Coaching staff for 2015 season confirmed
The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd is pleased to confirm the rest of the Vodacom Blue Bulls coaching staff, following the appointment of Nollis Marais as head coach of the Vodacom Blue Bulls for the 2015 Absa Currie Cup season.
Marais will also take charge of the forwards and he will be assisted by David Manuel as back-line coach.
Manuel, who was backline coach to the UP-Tuks Varsity Cup as well as the Vodacom Blue Bulls Vodacom Cup and Under-21 teams respectively since 2012, was named backline coach to the Varsity Cup Dream Team earlier this year. He was Head Coach of the Blue Bulls/Tuks Rugby Academy since 2007 till 2012.
The 35-year old matriculated at Waterkloof High School and as a player, represented the Blue Bulls and SA Schools, as well as representing the Vodacom Blue Bulls up to Vodacom Cup level. He also played SA Under-19 and Under-21 and represented Griquas and Free State at senior provincial level as well.
Also confirmed are the appointment of coaches to the Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-21 and Under-19 teams, with Hendré Marnitz and Hayden Groepes being appointed in those roles respectively.
Marnitz was head coach to the Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-19 side since November 2013 as well as defense coach of the Vodacom Cup side during 2013. Previous head coach positions include the Buccaneers club side in Ireland, the Indian National Men’s side and the Helderberg and Dagbreek Residence teams in Stellenbosch. He was also part of the Western Province Institute coaching and recruitment staff previously.
Groepes, who represented Western Province at school boy and age group level, ended his playing career with UP-Tuks. Groepes started his coaching career as a Technical Analyst for the Vodacom Blue Bulls u19's. Groepes has also been a part of the UP-Tuks Varsity Young Guns as well as Vodacom Blue Bulls u19's Coaching Management Teams in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Marnitz and Groepes will also coach the backs and will have Denzil Frans (Under-21) and Wessel Roux (Under-19) as forwards coaches. Both Roux and Frans are well-established specialist coaches in the Blue Bulls structures.
Pine Pienaar has been confirmed as defensive coach to all three sides, the same role he had with the Vodacom Bulls in 2015 until at least October 2016 - this includes the Vodacom Bulls Super Rugby and Vodacom Blue Bulls Vodacom Cup sides respectively for 2016 as well.
According to the BBC’s High Performance Manager, Xander Janse van Rensburg, an announcement on the role of Vodacom Bulls backline coach Pieter Rossouw, will be made soon.
Janse van Rensburg also confirmed that:
•Jacques (Vleis) Engelbrecht and Basil Short will be loaned to the EP Kings for the Absa Currie Cup competition
•The Vodacom Blue Bulls will play warm-up matches against the EP Kings on Friday July 17 in Port Elizabeth and Canon (in Japan) on Friday 31 July 2015.
•The Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-21’s will play against the Zimbabwe national side on July 4.
Janse van Rensburg announced the extension of contract to a number of senior players as well.
Springboks Deon Stegmann (end of Vodacom Super Rugby 2016) and Piet van Zyl (end of October 2017) and that of Travis Ismaiel (end of October 2017).
“We will also have JJ Engelbrecht and Grant Hatting back for next year's Vodacom Super Rugby competition, but they are off to Japan in the next couple of weeks and will miss the Absa Currie Cup," Janse van Rensburg said.
The Vodacom Blue Bulls coaching structures are:
Vodacom Blue Bulls (Absa Currie Cup)
Head Coach: Nollis Marais (also forwards)
Backline Coach: David Manuel
Defense Coach: Pine Pienaar
Vodacom Blue Bulls (Under 21 Absa Provincial Championship)
Head Coach: Hendré Marnitz (also backline)
Forwards Coach: Denzil Frans
Defense Coach: Pine Pienaar
Vodacom Blue Bulls (Under 19 Absa Provincial Championship)
Head Coach: Hayden Groepes (also backline)
Forwards Coach: Wessel Roux
Defense Coach: Pine Pienaar
Afrigtingspanne vir 2015 bevestig
Die Blou Bulle Maatskappy (Edms) Bpk bevestig graag die res van die Vodacom Blou Bulle afrigtingspan ná die aanstelling van Nollis Marais as die hoof-afrigter vir die Absa Curriebekerkompetisie van 2015.
Marais, wat ook die voorspelers sal brei, sal bygestaan word deur David Manuel as agterlyn-afrigter.
Manual was die agterlyn-afrigter van UP Tuks in die Varsitybeker, die Vodacom Blou Bulle se Vodacombeker en Onder-21-spanne sedert 2012 en was vroeër vanjaar aangewys as die agterlyn-afrigter van die Varsitybeker se Dream Team. Hy was voorheen hoof-afrigter van die Blou Bulle/Tuks Rugbyakademie.
Die 35-jarige breier het aan Waterkloof Hoërskool afstudeer en die Blou Bulle Skole en SA Skole in daardie tyd verteenwoordig. Hy het ook vir die Vodacom Blou Bulle tot op Vodacombeker-vlak gespeel en vir die SA Onder-19 en Onder-21 spanne sowel as vir Griekwas en Vrystaat op senior vlak uitgedraf.
Die Vodacom Blou Bulle Onder-21 en Onder-19 spanne se afrigters is ook aangewys, met Hendré Marnitz en Hayden Groepes wat onderskeidelik die leisels neem.
Marnitz was voorheen in beheer van die Vodacom Blou Bulle Onder-19 span (sedert 2013), sowel as verdedigingsafrigter van die Vodacombekerspan.
Hy het voorheen ook hoof-afrigtingsposte by die Buccaneers klub in Ierland en Indië se nasionale span gehad en die koshuisspanne van Dagbreek en Helderberg by Maties afgerig. Hy was voorheen deel van die Westelike Provinsie Rugby Instituut se afrigtings- en werwingsgroep.
Groepes, wat vir die Westelike Provinsie se skole en junior spanne gespeel het, se laaste verteenwoordigende wedstryd was vir UP-Tuks. Hy het sy afrigtingskoene as tegniese adviseur by die Vodacom Blou Bulle se Onder-19’s begin en was in die laaste paar seisoen deel van UP-Tuks se Varsitybeker Young Guns bestuurspan en die Blou Bulle o.19 groep se afrigtingskorps vanaf 2013.
