Bulls jump at chance to put 2014 behind them

19 January 2015 - 02:00 By Chumani Bambani
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Bulls coach Frans Ludeke.
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke.

The Bulls will be back in action this week, playing in the first of two warm-up matches. But their focus is already fixed on their Valentine's Day date with the Stormers in their opening match of the Super rugby season.

Last season the side from Pretoria finished yet another season without a trophy. They were ninth in Super rugby and went as far as the semifinal of the Currie Cup.

Few were impressed by their overall performances last year, and this was evidenced by the dwindling number of fans who came out to watch the side at Loftus.

The side has been hard at work for the approaching season - one that could prove to be make or break for coach Frans Ludeke.

"We did the hard yards in November and December. I must say the players also worked hard over the Christmas break. It was a well-deserved break after a long season," Ludeke said about his side's preparations so far.

"You could see when they came back that they worked hard during the break, even though they were away from the game and from each other. We continue from almost where we left off. The preparation is more game-related now, more detailed, trying to put together the pieces of the puzzle that make our game work."

The Bulls face the Cheetahs in a warm-up match in Polokwane on Saturday, and next week they travel to London to take on Saracens.

Ludeke is likely to blood youngsters against Cheetahs at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, while his strong-est outfit is likely to be on the field against Sarries.

"All the players who are here we would like to give a chance, especially some of the youngsters who have not played at this level.

"In these two games we want to know where we stand with them. We know exactly where we want to go for that first game against the Stormers. We are working towards that game in terms of selection," Ludeke said.

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