Bulls learnt valuable lessons from "red cards" – Ludwig

It may not have been something that pleased their fans, but the Vodacom Bulls have put the red card fiasco behind them and see it as a “learning curve” for some of their tougher future matches.

Stand-in captain Reinhardt Ludwig, who was leading the team in the final minutes when Johan Grobbelaar got his red card, faced up to the media and admitted that the red cards - two in the last two weeks that have also been overturned by disciplinary committees - definitely has an effect on the preparations for the side.

Ludwig, who can play both five and seven, has been one of the rising stars in the Bulls camp, and spoke honestly about how it impacts the team.

“It definitely has an impact on how we prepare in the week. Naturally, the team gets planned ahead of time, and it makes it difficult for the coaches with team preparation, and it does have an impact on how we prepare for a game,” he explained.

“With rugby, however, you have to be able to adapt and have other options if these things happen. But it definitely does have an influence.”

LEARNING CURVE

For a young captain, the learning curve could not have been steeper in the final 10 minutes in Llanelli, where the team was one point behind and down to 14 men, but Ludwig admitted it was difficult, but said he had learnt a lot out of the experience.

“We were under a lot of pressure at the end of the game and the conditions late in the second half played a part. We were on the back foot for the last 8-10 minutes, and it was challenging to lift the boys in that time period, especially because you are one point behind. But it was a great learning curve for me as a leader in the team, to make decisions under pressure and to keep the boys calm.

“Unfortunately it is not always easy, and if it was easy, everyone could have been a leader or captain, and you have to talk straight to the boys, be honest and tell them it is not good enough. But we still had a chance at the end, we still had opportunities that we missed. So we can only blame ourselves for the loss. We weren’t at our best, but it was a great learning curve for us.

“And we know it doesn’t get easier, in a month’s time we play Connacht away and then Saracens and it is also going to rain, also going to be tough, so it was a good learning curve.”

JOINED LEADERSHIP GROUP

Ludwig captained his school Affies and a few times in the Currie Cup last season for the Bulls, but has joined the leadership group of the side, and was entrusted with leading the Bulls in the final minutes after Akker van der Merwe left the field.

“It is a massive privilege to have the backing of Jake to make decisions in those crucial moments. But leadership is a feeling thing, so you need to lead by example. The most important thing is to stay calm and keep the boys calm under pressure.

"To remind them of the plan that we need to do for the next sequence. You need to fight your battles one by one and can’t look too far in the game,” he said of the experience.

Ludwig knows the Bulls have slacked off in both of their tour games, scoring three points in each second half after firing in the first. And admits this is a “weakness” but not one that cannot be overcome.

“It is definitely a weakness of us in the last two games on tour. We did pinpoint some stuff we need to work on, especially for Benetton and the games ahead. It’s a weakness but not a mental thing, and something we can work on. It is small adjustments we can do that will make a difference. We showed some stuff that we could work on in the review that could improve that.”

And he knows Benetton will be a massive test for the group, especially without a number of their Springboks for the game.

PHYSICAL CONTEST EXPECTED

“Benetton is a physical pack, they have big forwards and love to run with the ball. Their ruck speed is the quickest at the moment. They have a good maul and setpiece. We are in for a big game on Saturday and it will be physical. Our forwards need to lay a good foundation and from there our backs can play their flair.

“There is definitely bigger responsibility but with that comes opportunity and if you take it with both hands and use it to your advantage, it definitely shows the coaches and the players next to you that this guy has got it. That gives the whole team confidence.”

Currently Ludwig has Springboks in Ruan Nortje and Elrigh Louw in both positions he plays, and instead of seeing it as competition, he has noted it as a privilege to try and live up to the standards of his teammates.

“It is a massive privilege to play for the Bulls. I’ve been injured for four weeks and it was a difficult time for me to not be in the mix. I’m fortunate now to play again and we have some great squad depth at the Bulls. Guys like Ruan Nortje and Elrigh (Louw) are guys I look up to in the team, so for me to step up and fill their shoes is a massive responsibility.

"But I like to challenge myself, whether at 5 or 7, it is a huge challenge but I’m still a young player that is learning and growing. So the more game time I get under my belt, the more I will grow as a player and my dream is to become a Springbok, but I must just focus on each game and make small improvements and make sure you grow as a player in each game.”

The Bulls will name their side for the Benetton clash on Thursday.