Marnitz en Groepes sal ook hulle spanne se agterlyne brei, met Denzil Frans (Onder-21) en Wessel Roux (Onder-19) wat die voorspelers sal afrig.
Beide is welbekende en gevestigde afrigters in die BBM se afrigtingstrukture.
Pine Pienaar sal al drie genoemde spanne se verdedigings-afrigter wees, dieselfde taak wat hy by die Vodacom Bulls in 2015 en tot minstens OKtober 2016 sal vervul.Hy sal volgende jaar ook die taak by bogenoemde drie spanne verrig.
Volgens die BBM se Hoë Prestasiebestuurder, Xander Janse van Rensburg, sal ’n aankondiging oor die rol van die Vodacom Bulls agterlyn-breier, Pieter Rossouw, binnekort bekend gemaak word.
Janse van Rensburg het verder bevestig dat:
•Jacques (Vleis) Engelbrecht en Basil Short aan die OP Kings vir die duur van die Absa Curriebekerreeks geleen word
•Die Vodacom Blou Bulle sal opwarmingswedstryde teen die OP Kings (17 Julie in Port Elizabeth) en 31 Julie (teen Canon in Japan) speel.
•Die Vodacom Blou Bulle Onder-21’s sal op 4 Julie teen Zimbabwe se nasionale span speel.
Janse van Rensburg het verdere kontrakverlengings van twee Springbokke en 'n Junior Springbok aangekondig.
Springbokke Deon Stegmann (einde van Vodacom Super Rugby 2016) en Piet van Zyl (einde van Oktober 2017) en Junior Springbok Travis Ismaiel (einde van Oktober 2017) het hul kontrakte verleng.
“Ons sal ook vir JJ Engelbrecht en Grant Hattingh terug hê vir volgende seisoen se Vodacom Super Rugby, maar hulle gaan nou in Japan speel en sal die Absa Curriebeker misloop," het Janse van Rensburg gesê.
Die Vodacom Blou Bulle afrigtingstrukture is as volg:
Vodacom Blou Bulle (Absa Curriebeker)
Hoofafrigter: Nollis Marais (ook voorspelers)
Agterlyn: David Manuel
Verdediging: Pine Pienaar
Vodacom Blou Bulle (Onder-21 Absa Provinsiale reeks)
Hoofafrigter: Hendré Marnitz (ook agterlyn)
Voorspelers: Denzil Frans
Verdediging: Pine Pienaar
Vodacom Blou Bulle (Onder-19 Absa Provinsiale reeks)
Hoofafrigter: Hayden Groepes (ook agterlyn)
Voorspelers: Wessel Roux
Verdediging: Pine Pienaar
Good luck to Nollis and Manuel. So it looks like the BBM.has given the.nod for the same junior coaches and structures.
Pitty we could not send Maku back as a lone too and rather keep Short.
Ons sal nooit n All Black afrigter aanstel nie, maak nie saak hoe goed die man is nie. Ek dink die binnekringe van die Bulle sorg vir mekaar.
Wessel Roux is actually moving back to his previous position as junior coach.
Matfield was the forwards and attack coach this year. Roux was the scrum coach.
Now you can put 2 and 2 together why Rossouw, the backline coach is going out early. And also why the Bulls wil need a super strong personality to tell Matfield when to shudup.
Why people want someone to tell him to "shut up" or whatever other negative sentiments they wish to express is beyond me.
He and Du Preez were at the heart of the most successful era ever for Bulls rugby. They have the trust of Heyneke Meyer, the best Bulls coach ever, and Eddie Jones thinks du Preez is a rugby genius.
Having them as the two assistant coaches to a head coach yet to be announced would be fantastic, in my view.
I'm getting seriously tired of the knee jerk reactions of some fans who seem to feel that a complete cleanout of anyone associated with the past 10 years of Bulls rugby is the only way forward. To you guys I say you don't know what you are talking about.
I presume you are respectfully referring to my comments.
It makes perfectly sense to have a strong personality there. It is a given that Matfield will be part of the future. And I am not opposed to that idea at all. In fact my wish is that Matfield can be what he dreams to become.
But I have been moving close enough at times to say what I say and why I say it. If the Bulls allow again what happened this year, or last year, then they might as well reinstall Frans back again. Our team for various reasons have not fired as a unit this year. I am not going to elaborate on that further.
Great players do not make the best coaches with immediate effect. Both Matfield and Du Preez are rare specimen seen once in a lifetime.
But, Although they are great masters of the game, the past does not guarentee them success as a coach or as a coaching TEAM.
I think Victor has all the qualities to make it to the top, but it will not happen overnight. Openness to learn and grow, under someone being appointed, will be key to develop a core winning culture again.
On the other hand, I am deeply worried that we try to relive the past so intensely that we forget about the current challenges. Frans lived in that bubble, and after 8 years, it finally burst for him. I am also tired of the complacency and denial that became trademarks of the Bulls coaching setup over the last 3 years.
In each phase transition, you have to decide what is worth it to hang to and what needs to be let go off. If you are going to be too attached to the past,.you will not be in a position to apply wisdom to practise.
A front row of Richard Bands, Danie Coetzee and Kees Lensing/Andries Human.
A lock trio of a young Matfield, Bakkies and Danie Roussouw
A loose trio of Wannenburg, a young Spies, Rossouw, Jacques Cronje etc.
Most crucially of all, a no.9 like du Preez who has had no equal ever in terms of his vision and tactical decision making ability. Paige, Van Zyl, even Hougaard are poor immitations of this genius,and this is the biggest vacuum in the current team.
A flyhalf with the tactical and goalkicking accuracy of Morne Steyn. Sorry, Pollard's lack of accuracy cost us at least two games this season.
An inside centre with the presence of the much maligned Wynand Olivier who nevertheless crossed the advantage line more often than not whenever he carried the ball up.
A wing like Habana - who won games for us out of nothing.
The point of the above is not to go through a boring list of previous great players. The point is to demonstrate that having alll of those legendary players together in one team - in their prime - was what won us 3 trophies. Not a revolutionary gameplan.
The problem is that the Bulls teams of the last 5 years have not come close to matching that level of player quality. Meyer himself would not have won the Super 14 with his exact gameplan, if he did not have the best team in a generation playing for him.
