29 September 2026
Vodacom Bulls lock Reinhardt Ludwig says Munster will provide a significant step up from Zebre in Saturday's United Rugby Championship clash in Limerick. The 24-year-old expects a much tougher examination at Thomond Park despite the Bulls' convincing 47-13 opening-round win in Parma.
Ludwig enjoyed an impressive return to action against Zebre, scoring twice during a dominant seven-try display. It marked a successful comeback for the rising star, whose frustrating previous season saw his last Bulls appearance in late January before he fell out of the match-day 23.
“It wasn’t always sunshine and roses,” Ludwig said ahead of Saturday’s clash with Munster at Thomond Park. “The past seven months I didn’t play much, especially at the end of last season. I wasn’t part of the match-day 23, and it hurts not to play.”
The lock used that time on the sidelines as motivation to push himself through a grueling pre-season. “The only guy who knows that feeling is the guy who isn’t picked on a Monday to play on a Saturday,” he explained. “That feeling just stuck with me. I think it motivated me a lot through this pre-season. I was lucky this weekend to have a good outing.”
Ludwig credited his turnaround to hard work and transparent, tough feedback from the Bulls coaching staff. “It doesn’t just happen overnight that you play good rugby or have a good game,” he noted. “I think it was months and months of hard work and sitting with coaches, talking to them: ‘What must I work on? What do I need in my game to play for you?’ There were some tough conversations. But I think as a player you want honesty, and you want to know where you stand.”
With Springbok lock Ruan Nortje departed, coach Johan Ackermann has backed Ludwig and 22-year-old JF van Heerden to fill the void in the second row. Ludwig is currently partnering with Ruan Vermaak to anchor a young, ambitious tight five.
“Ruan left a big mark, and he’s left big shoes to fill,” said Ludwig. “But the nice thing is that we’re young locks, we’re very ambitious, and all of us want to be where Ruan is one day.”
He believes that being thrust into a starting role alongside Vermaak is the fastest way for young players to grow. “We’ve been thrown in at the deep end a little bit, but I feel that’s where you learn and grow the quickest,” he said. “You have to adapt. I love challenging and pushing myself. Sometimes it’s nice to hear other voices rather than just Ruan’s. It’s no longer just Ruan’s plan, but that of a few guys, and we’re trying to make it work.”
The Bulls now face a Munster side looking to bounce back from a 26-20 home defeat against the Glasgow Warriors. Ludwig expects a very different test from the physical Irish powerhouse and emphasises that the Bulls must find more consistency.
“Munster is definitely another challenge. They’re a good side, they’re a proper Irish side. You have to respect them,” Ludwig concluded. “Against a quality side like Munster, you’ll have to be more consistent.”
The young forward also expects difficult playing conditions and a vocal away atmosphere in Ireland. He highlighted the likelihood of rain and a vocal home crowd as major pressures the team must handle.
Looking forward, Ludwig is keeping his focus narrow and taking the season one week at a time. When asked about his toughest career opponents so far, he highlighted Saracens' Maro Itoje and Springbok star Eben Etzebeth.