No regrets for Ludeke

Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke stood by his decision to play Handre Pollard at inside centre in the Currie Cup semifinal at Newlands.

The Pretoria side were forced to play catch-up after a horror first half, and although they managed to mount a late charge with Pollard operating at flyhalf they ultimately came up short, putting an end to their season.

However, Ludeke said that he backed the decision to give the No.10 jersey to the more experienced Jacques-Louis Potgieter.

"Obviously there will always be turnovers and mistakes and stuff like that. I thought Pottie's [Jacques-Louis Potgieter] kick just before half-time was a special conversion and it gave the players a little bit of belief.

"Handre [Pollard] in those last 20 minutes he made a difference at 10, a different style and a different approach to the gainline which gave us a little bit of momentum," he said.

The Bulls boss acknowledged that Province had been the better team on the day, and paid tribute to his side's fighting end to the season.

"We know what we have for the future and I think that is important. It was always going to be a huge battle for us to get a result here [Newlands], but we are happy with what happened through the season as well.

"In the second half we applied pressure on them and really tried to fight our way back into the game but their defence kept us out and they played well, they deserved to win," he said.

Ludeke said that he expects Province to go on and win the final at home next week, but cautioned that if any team has what it takes to cause an upset at Newlands it is the Lions.

"You always have to back the home team, we have been in finals playing at home and it is a huge battle for any side coming here.

"Through the season they were the in-form side, but then again finals are there to be won and the Lions have got a game that can cause an upset," he added.

By Michael de Vries