So the shortfall in recent years has been player recruitment, rather than coaching. And sadly, it does not seem like Ian Schwartz is making his way back anytime soon. Until we have a Bulls team that could beat most test teams in the world again, I'm afraid no coach is going to win us the Super Rugby title.
Julle manne het n taai job wat
Voorle , sterkte
PS : Pine kry ASB vir jou n top TV decoder
Daar is Baie rugby league games op
ESPN , check daai manne se verdediging
Alles goed en wel, maar al die manne waarvan jy praat sou dalk nie naastenby so goed gewees het onder FL nie. So ek stem nie saam met jou nie. 'n Afrigter van gehalte kan 'n Travis Ismaiel dalk in 'n Habanna verander.
The Bulls started with appointing the best coaches, then the best youngsters, brood them into a unit with small steps of hard work and doing the basics right. By 2003 we only had 5 Springboks of which 3 were regulars and 1 retiring. We built a winning culture slowly but surrely. Staryed off by winning the Vidacom, then the CC, then reached 3 semifianls and finally won the super 12.
Things have changed very fast forbthe past 5 years: the competition with the Euro has forced unions to contract for only 2 years. SARU could.not even match an.offer on Duane Vermeuelen.
HM came back.as director of coaching at the Bulls. He decided on his winning formula: recruit the best youngsters. And so we did. There were 2 seasons where we baught the whole SA school squads! HM s vision was a new exciting style of play so promising backs especially at centre were recruited.
Today we talking about Jesse Kriel,.Jan.Serfontein, Odendaal, Jurie Linde. Rohan v Rensburg, Jacques du Plessis, etc. Nothing wrong there.
But reality has shifted: the CC is a minor development comp. the super 15 is the next stepping stone to an overseas contract of which the Boks are less important.
My ooint is this: Developing coaches that can deliver goid okayers ina short time for top senior level requires the be best top senior coaching that suits the standards if the Bulls, as well as recruiting the best players.
Ek dink nie John Mitchell of Nick Mallet is 'n goeie keuse as afrigter nie, maar dink dit sal goed wees as hul miskien 'n buite seisoen kamp kan aanbied. Naas Botha moet gekontak word oor skop konsultant, want ons taktiese skopwerk het hierdie seisoen 'n groot stap agteruit gegaan.
Die bulle het hierdie jaar gesukkel in die skrums, ons lynstane was goed, maar nie totaal dominerend nie, ons het te min spoed gehad om te kompeteer met balle op die grond, en ons dryfmale is effektief gestop. Ek dink nie de Allende is beter as Jan of Sweis Venter nie, maar as jy 'n bal op die voorvoet kry, met genoeg spasie na 'n effektiewe skrum of dryfmaal en sonder 'n paar losvoorspelers wat voor jou staan omdat hulle in die vastespel ingetrek is, dan kan jy goed lyk. Bulle moet dringend hul voorspeler spel regkry, en dan die besluitmneming onder die skakelpaar verbeter. Ek dink nie Paige se besluitneming is op standaard nie, en Pollard is ook nog nuut op internationale vlak.
Volksie En porsche
Die regte aanvallers te tackle
Ons het Baie problems daar
Sover was Rassie Erasmus eintlik die enigste voorbeeld in SA waar 'n speler dadelik in afrigtingsrol ingeksuif het en sukses behaal het. Die Naka Drotskes en Johan Ackermans was almal eers beitjie geskool voordat hulle oorgevat het, en ek dink hulle het redelik goed gedoen. Naka se spelersbudget het ongelukkig teen hom getel en Ackerman het weer baie kon baatvind by John Mitchell.
As matfield vou as coach, kan dit vir homself baie sleg wees - dus, begin eerder met hoofafrigter wat die spul in eenheid kan saamsnoer en genoeg agting en ondervinding het van sukses.
Maar kom ons kyk, ek dink die Bulle gaan grootliks wel die Shannow - pad loop - aanstellings van binne af. Ek dink nie ons moet sweepers verwag nie. Soos van Graan in sy media onderhoud ook gesê het, waar kry mens nog suksesvolle Superrugby afrigters - die WP gaan soek in NZ, en volgens die binnekringe gaan dit hulle baie kos vir 'n 4 jaar kontrak.
Soos Blue Bull ook wys, gaan dit in vandag se knteks moeilik wees om die verlede aan te hou kopieer - ons wil graag die beste spelers hê maar die realiteit van die Euro en Yen is op ons voorstoep. Om weer blou bul spanne te bou met Maestro's wat feitlik dekade lank vir jou speel gaan nie gou gesien word nie - tensy die Rand sy sokkies optrek. En, nog 'n faktor is die politieke dwang op Unies om meer swart spelers te kies.
As die Bulls die beste wil kontrakteer, sal ons van juniors moet vergeet en soos oorsese klubs moet maak en eerder toespits op 30 puik spelers as 120 spelers wat jy groot maak. En nie eens dan, kan jy sukses waarborg nie.
Call a spade a spade .
18 tackles gemis in 113 pogings.
Darem 18 keer geknock ook.
So hy is konstant.
En dit was FL se keuse elk wedstryd die jaar.
Ek word van voor af die maai in.
Ek het so vinnig deur die posts gescan en almal verskil van mekaar oor wie om aan te stel en daar word gemoan en gebitch nog voordat daar iemand aangestel is.
Persoonlik sal ek nie omgee as VM en FDP oorneem as afrigters nie, alhoewel ek dink hulle moet begin by Tuks. Dalk gebeur dit nog.
Ackerman het self maar omtrent 2 jaar onder JM gewerk voordat hy oorgeneem het, dus hoekom kan VM, wat ook nou al 2 jaar onder FL werk nie ook suksesvol wees nie?
'n Mens moet ook in gedagte neem dat daar 'n hengse verskil is tussen 'n oudspeler soos VM en FDP en iemand soos Nollis wat nie groot rugby gespeel het nie. 'n Oudspeler het 'n voordeel wat 'n nie-speler nog eers moet leer deur skoolgeld te betaal.
