The Vodacom Bulls have dismissed worries about the quality of their scrum ahead of this year’s Vodacom Super Rugby series.
Eyebrows were raised after Saturday’s pre-season loss to the Stormers, and while the team have pronounced themselves happy with their performance in the 26 / 19 loss, a question mark still hangs over the set piece.
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In both 2012 and 2013 the Bulls were the most penalised team in the set piece, and while hard work rectified it in the second half of last year’s tournament, they will need to correct the perception that it is a weakness.
Those who were in Polokwane spoke of how well the Stormers scrum did against the Bulls, with coach Allister Coetzee spouting about his team’s performance in the set piece.
But back at Loftus Versfeld the Bulls aren’t exactly panicking about their scrum. They believe the penalties they conceded were technical and there is more than enough time to put their scrums right.
“We were on the wrong side of the whistle in the scrums and we did concede a few penalties. We looked at it and we know what we must change,” coach Frans Ludeke told supersport.com.
“We were happy with our lineouts and especially our maul – the Stormers are a side that defends. It was what we wanted, tough opposition and our systems were tested well. It was the icebreaker for us, to shake off the rust, that first game and we are positive and are looking forward to the start of the season.”
The concern for the Bulls is that they face one of the toughest tests of the season in week one of the competition. It may be overdoing the point but when the Sharks are likely to field an all-Springbok front row on February 15 when the two sides meet in their season openers, the Bulls’ scrum will have to be 100% ready for what is to come.
While the Stormers have crowed about their performance, the Bulls feel they are well on track for where they want to be in the opening week of the competition, and have played down the concerns.
“It was a good battle, there were times when the Stormers got the reward because they were technically better. There were times we got the reward for what we did right, so it was a battle for the entire game. But we’re not worried,” Ludeke said.
“Now it is more a case of fine tuning, there are a few areas we need to work on before the season starts.”
Part of that process will be deciding who will be the starting props for the Sharks clash. Dean Greyling and Werner Kruger, both Springboks, lost some ground in the past year as they struggled upfront but both have been spending a lot of time ensuring their technique is correct while Frik Kirsten became a touring Bok last year and is highly rated to continue his upward movement.
Then there is Morne Mellett, who is still recovering from a back injury, and alongside Marcel van der Merwe will challenge Greyling for the loosehead spot.
Whoever is selected, a fiery baptism awaits in Durban, and whatever problems there were in Polokwane will need to be sorted out before the season starts.
It’s not that the Bulls do not have the right props to scrum well, it is that they insist that Dean Greyling and Werner Kruger are their prime and starting props… which is the concern.
How long must we all show the inadequacies of Greyling and Kruger and how long do we have to beg that Morné Mellet & Frik Kirsten be the starting prop pair!!
@ grootblousmile:
Why worry. In the Varsity Cup games the other evening the ref’s were making sure the props didn’t lose their bind(s) by holding up the TH’s elbow.
What a croc of poo.
In reality these “friendlies” count for shit all.
If the Lions got points for pre-season friendlies they’d never get a wooden spoon!
@ Scrumdown:
@ grootblousmile:
Have to agree. If you see a player struggle game after game after game, year after year, it is time to think. Can they be “at the wrong end of the whistle” for two years, or is it time to give someone else a go?
5 @ Blue Traveller:
I asked Frans Ludeke the pertinent question twice at open Press Conferences after Super Rugby games late during the last rounds of Super Rugby 2013. I specifically asked him why he does not start with Morné Mellet & Frik Kirsten as starters, seeing as they were both doing so well and improving the scrums when they came on as replacements in the games.
The answer back was simple and frustrating and basically said that Morné Mellet and Frik Kirsten are excellent impact props when they are used as subs… and that the Bulls trust in Dean Greyling and Werner Kruger as starters.
In 2014 a stance like THAT of Ludeke late in Super Rugby 2013, will hurt the Bulls, it will hurt their chances in Super Rugby 2014, of that I have no doubt.
To keep on asking is like walking repeatedly into a brick wall, they simply do not see reason… and for some strange reason they are hesitant to change for the better.
It is a stubborn attitude… and if it happens again in 2014, I for one will be properly pissed-off!
Met al die kenners. Kan ons wen?
7 @ Atlas:
Yes, of course, but then so could the Lions!
Your scrum in not a concern
Neither was your approach to the CC last year
Nor that you bought so many loosies that two thirds left
Nothing wrong with contracting so many young guys that you can’t afford your proven and established players
All is well is BB country with the fans and the players
Sort the people behind the scenes if you want a 4th title
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