Ten Springboks and two Blitzboks in Bulls’ starting line-up against Stormers
Pote Human has selected a very strong team, which includes the experience of 11 Springboks, to play against the Stormers at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday in the first SuperRugby match of the season.
The Bulls will start their 2019 Super Rugby campaign with a mixture of eleven Springboks, two seasoned Blitzboks and five tournament rookies when they face the Stormers at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday in a highly anticipated clash.
This season opener will also see the return to South African rugby for Springbok veterans Duane Vermeulen and Schalk Brits.
Vermeulen returns to the competition for the first time since 2015 having represented the Cheetahs and Stormers in 109 matches, while Brits, who played for the Cats and Stormers in his career, last saw action in the Southern Hemisphere showpiece in 2011.
Rosko Specman will be the only tournament debutant in the run-on team though as Bulls Head Coach, Pote Human, named the former Springbok Sevens player on the wing. Specman has played in the PRO 14 competition for the Cheetahs in 2017, but this will be a first taste of the Super Rugby tournament for the two-time World Sevens Series winner.
Human also named Corniel Els, Simphiwe Matanzima, Eli Snyman and the other Blitzbok, Dylan Sage, on the bench, with all due for a first appearance for the home side in the competition. Matanzima sat on the bench in last season’s match against the Sunwolves in Singapore, but did not take to the field.
Apart from Vermeulen and Brits, there will also be a Bulls debut for replacement prop Dayan van der Westhuizen. The Bulls player represented the Southern Kings in the tournament before as a loan player to the Eastern Cape franchise, playing for them 11 times.
Ruan Steenkamp, who missed the entire 2018 Super Rugby tournament due to injury, was named on the flank.
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Human could call on a very experienced core of players, with Burger Odendaal and Handré Pollard in line for their 50th caps later this season, while up front, Trevor Nyakane could play in his 100th Super match during the tournament (running out for his 50th Bulls cap on Saturday).
Lood de Jager will lead the team for the first time in the tournament and the lock will combine with Jason Jenkins. The duo last started a match together as the lock combination in March 2018 against the Crusaders in Christchurch.
The locks are amongst the 10 Springboks named by Human for the season’s opener.
According to the new Bulls coach his team should not be the favourites despite playing at home.
“Recent history shows how formidable the Stormers have been. They have won seven of their last nine games against us, so will have more than enough confidence coming here. That said, we did beat them here last year, so if we apply what we trained, I firmly believe we can do that again,” said Human at the announcement of his team.
An 80-minute effort will be needed though, De Jager insisted.
“We held the lead in three of our last matches at halftime and only won once, so it is imperative that we not only start well, but sustain our efforts for the full 80 minutes. There is massive excitement and expectation amongst the squad this year and we are keen to go out and play the best rugby we can,” the captain said.
The team to face the Stormers is: Warrick Gelant, Johnny Kotze, Jessie Kriel, Burger Odendaal, Rosko Specman, Handré Pollard, Embrose Papier, Duane Vermeulen, Hanro Liebenberg, Ruan Steenkamp, Lood de Jager (c), Jason Jenkins, Trevor Nyakane, Schalk Brits, Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements: Corniel Els, Simphiwe Matanzima, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Eli Snyman, Thembelani Bholi, Ivan van Zyl, Manie Libbok and, Dylan Sage.
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SuperSport Challenge Warm-Up Match
The Blue Bulls also named their squad to play in a warm-up friendly against the Naka Bulle Club in the curtain-raiser to the game. The Blue Bulls are preparing for the SuperSport Rugby Challenge and Naka Bulle will play in the Gold Cup, so this match will be perfect as part of their preparations.
A number of players with Super Rugby experience have been named in the Blue Bulls team, including Conraad van Vuuren, Jannes Kirsten, Andre Warner and Divan Rossouw. Flyhalf Chris Smith, on loan from the Pumas, will also make a first appearance for the team.
Team to play Naka Bulle on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld is: Divan Rossouw, Cornal Hendricks, Franco Naude, JT Jackson, Jade Stighling, Chris Smith, Andre Warner, Muller Uys, Tim Agaba, Paul Schoeman, Aston Fortuin, Jannes Kirsten, Conraad van Vuuren, Dewald Maritz, Matthys Basson. Replacements: Stephan Leonard, Nqoba Mxoli, Madot Mabokela, Aaron Brodi, Fred Eksteen, Marco Jansen van Vuuren, Theo Boshoff, Cameron Hufke, Earll Douwrie.
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