Ek dink egter dat indien VM en FDP aangestel word, dat die direkteur van rugby dan iemand moet wees vir wie hulle agting en respek het en iemand wat nog steeds vir hulle as 'n mentor kan optree. Wie beter as Heyneke?
onlangs is dit aangekondig dat SARU nie HM se kontrak na RWC gaan verleng nie, nadat daar laasjaar nog gesê is dit gaan wel gebeur. Dit opsigself maak die deur oop vir hom om terug te kom. Ek dink met HM as DVR en VM en FDP gaan daar 'n opwindende tyd vir ons voorlê, Dalk nie in 2016 nie, maar ongetwyfeld in die nabye toekoms.
Dit alles gesê, dink ek egter nog steeds dit sal beter wees as VM en FDP by tuks begin en hulle self daar bewys. Naas was 'n legend in sy tyd, maar het klaaglik misluk as afrigter op klub vlak.
My eerste keuse sal egter wees om Jimme Stonehouse te betrek. Hy kom uit ons geledere uit en verstaan die Pta/ Bulle kultuur en is passievol oor bulle rugby.
Wens ons kan die all black afrigter kry
Hulle is masters van elke posiesie op
Die veld , my mond het oopgehang
Toe ek een keer na hulle rugby program
Breakdown kyk , En FENIKITAO n buitecentre
Dink hy speel vir chiefs , En nog bloedjonk
Praat oor hoe n 13 moet defend , En dit het
Die afrigters hom wys gemaak in 6 maande
Soos ek se dit was verbaasend , En totdat
Ons die jong manne so afrig , sal new Zeeland
Se backlines ons altyd ore aansit
Ek stem saam ons algemene afrigting laat veel te wense oor.
Dan is daar nog steeds mense wat Mitchell en Mallet voorstel as afrigters! MALLET SAL NET WEER AFRIG AS DIT 'N NASIONALE SPAN IS! MITCHELL IS BY DIE FORCE EN LIONS WEG GEJAAG DEUR DIE SPELERS, DIESELFDE SAL GEBEUR BY DIE BULLS!
Dan praat hulle ook oor gebrek aan ervaring van afrigting van FDP en VM. Die 2 spelers het in 2006 Jake White laat afsien van sy spelpatroon en oorreed om die Bulle se manier van speel aan te neem waarmee hulle die 2007 WB gewen het. Mense na aan die 2007 span se dat FDP, VM en Eddie Jones daai span afgerig het!
My ideale kombinasie:
Hoof Afrigter: Jimmy Stonehouse
Voorspelers: VM
Skrum: Pote Human
Agterlyn: FDP
Verdediging: Pine Pienaar
Ek stem egter nie saam met jou oor FDP en Morne Steyn nie. Ek se nog as ons goeie afrigters gehad het dan was Polard nog selfs beter as Morne Steyn. Page sal egter nooit 'n FDP wees nie. Kyk maar na ons skrums, dit het gelyk of hulle nooit afgerig was nie, ons het die een strafskop na die ander gekry of die ander spanne het ons net doodeenvoudig terug gedruk.
Ek hou van jou afrigters, dit kan 'n goeie kombinasie uitmaak. Ek hoop Barend lees jou voorstel.
Is omdat hy hulle drill oor fiksheid
En sy spelers word op meriette gekies
Hy skep n atmosfeer waar , die beste
Uit elke speler kom , En hy vattie k@k
Van kabouters nie
SAL HULLE HIERDIE JAAR VIR
DIE SUPERBEKER KON VAT
As n speler dit geniet as gevolg van die atmosfeer
Wat die coach skep sal spelers ook Langer bly
Nollis, jy het 6 weke om fiksheid en nogmaals fiksheid te doen, laat die manne sweet met bal in hand, vat hul elke dag bulte toe. Sê vir hulle jy gaan hul voete afkap as hul durf buite die kwartgebied die bal skop.
Al wanneer ons moet skop is met afskoppe en pale toe en in ons doelgebied as daar nou regtig geen kans is om te hardloop nie.
Ons wil graag elke CB game wen, maar die heel belangrikste is om nou 'n ander mindset te vestig in BB rugby, ons is klaar met die Ludeke era.
Bulle !
Een problem waaraan ons nie gedink het nie is of die afrigter vir die BBRU sal wil werk?
Ek dink egter daar is min afrigters sal vir Barend en sy mafia sal wil werk
Almal in die rugbygemeenskap weet van die boetie boetie Broederbond kultuur en enige toekomstige afrigter sal teen hulle te staan kom
Goeie afrigters soos Mitchell, Mallet, Brendan Venter en Rassie sal nie vir Barend werk nie
Ludicrous to blame it all on Frans
by Brenden Nel 19/06/2015, 17:49
The cloud of despair that hangs over the Loftus Versfeld stadium will not disappear overnight, but unless there is a drastic culture change the more things are likely to change, the more they are likely to stay the same
While the outpouring of joy in some comment pages over Frans Ludeke stepping down from his position as Vodacom Super Rugby and Absa Currie Cup coach was perhaps a bit over the top, the chances of radical change to the Bulls franchise remains slim and will continue to paper over the cracks until some drastic action is taken.
Ludeke remains a good coach – he did not become a bad coach overnight. Wins in the competition in 2009 and 2010 in Super Rugby will forever be on his resume and while other seasons have not always gone to plan, to give him all the fault for the Bulls' woes of late would be both unfair and wrong.
Just as Eddie Jones’s disastrous run with the Reds in 2007, sometimes there are factors beyond a coach’s control that influence matters, and need to be sorted out.
For that to happen, there has to be a total realignment of culture at the Pretoria union, one where the family tag that the Bulls like to bandy about so freely will once again mean something.
For a franchise which prides itself on inclusivity, the current climate at Loftus Versfeld sees a group of players at odds with themselves, and unsure of who they can trust and if their careers will develop sufficiently if they stay at the Bulls. But this doesn’t mean Ludeke was solely at fault, nor that he is blameless in the entire season.
As a coach he was forthright and honest, but too many times was perhaps too loyal to the wrong people, and trusted in those who would lead his team down the wrong path.
It is especially off the field where things went wrong, with the masses of talent the Bulls possess often keeping them just above water and ensuring that a number of cracks simply were papered over.
