Bulls set to build on good start
There is nothing at all broken with how the Blue Bulls' Currie Cup campaign has started, writes Vata Ngobeni.
|||Pretoria - There is nothing at all broken with how the Blue Bulls' Currie Cup campaign has started. Yet coach Nollis Marais has injected some experience and youth ahead of their clash against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Injuries have played a role in the change in make-up of the team which demolished Western Province last weekend. Former Springbok Bjorn Basson, therefore, makes a positional switch from fullback to wing in place of the injured Jade Stigling while Dan Kriel will start in place of the injured Dries Swanepoel.
The biggest jolt to the Bulls system, however, came in the form of former servant Ulrich Beyers who returns from the wilderness to start at fullback.
Beyers last played for the Bulls two years ago prior to his move abroad to ply his trade in the French Top 14 for Bordeaux before moving to Italy to play for Zebre.
Newly-recruited hooker Edgar Marutlulle is set to make his debut for the men in blue off the bench after his post Super Rugby season move from the Southern Kings.
Marais, though, has resisted making more than the necessary changes even though SA A lock RG Snyman is fit and ready to play and has opted to use him off the bench along with Martin Dreyer, Joshua Stander and Duncan Matthews, who are all new faces in the match day 23.
Marais' decision to beef up his bench could also have been influenced by the manner in which Province ran amok in the closing stages of the game and he will seek a finish as strong as their start.
The clash in Bloemfontein will make for a mouthwatering affair with both sides having recorded convincing victories over the weekend and occupying the top of the table with a mere points difference separating them.
“We did well, especially in the first half against WP, but we cannot rest on our laurels. The Cheetahs is packed with quality players all around their team and they will ask serious questions of our temperament and commitment, especially as it is their first home match in the Currie Cup. We need to be switched on for this one,” said Marais on Wednesday.
Blue Bulls Team
Ulrich Beyers, Bjorn Basson, Dan Kriel, Burger Odendaal, Jamba Ulengo, Tian Schoeman, Piet van Zyl, Arno Botha (captain), Jannes Kirsten, Ruan Steenkamp, Marvin Orie, Jason Jenkins, Entienne Swanepoel, Jaco Visagie, Pierre Schoeman. Replacements: Edgar Marutlulle, Martin Dreyer, RG Snyman, Hanro Liebenberg, Andre Warner, Joshua Stander, Duncan Matthews.
The Star