Bulls will 'run their own race'
The Bulls know all about being top dogs and having a chasing pack bearing down on you. As three-time champions they have been there before.
Coach Frans Ludeke, speaking to this website during the build-up to his team's Round 13 Super Rugby showdown with the Highlanders in Dunedin, said they are well aware that there is plenty of rugby still to be played.
Coming off only their second clean sweep of Australia, wins over the Rebels and Waratahs, the Bulls mentor felt it is important that they focus on themselves, rather than worry about the sideshows.
"We had a good win [a last-minute 27-24 triumph over the Waratahs] at the weekend and some other [top] teams lost," he said of the Chiefs, who stumbled against the defending champion Reds, as well as the Crusaders who lost to the Rebels, a team the Bulls beat the week before.
"We don't have control over everything," he said of other results, adding: "The important thing is that you must run your own race and do your own thing.
"We will work hard to ensure we get our players in a good space and arrive in Dunedin refreshed … with all the niggles sorted out and our [game] plan on the table."
He said the Highlanders present the Bulls with another enormous challenge, a physically bruising team that focus on the breakdown in order to disrupt the opposition.
However, they also have to be alert on defence, as the Highlanders have shown they can be devastating on the counter.
"We will have to be very accurate at the breakdown, to ensure we create good opportunities and retain the ball to build pressure – to ensure we get into good areas and put the points on the board," Ludeke told this website.
"Defence will also be important, as they are a team that enjoys keeping the ball in hand and put the opposition under pressure.
"Our tackling will have to be spot on."
As was the case in their last-minute win against the Waratahs last week, the Bull will again have to produce an 80-minute effort.
They have learnt the hard way, following a three-try blitz by the Brumbies in the last 10 minutes – which saw the Aussie franchise come back from 13-36 down, to close to within two points (34-36) of the Bulls.
Another lapse like that could be costly.
"When you play against teams who retain the ball for long periods you will be under pressure," the coach said, adding: "If you have to make over 200 tackles it place a huge demand on your players and we have come through situations like that in two games now [making in the region of 200 tackles].
"We do feel we have the endurance to keep it [that kind of defence] up for 80 minutes. This past weekend it was vital to be up for it for 80 minutes, put up good [defensive] lines and that will be the standard we would like to maintain against the Highlanders."
He said the experience gained from coming back against a strong Tahs team in Sydney last week, to win 27-24 with a converted try in the dying stages of the match, will stand them on good stead as move towards the business end of the season.
"In the weeks to come we are going to be in that situation often," Ludeke said of his team's ability to close out tight games.
"It is great to be in that situation, under pressure, and come through it with a win.
"We must use that as a starting point to build for the next game.
"All the teams still have plenty to play for and every game now is vital."
By Jan de Koning