Yet, as time went on, it became more and more difficult to control these problems, with a clique of senior players becoming ever more powerful and younger players feeling more and more frustrated.
This led to a number of unhappy players speaking out about the way they have been treated and not trusting one another as “family” members should.
There are a number of reasons why this all happened, not least the fact that players have admitted they found it difficult to function openly in a team environment where a player remains a coach.
Several have said they fear what they say in private conversations are relayed back to team management. Others talk about being scared to speak out with the same player/coach becoming a management figure after the World Cup.
But perhaps the most telling shift in the culture was the appointment of a High Performance Manager who had little experience and immediately upset a number of players with what they called an “arrogant approach”.
Players who had been loyal servants of the Bulls for years were suddenly told they meant little to the franchise, while others were told they had no future at the union, with one even being told he had played his last game for the Bulls.
So what did the players do? They upped and left in droves. Three consecutive player exoduses have been blamed on foreign clubs and the exchange rate. Some players would never have said no to a big paycheck, but in more than a dozen cases the Bulls made it easy for the players to choose to leave.
The line between management and players – one so many professional teams know not to cross – has become so blurred that there is enough evidence of those who decide on contracts living it up with the same players whose futures they hold in their hands. This caused more division and unhappiness among those in the squad.
Many of those involved have privately confided their unhappiness at the situation, but are too scared to speak out.
What they all agree on is that the “family” culture at the Bulls is dead. They talk of a clique of players who run the team, who live it up on tour and who are so close to the decision-makers that if you don’t align yourself with them, you may as well seek greener pastures elsewhere. If you wonder about this, make sure you search their social media profiles, where for some it looked as if life on the road was one big holiday.
All of this, of course, happened under Ludeke’s watch. But being the man he is, perhaps his biggest fault was that he tries to see the good in everyone he encounters.
This is why it festered for so long, and every new revelation brought disbelief. Ludeke truly believed that things were still moving ahead and that the team culture he worked so hard to foster was still the pure passionate one of 2009 and 2010.
But it wasn’t, and with the power shifting away from the coach and into the hands of others, the cracks became bigger and bigger, until not even a shift in the game plan could paper them over.
The Bulls will continue to look for the answers, but they need not look anywhere else but within the heart of their own ranks to find the answer. The players who have the power aren’t leaders and have not performed in this year’s competition to their ability.
Favourites continue to be selected, players are given their jerseys because they “are good guys” and in the favour of certain members of the management, no matter how many penalties they cost, or how limited their impact on the field is.
Once fertile development ground has been squandered and so many former Bulls are doing wonders at other franchises after the Bulls weren’t interested in their services.
The role of the Board of Directors also needs to come under scrutiny, because all of this happened under their watch. Ludeke may be the fall guy and his time at the Bulls may have come to an end, but questions need to be asked about the powers at Loftus and if the appointments they made, the crucial roles that have been filled through expediency rather than the best person for the job, were in the best interests of the franchise.
If the Bulls are to come out of this hole they find themselves in – and there is still more than enough talent at the union to do that – they will need to address the culture issues at Loftus Versfeld, the power plays and find a way to trust each other again.
When the Board of Directors meets to find Ludeke’s replacement they need to not only sift through CVs and feel out a candidate who will fit in, they need to find a leader who will keep the various factions in line, bring a common vision to the franchise and get all parties to work together again.
It won’t be easy in the current climate and if the wrong decisions are taken, a number of younger talent will up and leave again. Already there is a culture of distrust and disunity where blurred lines between management and players haven’t helped much.
Ludeke should shoulder his fair share of the blame for the Bulls' problems of late, but not all of it.
Will the others who played their part in the team’s problems reflect and realise their mistakes and change their ways? If not, whoever will be the new coach will have the same problems with few solutions.
Ek dink die verandering wat nodig is by die Bulle gaan nie oornag plaasvind nie. Vertroue en respek is down the drain lyk dit my.
Ek hoop maar dat daar vinnig weer n "familie" en wenkultuur by die Bulle sal wees.
Ek moet sê, vir ‘n klontkop het Brenden Nel ‘n helder oomblik gehad. Ek lees nêrens van ‘n uitgediende gameplan nie? Ek is bietjie gerattle, hoe de d@nner gaan die aanstelling van ‘n nuwe afrigter al ons probleme oplos?
In SA is al die afrigters ex voorspelers, daarom Carl Dup die beste keuse wees.
Eintlik het Mallet destyds met sy kallers geploeg.
Ek persoonlik dink dis beter met 'n agterspeler as hoofafrigter, en HY stel dan 'n voorspeler afrigter aan om die patroon voor te bepaal wat hy wil speel.
Brendan Nel is reguit en hard, en dit is nodig. Niemand, geen direksielid, CEO, speler of afrigter of ondersteuner is groter as die game nie, veral nie die Bulle nie.
Nel noem nie die name nie, maar ons weet almal dat Visser, Fouche en Ross was Ludeke se all time favourites toe hul hier was. Omdat Ludeke hul nie wou drop nie, het hulself die eerbare ding gedoen en geloop. Daarvoor respekteer ek hulle. So ook Greyling, Kruger, Visagie, Spies en veral JJE, ongeag hoe swak hul gespeel het. Spies het wel sy goeie oomblikke so nou en dan gehad.
As hierdie drie dinge gebeur, dan is ons nog meer op die agtervoet as ooit:
1. Ludeke as direkteur van rugby
2. Xander wat die spelerskontrakte hanteer
3. Roux as skrumafrigter
Daarom het ons nodig:
1. direkteur van rugby buite die broederbond, dus oorsese afrigter
2. hoofafrigter, iemand soos Stonehouse of Rassie
3. Ian Schwarts moet terugkom vir die kontrakte, of iemand in sy kaliber
4. enige goeie scrum coach, Theron of de Villiers
Tyd sal leer of ons die lesse geleer het, of maar net dieselfde foute oor en oor gaan maak met 'n nuwe afrigtingspan.
Verder se ek al vir jare dat ons probleme werklik begin het toe Ian Schwartz weg is en Xander by hom oorgevat het. Ons speler werwing's benadering het toe in duie gestort.
Rakende Brenden Nel, ek dink nie veel van sy artikels nie. Hy was die ou wat week na week gemoan het dat ons Mbonambi laat gaan het.
