'Don't look at the scoreboard'

Editor 01 Feb 2008 11:49 AM

Lions coach Eugene Eloff is not interested in what happens on the scoreboard, while Bulls rival Frans Ludeke is taking a similar approach into their Super 14 pre-season hit-out in Windhoek on Saturday.

It does not mean the two franchises are devaluing the trip to the Namibian capital. Nothing could be further from the truth.

They are using it as an ideal opportunity to iron out finer details in their game, rather than focus solely on a win.

In fact, both coaches have been at pains to stress that the game is a crucial juncture in their build-up to the competition proper – which gets underway in a fortnight.

For Eloff the main goal of the venture is that his team must be “clinical” in the execution of their game plan – especially with a view to the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) that will be introduced in the Super 14 this year.

“The scoreboard doesn't matter to me,” Eloff told rugby365.com, adding that it is very important that everything they did in training is “executed clinically and correct”.

For the Lions it is all about sticking to their structure.

“I will look at the game plan that we have put in place, and see if we can enforce that in the game,” Eloff said.

He also felt that things like basic skills – ball control, possession and finishing the opportunities they create – are important on the day..

“It is all about seeing if our attacking structures and our defensive structures are in place,” Eloff added.

Ludeke, who said he is looking to take “many positives” out of his team's 35-14 win over the Boland Cavaliers last week, is particularly keen to see the defensive patterns being tested.

“Yes, there is always room for improvement, but you could see the [defensive] system has been in place at the Bulls for a few years now and it is going well,” Ludeke told this website.

“The guys understand what they must do on defence, they come up and keep solid lines, they make their one-on-one tackles. I think the system is working very well at present,” Ludeke said, making it clear the Bulls will stick to what has been working for them and helped them win the Super 14 last year.

The Bulls coach admitted last week's outing against the Cavaliers, while showing how much work still needs to be done, also highlighted a number of positives.

“Obviously you can't say that everything is fine,” Ludeke said, adding that it is certainly not where they want to be.

“However, it is pre-season and there are positives to build on and things you can iron out. That is what you want out of these type of games,” he added.

Ludeke also feels the Lions are the ideal opposition, a bigger challenge than last week, which is just what his team needs as they build towards the start of the season.

“You can see the players' character [in the tougher games], see how things shape up under pressure,” he said of the encounter with the Lions.

Teams:

Lions: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Ernst Joubert (captain), 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Cobus Grobler, 3 Eugene Maqwelana, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements (from): 16 JC Janse van Rensburg, 17 Ethienne Reynecke, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Wilhelm Koch, 20 Gerhard Mostert, 21 Chris Jonck, 22 Earl Rose, 23 Thabang Molefe, 24 Jaco van Schalkwyk, 25 Michael Killian.

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JP Nel, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Derick Hougaard, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 Wikus van Heerden, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick KuÃ¼n, 1 GÃ¼rthro Steenkamp.
Replacements (from): James van der Walt, Jaco Engels, Dean Greyling, Fudge Mabeta, Heini Adams, MornÃ© Steyn, Danwel Demas, Hilton Lobberts, Dewald Potgieter, John Mametsa, Marius Delport.

Date: Saturday, 2 February
Venue: National Stadium, Windhoek
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Marius Jonker (SARU)

By Jan de Koning

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