The value of Strauss in blue
Seasoned Springbok Adriaan Strauss will mot have to adjust or change his game to fit into the Bulls culture.
Strauss, back in Pretoria after a almost a decade playing for the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, will start in his first game the Bulls when they host the Stormers in a big north-south Super Rugby derby at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Along with fellow Boks Pieter Labuschagne and Trevor Nyakane, both also recruited from the Cheetahs in the off-season, the Bulls will look to the added muscle to help them get their season off to a winning start.
And they should slot into the Bulls set-up seamlessly – because they can keep on playing just as they did at the Cheetahs.
"Throughout South Africa the role of a loosehead [prop] will be the same and the role of the hooker will stay the same [from team to team] as well," Ludeke told rugby365, when asked if there was a need to make adjustments.
"Their primary function would be the set pieces and their secondary role would be what they can do outside the set pieces.
"That is the beauty of [Springbok coach] Heyneke [Meyer], who has a basic blueprint that all the players and teams subscribe to.
Yes, there are differences – some teams attack the advantage line differently, maybe make use of tactical kicking.
"However, the role of the [various] positions are basically the same.
"There isn't that much of a difference how Naka [Drotské, the Cheetahs coach] utilised them and how they play with us."
The other value that Strauss brings is his workrate and effectiveness at the breakdown.
"That is a big strength of his," Ludeke said of the hooker's ability to contest the breakdown.
"He is very competitive at the breakdown and a strong ball carrier.
"He also rings a lot of experience on defence – he takes responsibility for [defence on] the blindside.
"He is also a good communicator and is a strong leader at the Cheetahs, so that brings stability in the front row."
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
* Listen to Ludeke as he talks to @King365ed about Saturday's big game at Loftus Versfeld, scrum problems and the decision to bench captain Pierre Spies!