En duidelik het hy nie veel tyd vir Victor Matfield nie, as jy na die bogenoemde artikel kyk nie.
Brenden het sy eie idees, en ek stem nie werklik saam met hom oor veel nie.
Ludeke was duidelik nie in staat om die beste uit sy spelers te bring nie. So dis heeltemal reg dat hy bedank het. Maar die groter probleem is die verlies van so baie top talent, en die aankoop van die verkeerde talent om hulle te vervang.
En daardie fout le by Xander, na my mening.
In elk geval, dit mag wees dat ons nooit weer n wereldkrag sal wees nie. Die ekonomiese realiteit het verander, en ons sal nooit weer soveel as 7 spelers in ons span he wat n wereldspan kan haal nie. (Victor, Bakkies, Danie Rossouw, Spies in sy glorie, Du Preez en Habana, met Morne Steyn nie ver agter nie).
So n span sal vandag eenvoudig nie bekostigbaar wees nie, danksy die Franse superklubs se rykdom.
En sonder dit, mag dit dalk onmoontlik wees om weer die glorie van 2007-2010 te herhaal.
If there is no one in the leadership who is going to rectify these problems, then we can carry on with Ludeke but we must make peace with mediocrity.
Brendan Nel is not disloyal to the Bulls. He is framing reality. You can shoot the mesenger but that will not solve the problem. The very fact that players are speaking out should make us ask questions about trust.
Those who are dreaming of Fourie du Preez - du Preez is not going to play till he is 80 years old. Get real.
The Bulls are at a cross roads with themselves. They were there in 2000.when Meyer arrived and he sorted out the baantjies vir boetie problem and let arrogant players go. Junior coaches competed against one another and no one trusted each another. It took a fresh approach to get rid of the problem.
Volgens hom:
Die Bulle wat hom meegedeel het dat hy oorbodig is en ’n oproep van Jake White, het hom laat besluit om sy loopbaan in Frankryk voort te sit, het Pierre Spies, Springbok-agtsteman, Vrydag onthul.
“Die Bulle het vir my gesê ek sal nie kan aanbly nie,” het Spies aan die Franse koerant Midi Olympique gesê.
“Dit is toe dat Jake White my gebel het. Ons paadjies het by die Springbokke gekruis en ek weet hy is wêreldrugby se grootste leier. Ek het onmiddellik ingestem (om vir Montpellier te speel).”
Dis n speler wat R3mil per jaar verdien het die afgelope 4 jaar.
Nou is Jake White die wereld se grootste leier!
Moes per minuut wat hy gespeel die hoogs betaalde rugbyspeler op aarde gewees het die afgelope 4 jaar.
Dis die speler wat ondanks baie swak spel, KAPTEIN was van Frans Ludeke se span week na week na week.
Ek verstaan nou ook hoekom Steggies omgepraat was om nog n jaar te teken.
Ek is/was n baie groot Spies fan. Iets is egter nie vir my lekker nie. Spies wat se dat JW die wêreldrugby se grootste leier is, is mos sommer n groot pot snot. JW is n verwaande mannetjie en het altyd neergesien op die Bulle. Het nooit n goeie word vir die Bulle gehad nie. Nou is ons spelers goed genoeg. Die feit dat hy so rondtrek, se my ook nie veel van hom nie. Hy kan dalk goed wees maar die beste, dit betwyfel ek. Hy het n lucky run gehad toe ons die World Cup onder hom gewen het. Ons het nie teen Australie of NZ gespeel nie. NZ was uitgeskakel deur n swak ref. Net soos ons uitgeskakel was deur n swak ref toe PDV ons coach was
Ek wonder wat se HM van Spies se uitlating.
As ek die berigte reg verstaan, het Spies al vroeer te kenne gegee dat hy Japan toe gaan. Is dit dalk die rede hoekom die Bulle nie vir hom nog n kontrak aangebied het nie
Ek kan egter nie verstaan dat die Bulle nie baklei het om sy dienste te behou nie. Hy was tog die Kaptein die jaar. Jy kies mos nie n ou as jou kaptein en dan is hy nie goed genoeg vir die volgende jaar nie.
Of die beriggewing is swak of iets stink by die Bulle. Lyk my daar is GROOT probleme by my geliefde span
Ek sien darem dat oom Gert Smal ook nie glimlag vir Duane Vermeulen nie. Lyk my daar is ook bietjie probleme.
Skiet my nou maar vandag cheer ek virrie Brumbies. Nooit gedink ek sal dit eendag se nie. (Nogal JW se gewese spannetjie)
W.P. = Weer Probeer
Die einfluitjie was 'n simboliese handeling van genadedood.
Fluit fluit, die storie is een wedstryd later uit.
W.P. = Weer Probeer
Die einfluitjie was 'n simboliese handeling van genadedood.
Fluit fluit, die storie is een wedstryd later uit.
Ek dink mens moet versigtig wees vir artikels wat eensydige prentjie mag skets en die krisis in die kamp verhef tot wat dit dalk nie is nie. daar is bv. baie byvoeglike naamwoorde wat die drama intens wil maak. Feit is die krisis is ook goeie ding want dit dwing belsuitnemers om die groot prentjie nou in oenskou te neem.
Ek dink wel die twee goed wat uitstaan is goed wat al baie lankal op hierdie blog en ook op Supersport bespreek is - die kultuur by die Bulle het om verkeerde redes die nuus begin haal - swak kontraktering en die hantering van spelers.
Ek het nog nooit getwyfel ana die [poptensiala van Pierre Spies nie - ek volg hom al van sy skooldae af. Hy was pure atleet en 'n Blou Bul in murg en been. Pierre se beserings sedert veral 2013 het hom baie erg geknou. Hy het vanjaar tog vir my gelyk, tot voor die toer, of hy wee roppad is na topvorm toe, en toe kom die toer en Pierre word weer sy afwesige self. Maar die kapteinskap in 'n pak met Victor Matfield, adriaan Strauss en Deon Stegman sou altyd moeilik wees. Daardie pak was nie 'n eenheid nie. ek het ook vanjaar gesien vir die eerst ekeer in baie jare, hoedat die voorspelers mekaar back chat en veral vir die kaptein. Dit is dalk waar Frans se probleme begin het.
