With many of the senior players out, Frikkie Welsh will get the opportunity to lead the Vodacom Blue Bulls in their friendly against the Western Force on at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.
Johan Wasserman was one of the early favourites to lead the side, but he will be unavailable as his father passed away this week.
Welsh is by far the most experienced player in the squad, but this will be his first outing at centre since returning for the Bulls halfway through the Vodacom Super 14 competition. His partner will be Rudi Coetzee, who, similarly, will be playing his first match at inside centre since moving from the Lions at the end of 2005.
The eyes of all in attendance will be on new recruit Rayno Gerber, who made an impression at Leeds, and the home side will be looking at him to provide some stability in the absence of Richard Bands and Andries Human.
The Blue Bulls’ coach, Heyneke Meyer, intimated that he will be using the match to test players in different positions and with twelve players on the bench, the side that ends the match could look vastly different from the run-on side.
Danwel Demas and Stefan Basson, the province’s two sevens stars, should both get a chance at fullback, while Harry Vermaas could be utilized at hooker.
The match kicks off at 15:00. Adults pay R20 and kids get in for free. Season’s tickets will be valid.
16 Harry Vermaas
17 Jaco Engels
18 Ruan Vermeulen
19 Cliffie Milton
20 Deon Stegman
21 Neil Powell
22 Jacques-Louis Potgieter
23 Dylan des Fountain
24 John Mametsa
25 Danwel Demas
26 Stefan Basson
27 Riaan vd Bergh
Western Force
15. Ryan Lenegan
14. Garth Ziegler
13. Zander Peden
12. Haig Sare
11. Brett Stapleton
10. Brock James
9. Chris O'Young
8. Richard Brown
7. Will Brock
6. Josh Fuimaono
5. Luke Doherty (c)
4. Matt Windle
3. AJ Whalley
2. Luke Holmes
1. Kieran Longbottom
16. Ryan Tyrell
17. David Te Moana
18. David Fitter
19. Tyler Edwards
20. Vitori Buatava
21. Nathan McCort
22. Gavin DeBartolo
23. Matt Shaw
24. Elliot Kuhlmann-Hall
