Bulls must 'shut down Sarel'

Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke has pointed to scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius and lock Francois Uys as the biggest threat in their Currie Cup showdown with the Free State Cheetahs.

The Bulls travel to Bloemfontein on Friday for a must-win Round Eight encounter with the Cheetahs, hoping to keep their fast-fading play-off hopes alive.

Their 15-26 loss to the Sharks last week meant the Bulls have dropped down to sixth place on the standings – five points behind the fifth-placed Cheetahs and the Pumas in fourth.

"We still have a chance and that is all that matters," Ludeke told rugby365 in an interview, ahead of Friday's outing.

"We have to make sure we are there [in the play-offs] at the end and that is why Friday is vital [that we get a win]," Ludeke said.

Given their 'backs-to-the-wall' situation, the Bulls coach said it is important they get a good start in Bloemfontein.

"We need to ensure we retain possession in the right areas," he said, adding: "From broken play our defence has to be spot-on.

"They have in Sarel [Pretorius] a player who creates lots of energy for them with ball in hand.

"He makes lots of carries and brings a lot to the game.

"The same applies to [lock] Francois Uys.

"Those are the guys we need to ensure we don't five them any room – that is the challenge."

Ludeke re-iterated that they have to control possession if they are to stay alive in the play-off race.

And they also have to rely on their own strengths.

"Our scrum earned us good rewards [against the Sharks] last week and it is going to be another huge battle [in Bloemfontein]," he told rugby365.

"We need to get the same initiative in that facet.

"We also need to ensure our line-out functions, so that we can create opportunities."

He also spoke of the need for the players to have the right attitude in what is a vital game for the men from Pretoria.

By Jan de Koning