Bulls look for answers

But Ludeke has admitted that his coaching team are still “looking for answers” in certain positions and they are hopeful that the one set of games is enough to give them clarity on the way forward in the defence of their Vodacom Super 14 title.

“We are looking for answers to a number of questions, and we want those answers this weekend,” Ludeke told Supersport.com

“There is still a bit of time to adjust but one of the big things will be to let the guys play for 80 minutes this weekend. As far as possible we need to give them as much game time in the match as we only have one warm-up game and we need to make the best use of it that we can.”

The Bulls coach is particularly keen to see the impact that a few replacements make now that he has had to keep eight Springboks on the sidelines. Derick Kuun at flank, Jacques-Louis Potgieter at inside centre; Flip van der Merwe at lock and John Mametsa all have a chance to make a solid impression ahead of the Super 14 season.

“The big thing is to have – as close as possible – the best combinations in tune for the first game of the Super 14,” Ludeke explained.

“It will be good to see what the dynamics are of this team, and how certain combinations perform together – for instance Derick Kuun and Deon Stegmann at flank. Someone like Pottie (Jacques-Louis Potgieter) is a flyhalf specialist, but it will be interesting to see what he does at inside centre. He is versatile enough to take us over the advantage line.

“It is a reward as well for a number of players to try and prove themselves. Flip will play with Victor for the first time in his career and it is a wonderful opportunity for someone like him. John Mametsa is a clever player and his work rate is second to none.

“It’s a good combination and we know where we want to go to. There are just a few small tests that we want to do with combinations and then we will have our answers.”

Ludeke said that while the team had trained hard over the last two months, there was no substitution for a match situation. Even though he wouldn’t say it, there was a bit of a disappointment in the Bulls camp that the Lions didn’t pick their strongest side for the main game.

“The important thing is to have a game situation at this stage. When you are there, the adrenaline will pump and there are collisions. All teams have warm-up games at this stage and whatever team you play against will be motivated to prove themselves.”

Ludeke also admitted that the decision to rest players like Pierre Spies, Wynand Olivier and Danie Rossouw for the Polokwane match was a difficult one, but that it was the right decision considering how long the season would be and the physical toll it would take on players.

“The injured guys haven’t been cleared 100 percent. By next week they will probably be ready. To risk a guy like that for this game, and then perhaps he gets injured, and then he is out, doesn’t make sense.

“We are on track with their rehabilitation programmes and we felt rather to let them have another week.”

The first of the two games kicks off at 16:00, followed by the main game at 18:00.