Bulls: Reds should expect no mercy
The Reds should not expect the start of their South African safari to be a picnic.
In fact they should be prepared for a stampede by a herd of angry Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
While the Reds are determined to end their five-match losing streak, the Bulls are still hurting from a last-minute loss to neighbours the Lions in a trans-Jukskei derby last week.
Even though the Reds are last on the standings and the Bulls top the South African conference, they are not going to treat the men from Brisbane as easybeats.
Coach Frans Ludeke, who spoke to rugby365 ahead of Saturday's Round Nine Super Rugby outing at Loftus Versfeld, said they have the utmost respect for a Reds team with many senior players and lost of star quality.
He said there are simply no easy games in Super Rugby and used their last-minute 18-22 loss to the Lions last week as the perfect example of how quickly possible victory can be snatched from your grasp.
"This will also be a close contest," Ludeke said of the Reds' visit to Pretoria.
"What we have seen of them is a team that plays with width, works hard for front-foot ball and getting momentum.
"They are at their most dangerous when they start to offload in the contact. They also have good line-speed on defence."
However, it was last week's injury-time loss that drives the Bulls hardest.
"One thing about this competition, every week is a new game," Ludeke told rugby365, adding: "We are also determined to get a win, as we are coming off a loss to the Lions.
"It is a crucial games for us, a home game in which we must bounce back from last week's loss."
While the coach admitted his team could have managed the last minute or two against the Lions much better, he said he still has belief in his team.
"We know what makes us a strong and dangerous team," he said.
"We created enough opportunities in the game [against the Lions], there were just a few we did not turn into points.
"While there were many positives to take from the game, at the end of the day the result is what matters most – that is why it is so important for us to get a win this weekend."
He said that topping the SA conference at this stage of the season is not important, as there is a long road ahead.
"We are not blind to the fact that it is a long season and there is still plenty of rugby to be played," Ludeke said.
"It is about where your are [on the standings] at the end of the season.
"We want to be in the running at the end of the season, that is why we are working hard on improving every week.
"It is important that there is consistency in our performance."
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
