 5 each from the touchies and the TMO..
I dont think its as clear cut as that, the landers know how to beat the bulls, and they have the size in the forwards to do it…I think it will be a lot closer then most imagine..
9 Mar 2010, 10:11 am
@gunther: whatever? do you want me to call a spade a shovel? – I call it as it is.
9 Mar 2010, 10:12 am
@Tacitus: #30 lol
oh, you saw it fit to also chip in with a cliche of you own (excuse the pun)
9 Mar 2010, 10:13 am
@poppa69: I hope you right.
9 Mar 2010, 10:13 am
brains trust
whatever?
are you like twelve years old ?
9 Mar 2010, 10:14 am
@Transformation: Its pretty cliche calling other peoples cliches cliche rather than addressing what they have to say.
9 Mar 2010, 10:14 am
@gunther: you bore me…
9 Mar 2010, 10:15 am
@gunther: Let him be. It is a waste om time saying anything to him.
9 Mar 2010, 10:15 am
@brains_trust: Oh so very very mature, does your mother know that you blog?
9 Mar 2010, 10:18 am
Brains trust
Keep talking out your bum and I’ll keep boring you,.
Bonehead..
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