The Blue Bulls U21s have been named for their SA Rugby U21 Championship semi-final match against the Cell C Sharks U21s at Loftus Versfeld on Friday, 30 August 2019.

Head coach, Nollis Marais kept the changes to a minimum.

Although Marais lost one of his stars and stalwarts, Marnus Potgieter, due to an injury, he was able to strengthen his forwards with a Currie Cup player.

Potgieter was set to don the outside centre jersey but dislocated his finger during training which allows Sango Xamlashe an opportunity.

Also in the midfield as Wian van Niekerk replaces Jay-Cee Nel at inside centre.

Amongst the forwards, another lock partnership will start as both Ruan Nortje and Ryno Pieterse return to the fold while Mornay Smith and Werner Fourie are the front row changes.

Nortje was one of the few players who excelled throughout the Blue Bulls’ Currie Cup campaign and this promising young lock with his enormous work rate will certainly strengthen Marais’s team.

The new faces on the bench are Llewellyn Classen, Carl Els, Ewart Potgieter, Cabous Eloff, Lionel April and Dawid Kellerman.

Kick-off is 13:00 and the public are encouraged to come down to support the juniors with entrance to the match being free of charge.

Blue Bulls U21: 15. Richard Kriel, 14. Gershwin Mouton, 13. Sango Xamlashe, 12. Wian van Niekerk, 11. Sebastiaan Jobb, 10. Theo Boshoff, 9. Keagan Johannes, 8. Muller Uys (C), 7. Hanru Sirgel, 6. Stephan Smit, 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Ryno Pieterse, 3. Mornay Smith, 2. Werner Fourie, 1. Kudzwai Dube.  Replacements: 16. Llewellyn Classen, 17. Etienne Janeke, 18. Carl Els, 19. Ewart Potgieter, 20. Johan Mulder, 21. Lionel April, 22. Dawid Kellerman, 23. Cabous Eloff.

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