Hoop die BBM leer hieruit en slaan nuwe blaadjie om.
What is clear to me after to me after tonight is there really is not much between the SA sides. The Stormers was probably our most consistent side but that is about it. 7th on the log and third on the overall table. Our rugby is just not good enough at the moment.
The most disappointing teams of 2015 were the Bulls, Sharks, and Crusaders. to a lesser extend, probably the Chiefs as well.
The Hurricanes showed composure and some structure on attack for the first time since the competition started. For me they are the Cheetahs of new Zealand rugby. But in a final the more structured Highlanders might just steal it this year. Anyway, 5 of the 6 teams deserved to play in the play offs today and were shoulders above the rest.
The Sharks' instability towards coaching management, red cards and ill discipline by senior players, injuries to Lambie and their inexperienced juniors just wrecked their whole season. The embarrassment that Bismarck caused the union probably showed a deeper problem in the Union. John Smith got rid if Plumtree to bring in a new culture. So then they beat WP in the CC final of 2013, then they pulled towards Jake White, and reached the play offs again of Super rugby in 2014. Jake left and their was a huge vacuum again, only to be reactively filled by Gary Gold. I am not surprised their short term success measures resulted in frustrated players and management. No wonder McLeod Henderson moved away. So unless they bring stability coaching wise to the region, they will continue to struggle, and like the Bulls, they also have problems with inexperience and basic mistakes.
The Bulls had yet another disappointing season again. I was really (overoptimist?) looking forward to this year with all the injured players getting back at the Kraal again. Where as last season we had too many injuries within our loose forwards, at least we were quite equipped with depth this year. The reality of having 4-5 key experienced players getting back after 1-2 years of injuries hit us hard in the first two matches. We just weren't fit enough for 80 minutes up untill round 5. The 3 Free Satters did very well to bring some stability in our pack.
But the truth is we could not dominate with this pack.
- Our scrums were dismall against fellow SA teams. The Stormers and Lions demolished us in both our matches against them, as well as the Sharks in the first game at Loftus and our last game against the Cheetahs.
- Handre Pollard was not always accurate enough and our tactical kicking game, by not having a scrumhalf who could enhance the bulls pattern of play, was not good enough.
- Then there was also signs that the management just did not rate the younger players like they said they did - the young props just sat on the bench while players like Jurgens Visser and Callie Visagie played touchies at half time.
_ The Bulls old rival since 2013- poor ball handling and lack of space intelligence - showed prominantly. This last point probably cost us more than the players would like to addit.
- But lastly - the old attacking game plan - just doesn't seem to work with the current players we have at our disposal: the scrumhalves struggle to kick (although they are better than most of their rivals as well as the Northern hemisphere that I've seen). Our ball carriers doesn't make ground if the opposition send in quick defenders. The Bulls played their last 5 games behind the advantage line. Even with players like Burger Odendaal and Jacques du Plessis. And then, more often than not, our second phase ball carriers are almost always isolated and their wasn't numbers at the breakdowns, resulting in turnovers - proved to be our worst enemies.
Wit all this said, I still believe the Bulls are a much better side than our position on the log indicates. Our line out and drive maul is still nr. 1 in the competition. In two matches we were unlucky and in one we were really robbed by a TMO decision. that is 12 points log-wise. But even if we did reach the play offs, we were never really good enough to win this year's competition. We will continue to struggle if the points above are not adressed. The gaps left by Hougaard, Marcel vd Merwe, Flip vd Merwe , Spies and Matfield will be felt. Some supporters feel we are just not good enough to be a top side and should not expect anymore from this side. Time will tell if this is true.
The Stormers
were well beaten today. but without Duane Vermeulen they alwas looked vulnerable. His leadership was surely missed today. the Stormers surprised friends and foe this season with their scrummaging. I still am not sure if it was Vncent Joch or just different tactic, but it worked for them and won them more matches than last season. Their counter attacked also improved a lot, but they were also a bit of a predictable lot and their defense was not that good after all. They relied too much on Katrikillis and Duane and today they were caught with their pants on the floor. If theyb do not find adequate replacement at nr. 10 they will be in trouble next season. Maybe Goossen can suprise us.
The Lions I felt had a bad start to the season, and had they had better starts to their matches and not left to play catch up rugby in almost all of their games, they could have been in the top 6. The lack discipline on defense but they proved to be SA only really well balanced side. They have a pack that can dominate and they have awesoem centres in Mapoe, Vorster and Hollenbach. But their real shortfall is at nr. 10. Jantjes struggled in the big games to find good touch as well as accuracy in goal kicking. I still think they are a better all round side with Boshoff at nr, 10. But johan Ackerman has shown the world waht can be done with proper team culture and coaching - many of these Lions players are second stringers. It will be interesting to see how they will progress from here.
Nag ou vrotvis
Ag toughluk my span,julle speel darem nie 10 mN stamkar rugby nie.
Nou kan ek darem vier keer n week gaan golf speel pleks van drie keer.
Blouvieterjoel my span het darem beter gedoen as jou span...
het jy n season ticket en gaan jy ene koop vir volgende jaar?
ek was nie afwesig nie,die Mal Piet het my gisteraand maak uit tap.
Nuweland het darem toeskouers,moftus is leeg.
Al speel hulle in my back yard sal ek nie eens die blinds oopmaak om na hulle te kyk nie.
SA will have to wait for the Bulls again to win us a super rugby cup.
Nou shift die fokus na die Bokke. SA Rugby is in dire straits maar as HM reg kies en die regte balans kry behoort ons goed te doen. Ek hoop net verdiende spelers soos Jaco Kriel, Whiteley, Koch, Kitshoff, Elton Janties, Faf, Combrinck, ens kry kans ten minste in die RC en dat spelers soos Spies, Alberts, Jannie, Beast, JP Pietersen , moet plek maak.
Een ding is verseker HM het n baie baie moeilike taak op sy hande t.o.v spelers keuses en nie eers om die "interfering" van SARU te noem nie.
