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Pretoria – The Bulls will not “point fingers” at the Stormers over their lineout problems or their apparent inability to score tries in the build-up to Saturday’s big Super Rugby match here at Loftus Versfeld.
“People who live in glass houses should not throw stones,” Bulls coach Frans Ludeke said on Monday after his team’s short but intense training session.
It was the first time that the team re-convened following their defeat to the Highlanders.
There was some straight talk on Monday and all the negative emotions from that game are out of their system, Ludeke said.
“We are now just focusing on Saturday. The team is always motivated when it’s the Stormers. The focus is not on the opponent, but on what we need to do to be successful on Saturday.
“We worked on a few things that weren’t right and believe that it will yield the desired result.”
Ludeke admitted that defence was one of the major talking points in the team session.
“Considering how easily we have been conceding tries, we are not in a position to comment on the Stormers’ lack of tries,” said the coach.
He also did not feel like saying much about the lineouts. Ludeke was aware of statistics showing that the visitors are under pressure in that area. The Stormers only won 77% of their lineouts against the Highlanders, 84% against the Cheetahs and 64% against the Lions.
Some of their problems are down to the throwing of Deon Fourie, but Ludeke rather pointed to the fact that the number of full lineouts have dramatically decreased this year.
“The guys are taking quick lineouts everywhere. It helps when you have a competitive lineout like ours, but it’s not necessarily something that will be an asset on any given day.”
Ludeke did not want to talk much about his options for the final team selection, but he will definitely find a spot for Bakkies Botha, who has recovered from his bruised foot. The injury kept him out of the Highlanders game.
Gary Botha and Francois Hougaard have fitness tests on Tuesday, but judging by the way they worked with fitness expert Stephen Plummer on Monday, they are set to pass it.
“I will rather wait for confirmation that they can play before saying anything about team selection,” said Ludeke.
Both are expected to be involved. Gary Botha should be in the starting line-up, with Chiliboy Ralepelle set to move to the bench, while Hougaard is likely to be one of just two backline substitutes. Jaco van der Westhuyzen is likely to be the other.
That will allow Ludeke to pick five forwards on the bench and send both Danie Rossouw and Flip van der Merwe on as impact players. Derick Kuün is set to cover the fetching flank position off the bench.
“We have to dominate and control the gain line,” Ludeke said in providing a clue to the Bulls’ approach.
Pretoria – The Bulls will not “point fingers” at the Stormers over their lineout problems or their apparent inability to score tries in the build-up to Saturday’s big Super Rugby match here at Loftus Versfeld.
“People who live in glass houses should not throw stones,” Bulls coach Frans Ludeke said on Monday after his team’s short but intense training session.
It was the first time that the team re-convened following their defeat to the Highlanders.
There was some straight talk on Monday and all the negative emotions from that game are out of their system, Ludeke said.
“We are now just focusing on Saturday. The team is always motivated when it’s the Stormers. The focus is not on the opponent, but on what we need to do to be successful on Saturday.
“We worked on a few things that weren’t right and believe that it will yield the desired result.”
Ludeke admitted that defence was one of the major talking points in the team session.
“Considering how easily we have been conceding tries, we are not in a position to comment on the Stormers’ lack of tries,” said the coach.
He also did not feel like saying much about the lineouts. Ludeke was aware of statistics showing that the visitors are under pressure in that area. The Stormers only won 77% of their lineouts against the Highlanders, 84% against the Cheetahs and 64% against the Lions.
Some of their problems are down to the throwing of Deon Fourie, but Ludeke rather pointed to the fact that the number of full lineouts have dramatically decreased this year.
“The guys are taking quick lineouts everywhere. It helps when you have a competitive lineout like ours, but it’s not necessarily something that will be an asset on any given day.”
Ludeke did not want to talk much about his options for the final team selection, but he will definitely find a spot for Bakkies Botha, who has recovered from his bruised foot. The injury kept him out of the Highlanders game.
Gary Botha and Francois Hougaard have fitness tests on Tuesday, but judging by the way they worked with fitness expert Stephen Plummer on Monday, they are set to pass it.
“I will rather wait for confirmation that they can play before saying anything about team selection,” said Ludeke.
Both are expected to be involved. Gary Botha should be in the starting line-up, with Chiliboy Ralepelle set to move to the bench, while Hougaard is likely to be one of just two backline substitutes. Jaco van der Westhuyzen is likely to be the other.
That will allow Ludeke to pick five forwards on the bench and send both Danie Rossouw and Flip van der Merwe on as impact players. Derick Kuün is set to cover the fetching flank position off the bench.
“We have to dominate and control the gain line,” Ludeke said in providing a clue to the Bulls’ approach.
