Former Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke, who led the side to two of their three Vodacom Super Rugby titles, has performed an exceptional job at his current club in Japan, taking Kubota Spears from relative obscurity to their first Japanese league final this weekend.
Ludeke, whose two assistants at the club are New Zealander Alando Soakai and former Japanese international Atsushi Tanabe, has performed a minor miracle in besting some of the bigger clubs in the region, his side making their way all the way to the final, where they will face the defending champions, the Panasonic Wild Knights.
Ludeke’s side is built around two key figures - Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx and Wallaby Bernard Foley - who both played a key role in their semifinal 24-18 win last weekend over Suntory Sungoliath.
But in the final, Robbie Deans’ Wild Knights are formidable opposition, especially with Wallaby Marike Koroibete and Springboks Lood de Jager and Damian de Allende in their squad.
Ludeke though, who normally likes to coach under the radar and is never mentioned when names are published for higher honours, has done a remarkable job, crafting a winning formula, as Foley told the Kyodo News after the win.
"We have encouraged everyone to contribute and taken all the styles played around the world and developed them into our own way," said Foley, who contributed 14 points in Sunday's win.
"We have won in different ways. We can grind out a win or we can score great tries. We have the best attack but can play big-boy footy when we need to. And when our attack doesn't work, our defence keeps us in the game."
Ludeke agreed, saying he and his assistants have taken "bits and pieces and designed our own style, and that creates energy for the team".
Marx scored his 11th try of the season, showing the incredible form he is currently in, while Ludeke praised the leadership group for winning in a game that had some bizarre moments.
The Japan Times reported that there was a red card in the fifth minute, two disallowed tries late in the second half and a lengthy TMO referral of more than five minutes after the final hooter before Spears were declared the winners.
“It was a crazy game, so many things happened,” Ludeke said. “But our leadership group kept the team together and stayed on task and ground it out. In the big moments when we had to score, we stayed together as a team and turned pressure into points.”
“It’s our first-ever final and we have worked hard to deserve that opportunity.”
The two teams will clash this Saturday before the Springboks return home to join up for the training camps ahead of the World Cup.