Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais named flanker Lappies Labuschagne as captain of the Blue Bulls team to face Japanese outfit Canon Eagles, in Machida, Tokyo on Friday.

The starting team is packed with players who have played in the Vodacom Super Rugby tournament this year, with only former Springbok Sevens speedsters, Warrick Gelant (fullback), Jamba Ulengo (wing) and former Junior Springbok Dries Swanepoel, who have not played at that level before.

Marais included Springboks Deon Stegmann, Werner Kruger, Arno Botha, Francois Hougaard and Dean Greyling, with Bandise Maku playing off the bench.

“This is a great opportunity for us to get into the thick of things in an unfamiliar environment. We have been treated wonderfully well and I want to thank our hosts, but come Friday, we will not be treated with gloves anymore. We are expecting a tough encounter from a team packed with quality players. This is a final test to our preparations and we need to make the most of it,” Marais said.

The team is: Warrick Gelant, Travis Ismaiel, Dries Swanepoel, Burger Odendaal, Jamba Ulengo, Louis Fouché, Francois Hougaard, Arno Botha, Lappies Labuschagne (captain), Deon Stegmann, Marvin Orie, Jacques du Plessis, Werner Kruger, Jaco Visagie and Dean Greyling. Replacements (from): Bandise Maku, Andrew Beerwinkel, RG Snyman, Roelof Smit, Ivan van Zyl, Tian Schoeman, Willam Small-Smith, Nqoba Mxoli, Hanro Liebenberg, Dan Kriel, Jannes Kirsten, Kefentse Mahlo.