Enige iemand wat ook die ander game Highlanders/Chiefs gekyk het sal verstaan dat ons coach raak sal moet vat en geen plek vir enige sentimente kan hê nie. Ek is jammer maar op hierdie stadium is ons effe agter die NZ's en dalk ook selfs die Ozzies. Soveel soos ek haat om dit te erken. Maar te oordeel aan wat saterdag op Screwlands gebeur het is selfs die Ozzies ons voor.
Die enigste plaaslike span wat die tipe rugby speel wat tans die internasionale norm is, is die leeus. Weereens is dit moeilik vir 'n Bul om dit te erken.
Al wat ek weet is ek is bly my naam is nie HM nie want hy is oppad na 'n onvermydelike botsing met die nare werklikheid. Miskien, miskien pluk hy 'n haas uit die hoed, ek hoop versker so, maar die enigste probleem is die hase sit oor die water en sy hoed is hier.
Heyeneke het lankal geweet hy gaan in moeilikheid wees as dit.nie vir oorsese spelers is nie. Heelwat van sy plaaslike spelers het ook vorm verloor. Bv. Pollard, Reinach, Serfontein, Lambie wat beseer is en selfs Willie le Roux asook die du Plessis broers. Hopelik kan die coaching staff hierdie ouens in 2 maande omgedraai kry.
Ek wel die gevoel dat Morne Steyn en Frans Steyn weer terug id prentjie is.
Dis net ingelooflik.hoe maklik die ouens skuif ten.spyte van Bokkontrakte.
Nollis, baie sterkte met die pad vorentoe, met die Bulle se optel poging. Dit gaan nie oornag gebeur nie, maar ek hoop regtig hy kan die Bul-fiasko begin omswaai. Ons as supporters sal hom support in daardie omswaai poging.
Check maar net wat gebeur by die Lions en hulle supporters.
Shannow/Frannabul ek stem met die vertrek van Ian het die werwing begin skeefloop, alhoewel die kry van jong talent miskien nog bietjie werk. Ek wonder net hoe het HM en Ian saamgewerk, watter insette het Ian van HM gekry?
Ek wonder op watter insette doen Xander iets - kan nie op sy eie wees nie, maar ja die hele aankoop storie het 'n joke geword.
Nou met nuwe afrigter en hopenlik goeie veranderinge by die Bulle, het ek gewonder of ek nie vir my 'n nuwe TV moet koop nie, miskien help dit ook om 'n nuwe Bulspan en rugby te sien. Wat dink julle?
Die hele bul struktuur doen egter baie twyelagtigge goed, en daar moet iemand met verstand ingebring word.
Kan dit waar wees dat ons onself in 'n land bevind waar jy iemand soek en moer baie betaal vir die kleur van vel en nie vir sy talent nie. Ons het daai stront mos agter ons gesit en selfs Mandela het op sy inhuldiging gesê nooit weer sal een groep 'n ander onderdruk nie. Wil ne politiek intrek nie en eerder by die ruggas bly maar die kwota stories gaan dinge nog meer kompliseer. Ons rugby gaan nou vinnig agteruit boer.
Ek wil voorspel dat dit jare gaan duur voor ons eers - indien ooit- naby daaraan kom om NZ te of Aus te bedreig en hier op nommer 5 of so in die ranglys gaan rondploeter met NZ Aus Eng Ierl Walis en Frankryk wat bo ons gaan le van 2016 af....
Miskien verstaan ek die beoogde kwota sisteem verkeerd en help dan asseblief reg want dan voel ek dalk beter. Maar die begaafde laatities gaan Franse Engelse Aussie en enige ander land wat hulle talente na wwaarde skat en wil gebruik se truie aantrek.
En die bokke gaan gelooi en gelooi en gelooi word...
Sal seker nie gou sy gesig hier kom wys nie!!
Ek was beindruk met ian Scwhartz se insig oor wanneer transformasie moet plaasvind, en ek haal aan:
"Your resistance to change is greatest when you believe you have all the answers and that's why most teams fail to respect success. So what happens? the team starts loosing."
Interressant wat hy dan opmerk:
The coach get sacked, the club starts spending money on new players, new equipment and coaches in a franctic attempt to stop the decline in performance. But the team keeps loosing.
Then the chief executive gets sacked and management get sacked. The organization is i disarray. The fans and sponsors have deserted it. it appears that the team may never experience success again.
En dan...
Someone decides things have to change. they put together a plan, and find people and money to make it happen.
People start believing things can change. there are new players, coaches, staff, ideas. a spirit of enthusiasm, energy and passion in the club.
"99% of all defeats and setbacks are explained by providing excuses - something we were not prepared to resort to. It is well known that anything of the field can influence performance. that influence can either be positive or negative."
"Good planning is what ultimately enables success, but the preservation and awareness of a healthy culture are essential for sustaining the pursuit of a vision of success on a day to day basis."
"A successful culture cannot create results in an environment where arrogance and big ego's dominate or even just taint the culture."
Dit is dus goed en wel die Bulle wil iemand aanstel wat die kultuur van die BBM goe dvertsaan, dus 'n inhouse aanstelling, wat ek vrmoed ons gaan kry, maar as hulle nie minstens bg. ernstig gaan opneem nie, gaan die boom aanhou bly om slegte vrugte te dra.
Ja ons pan het dom rugby gespeel en n goeie pakslae gekry. Oh well dan probeer ons weer volgende jaar. Al wat ek weet is ons is tans baie beter as die Bulle. Onthou dit gaan nog n goeie 5 maer jare wees vir julle unie terwyl ons die CC 2 keer die laaste 3 jaar gewen het.
En dalk nog langer as oupa Vic sommer hoof afrigter word. LOL
Geniet julle plesier in ons verloor en geniet om in geskiedenis te lewe.
Soos julle Saterdag gespeel het so die Pumas VC julle gewen het! Onthou net BMT kan nie gekoop word nie.....
Hierdie is 'n BULLE site en as julle hier wil kom troll moet julle maar die shots vat. Stormers is Tops staan mos hoeka vir SiT. SiT in jou hoekie tussen die res van die vrotvisse en bly weg hier. Julle is nie welkom nie.
Julle was sewende op die log. Ons was nie ver agter nie. So julle is beter??? 'n Klein bietjie miskien gewees hierdie jaar. Veral as julle teen 13 man speel soos saterdag dan staan julle nog 'n drie of wat af! LMFGA!!!