Ludwig’s hunger adds bite to Bulls’ Munster challenge

The Bulls have claimed three consecutive wins against Munster in the United Rugby Championship, including a decisive victory in last season's quarter-final. Lock Reinhardt Ludwig anticipates a formidable challenge during Saturday's encounter, which is set to take place in potentially rainy conditions with a vocal Irish crowd surrounding the field.

The teams have faced each other seven times in the URC, with the Bulls edging out Munster on four occasions. The Bulls recently triumphed over Zebre in a 47-13 scoreline. Johan Ackermann, Munster's coach, cautioned that Munster would be a tougher opponent and could exploit any weaknesses the Bulls possess, particularly in scrum situations, a weakness highlighted by Zebre's failure to capitalize on the opportunity.

Ludwig, who contributed two tries against Zebre, emphasized that they should not focus on past performance but rather concentrate on their current objectives and self-improvement. The lock acknowledged that Munster is a formidable side, asserting that they need to respect their opponents. The Bulls scrum agreed to perform well against Zebre, primarily due to the solid performances of Ruan Vermaak, Ludwig, and JF van Heerden.

Ludwig shared his personal journey of overcoming the disappointment of not being selected in recent seasons, crediting the hard work and discussions with his coaches for securing a spot on the Bulls' matchday 23. With a renewed determination, the 24-year-old expressed excitement for the upcoming season.