Ludeke: Brumbies the 'real deal'
The Brumbies may have had an up-and-down season so far, but they are genuine contenders for the 2015 Super Rugby title.
This is the view of Bulls coach Frans Ludeke, after his team lost 16-22 to a determined Brumbies outfit in Canberra on Friday.
The result saw the Brumbies return to the top of the Australian conference and dented the Bulls' play-off hopes.
Wing Henry Speight scored two of the Brumbies' three tries.
Although the Bulls still had a winning chance in the final minutes, their own erroneous ways cost them a chance of a late winner.
The Brumbies leapfrogged the Waratahs to the top of the Australian conference – ahead of the defending champions' match against the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The loss left the Pretoria-based Bulls five points outside the Super Rugby play-off positions, with just two games left and they are still without a win in Australasia for over three years.
"They definitely have a chance," Ludeke told a post-match media briefing in Canberra.
"[They are] the best defensive outfit and they scored a lot of tries as well, the balance is there."
The Bulls coach said another attribute that makes the Brumbies championship material is that they have "big-match-temperament".
"When the big games come up, like this one, they know how to guts it out," he said, adding: "They know how to play smart, play field position and use their opportunities.
"The games they lost this season were all close contests.
"They are definitely huge contenders in the competition."
Ludeke admitted his team, while still holding out hope of reaching the Super Rugby play-offs, now need some favours from other teams.
Both the coach and captain Pierre Spies said the game in Canberra turned on the two tries by the Brumbies' Fijian-born Wallaby wing Henry Speight.
Replacement lock Jordan Smiler scored the Brumbies' opening try in the 30th minute, after a bad defensive read by Bulls centre Burger Odendaal, for the Brumbies to lead 8-6 at half-time.
Speight beat off tackles by Handré Pollard and Odendaal to score his first try six minutes after the resumption and was over again after brushing off a weak effort from JJ Engelbrecht close to the Bulls tryline in the 57th minute.
"I thought that was the difference," an obviously disappointed Ludeke said of two brilliant moments from Speight.
"We also couldn't retain possession, which was the other big difference. We created opportunities and were in the contest for 80 minutes. However, it was just one more opportunity we needed to convert."
He also felt the Brumbies were more effective at breakdown.
"Their rush defence shut us down behind our supporters and then they flooded the ruck. They made some vital turnovers."
Spies also felt the game that turned on one or two moments, saying the tries from Henry Speight were "really special".
"We spent too much time in our own half and didn't get enough attacking opportunities," Spies said, adding: "When we got hold of the ball, we couldn't hold onto the ball.
"You have to give credit to the Brumbies, for the way they put pressure on at the breakdown.
"It is all about the opportunities you convert and miss."
Both Ludeke and Spies said they must work hard to get victory in the last match on tour – against the Rebels next week.
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