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Cape Town - Bulls coach Frans Ludeke is wary of their Super Rugby clash against the Lions as he feels there's a greater team unity at the Lions since the departure of John Mitchell as coach.
Mitchell was suspended as coach last month after a group of players presented a 'list of grievances' to GLRU president Kevin de Klerk. They were apparently unhappy with the way in which Mitchell had been treating them.
The Lions have again had a dismal Super Rugby season, winning only three of 15 games and occupying last spot on the log.
Johan Ackermann has since taken over as interim coach and Ludeke feels they're now a different prospect.
"The Lions are playing with greater dedication. You can see there's a unit now," he told Beeld.
"It is visible in the manner in which they defend and attack."
And Ludeke knows full well a slip-up against the Lions at Loftus Versfeld this weekend could bring their Super Rugby campaign to an abrupt end.
They are currently in fifth spot on the overall log with 54 points.
While they still hold their fate in their own hands, they did not do themselves any favours with last week’s 32-10 loss to the Sharks in Durban.
“We are one of the teams that are in a do-or-die situation, so you can’t get too worried about it,” Ludeke told SAPA.
“We just need to make sure we do what we have to do on Saturday.
“The mindset at the moment is that we make sure we get a result on Saturday," said Ludeke.
The clash at Loftus Versfeld kicks off at 19:10 on Saturday evening.
Teams:
Bulls:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Mornè Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Jacques Potgieter, 5 Juandrè Kruger, 4 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling
Substitutes: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Deon Stegmann, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Louis Fouchè, 22 Francois Venter
Lions:
15 James Kamana, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Butch James, 11 Anthonie Volminck, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (captain), 7 Grant Hattingh, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg
Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Etienne Oosthuizen, 19 Jaco Kriel, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 JR Esterhuizen, 22 Ruan Combrinck
Mitchell was suspended as coach last month after a group of players presented a 'list of grievances' to GLRU president Kevin de Klerk. They were apparently unhappy with the way in which Mitchell had been treating them.
The Lions have again had a dismal Super Rugby season, winning only three of 15 games and occupying last spot on the log.
Johan Ackermann has since taken over as interim coach and Ludeke feels they're now a different prospect.
"The Lions are playing with greater dedication. You can see there's a unit now," he told Beeld.
"It is visible in the manner in which they defend and attack."
And Ludeke knows full well a slip-up against the Lions at Loftus Versfeld this weekend could bring their Super Rugby campaign to an abrupt end.
They are currently in fifth spot on the overall log with 54 points.
While they still hold their fate in their own hands, they did not do themselves any favours with last week’s 32-10 loss to the Sharks in Durban.
“We are one of the teams that are in a do-or-die situation, so you can’t get too worried about it,” Ludeke told SAPA.
“We just need to make sure we do what we have to do on Saturday.
“The mindset at the moment is that we make sure we get a result on Saturday," said Ludeke.
The clash at Loftus Versfeld kicks off at 19:10 on Saturday evening.
Teams:
Bulls:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Mornè Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Jacques Potgieter, 5 Juandrè Kruger, 4 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling
Substitutes: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Deon Stegmann, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Louis Fouchè, 22 Francois Venter
Lions:
15 James Kamana, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Butch James, 11 Anthonie Volminck, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (captain), 7 Grant Hattingh, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg
Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Etienne Oosthuizen, 19 Jaco Kriel, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 JR Esterhuizen, 22 Ruan Combrinck
