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Cape Town - Bulls coach Frans Ludeke is not worried about their dismal Super Rugby record against the Highlanders, as they prepare to face the men from Dunedin at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
According to the Beeld website, the Highlanders have proven the toughest New Zealand team for the Bulls over the years, with the men from Pretoria only winning four out of 15 clashes since 1998 - a winning percentage of 26.7%.
Since Ludeke took over at the Bulls in 2008, they have lost two of four games against the Highlanders - in 2011 at Loftus by 28-35 and 11-16 in Dunedin last year.
But the 'Landers have struggled this year, winning only one of 10 games, and currently occupy last spot on the overall log. The Bulls on the other hand are hot favourites for a playoff spot and lie third with seven wins from 10 games.
Ludeke, however, feels not much can be taken from statistics.
"I think statistics are only important to a guy who has an opinion and wants to prove it.
"We know what they're capable of. And what was important for us this week was how we react to things within out control."
The clash at Loftus kicks off at 17:05 on Saturday.
Teams:
Bulls:
15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Lionel Mapoe, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Morne Mellett
Substitutes: 16 Callie Visagie, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Grant Hattingh, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Louis Fouche, 22 Bjorn Basson
Highlanders:
15. Ben Smith, 14. Tino Nemani, 13. Tamati Ellison, 12. Shaun Treeby, 11. Hosea Gear, 10. Colin Slade, 9. Aaron Smith, 8. Mose Tuiali’i, 7. John Hardie, 6. Joe Wheeler, 5. Jarrad Hoeata, 4. Brad Thorn, 3. Chris King, 2. Andrew Hore (captain), 1. Jamie Mackintosh
Substitutes: 16. Liam Coltman , 17. Tony Woodcock , 18. Elliot Dixon , 19. TJ Ioane , 20. Fumiaki Tanaka , 21. Hayden Parker , 22. Jason Emery
According to the Beeld website, the Highlanders have proven the toughest New Zealand team for the Bulls over the years, with the men from Pretoria only winning four out of 15 clashes since 1998 - a winning percentage of 26.7%.
Since Ludeke took over at the Bulls in 2008, they have lost two of four games against the Highlanders - in 2011 at Loftus by 28-35 and 11-16 in Dunedin last year.
But the 'Landers have struggled this year, winning only one of 10 games, and currently occupy last spot on the overall log. The Bulls on the other hand are hot favourites for a playoff spot and lie third with seven wins from 10 games.
Ludeke, however, feels not much can be taken from statistics.
"I think statistics are only important to a guy who has an opinion and wants to prove it.
"We know what they're capable of. And what was important for us this week was how we react to things within out control."
The clash at Loftus kicks off at 17:05 on Saturday.
Teams:
Bulls:
15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Lionel Mapoe, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Morne Mellett
Substitutes: 16 Callie Visagie, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Grant Hattingh, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Louis Fouche, 22 Bjorn Basson
Highlanders:
15. Ben Smith, 14. Tino Nemani, 13. Tamati Ellison, 12. Shaun Treeby, 11. Hosea Gear, 10. Colin Slade, 9. Aaron Smith, 8. Mose Tuiali’i, 7. John Hardie, 6. Joe Wheeler, 5. Jarrad Hoeata, 4. Brad Thorn, 3. Chris King, 2. Andrew Hore (captain), 1. Jamie Mackintosh
Substitutes: 16. Liam Coltman , 17. Tony Woodcock , 18. Elliot Dixon , 19. TJ Ioane , 20. Fumiaki Tanaka , 21. Hayden Parker , 22. Jason Emery
