Bulls take the week off

Victor Matfield © Gallo Images

The Blue Bulls will be given a few days’ rest to ensure that they are at their best for next Saturday’s Currie Cup final against the Free State Cheetahs.

They wrapped up training for the week on Monday and will get together again this coming Monday for the most important week of the domestic season.

“The most important thing is to rock up on Monday with a full tank and clear heads,” said coach Frans Ludeke in explaining why the Bulls won’t be training much in the next few days.

“There are a number of reasons why we have decided on the rest. We’d like to strike a balance between the work the guys put in and freshness in our heads.

“The basics are in place and we hope the rest will refresh the guys.”

Ludeke also pointed at the large number of games that certain players have already played this season, as well as the high level of rugby in which the Springboks were involved in tests against the British and Irish Lions, New Zealand and Australia.

“We have to let the players rest somewhere along the line. Whether we have qualified for the final or not, the plan was that everybody would be given rest at some stage.”

Blue Bulls conditioning coach Basil Carzis, however, is not on holiday and has a few sessions with the players in the coming days.

“Some of the guys have not finished with their conditioning programmes and will do some running or a gym session in the next few days,” said Ludeke.

He said that everybody would be fit, though hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle (hairline fracture in his toe) may miss the game.

“We’re aiming to get Chili right and it’s a race against time,” admitted Ludeke.

The Bulls coach added that he had not yet watched footage of the semifinal between the Sharks and Cheetahs.

“I understand that the Cheetahs laid the foundation up front and scrummed very well,” he said.

“We know what lies in store, but the guys would like to finish the season on a high. To be able to do that, we’ll have to scrum well.”

Ludeke said that the scrums would get special attention next week.

“It is nevertheless encouraging to see the progress we have made in the scrums. We were very good against WP and could use it as a launch pad for attacking plays.

“What will it help us to try and change now? The work is basically done.”

He said their scrumming sessions would focus on the little things that may make a difference.

“We just want to make sure the guys trust one another in what we are going to do,” he said.

The team attended a Super1 4 champions dinner on Monday night and a number of players will attend Morné Steyn’s wedding on Tuesday. The rest of the players will recharge their batteries at home or on the golf course.

Read more on the Currie Cup page.

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