Bulls 'just not good enough'
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke this week stood his ground, amidst rumours of a mass players exodus and speculation over his own future.
Speaking in a teleconference from Melbourne, ahead of their final tour match against the Rebels on Saturday, Ludeke confirmed that he is schedule to meet with the Bulls board next week to discuss his future.
However, he dismissed the notion that the team's slump in form – they lost to the Blues, Chiefs and Brumbies – is the result of off-field disturbances.
Ludeke said the team's slide – from second on the global standings and top of the South African conference, to ninth overall and third in SA – is because the execution of individual players was simply not good enough.
Ludeke admitted that some senior players had not yet renewed their contracts and have overseas offers on the table. This include captain Pierre Spies, with utility back Francois Hougaard having confirmed that he will head to Japan after the World Cup.
However, he said in discussions with these players there was no indication that these issues were distracting them.
"All the guys who we haven't signed contracts, we had talks with them," the coach said, adding: "There are overseas teams also speaking to them.
"However, there's no worries about that. I don't think that is the main issue [distraction]."
He added that their downfall is because their execution is not good enough between the four lines.
"The players are working hard, we are just not getting the results," Ludeke added.
Asked about his own position, he said he does not want to go down that road when he has an important match coming up.
"I can't make that decision, so I don't give it energy," he said of reports that he will be replaced at the end of the season – with Bok lock Victor Matfield and scrumhalf Fourie du Preez linked to a new-look coaching panel in 2016.
"I have a job to do, this is a must-win match for us," he said of Saturday's encounter with the Rebels, adding: "We owe it to ourselves.
"We were second on the standings when the tour started – we were in a very good situation.
"I didn't change from four weeks ago, I am the same person – the team also, exactly the same. We just didn't get the results and that I will take responsibility for.
"I have respect for the people that appointed me and if their feelings changed about me, I can't do nothing about it.
"They know me well enough now – I have been at the Bulls for eight years. My job is to ensure we finish well. Obviously we are in a situation we don't enjoy. We want to still be in the running and make the play-offs and we will fight to the last game. Yes, we do need favours, but there is still hope and that is my focus.
"I had good discussion with the board and we spoke about the future and it was positive conversations – about the small changes we can make and players we like to recruit to improve the system.
"We have a board meeting a week from Friday and then we will know. I do not want to jump the gun before that meeting."
The Bulls mentor was also adamant that the slide of the team's form on tour was not down to selection issues or resting players, but rather individual errors.
"We did create some great opportunities with ball in hand, but we didn't finish them all – that was the issue.
"Last week [a 16-22 loss to the Brumbies] we just couldn't retain possession – we made 26 turnovers. That's just not good enough, for any side."
He said the crucial aspect is discipline with ball in hand and retaining possession.
"Those are the things that hurt us most in last week's game. The previous week against the Chiefs the attacking mindset was definitely there. There was a period, for about 20 minutes in the second half, where we went back into our shells."
He said the Bulls do want to play an expansive game, but just seem unable to retain possession.
He said on occasions last week they got in behind the Brumbies, but then players kicked possession away with nothing grubbers. He added that there are many ways to score tries – through mauls, from set phases and by breaking the line after just one or two phases. However, he felt they just haven't got the balance right.
"We take that [the criticism], because we don't want to hide or make excuses.
"It is just not good enough. That is why this weekend is so important, we want to fix that."
He said team selection did not impact on the games, but rather errors which prevented them from converting the pressure they created into points.
"Individual errors cost us," he said, adding: "One or two guys who didn't have a good game – that cost us.
"[There was an occasion when] we were five metres from the line, lost the ball in contact, the opposition kicks it 50 metres downfield and get a scoring opportunity straight away. That was a 14-point swing and away from home those are big moments."
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
