The Vodacom Bulls are without Arno Botha, Mornè Mellett and David Bulbring while preparing for their first Vodacom Super Rugby pre-season match against the DHL Stormers next weekend, but the Blue Bulls Vodacom Cup coach, Nollis Marais, had fewer problems when he named his team to play Valke on Friday.
Botha (back), Bulbring (shoulder) and Mellett (back) sat out of training as their workload are managed, whilst Marais will be without Marvin Orie for the next month as the lock is in a final recovery stage from his knee injury sustained last season.
Marais named a number of stalwarts from last year's Vodacom Cup campaign, with Tony Jantjies again looking the likely pivot.
Schalk van Heerden, who played for UP-Tuks in last year's Varsity Cup campaign, has been picked at lock.
An interesting selection is that of Marquite September on the bench. The flyer was still at school at Garsfontein High School last year, but can stake an early claim against Valke.
The Vodacom Blue Bulls team is: Damian van Wyk, Keegan Gordon, Daniel Kriel, Leighton van Wyk, Marcus Kleinbooi, Tony Jantjies, Lohan Jacobs, Clyde Davids, Christiaan de Bruyn, Heinrich Viljoen, Schalk van Heerden, Irne Herbst, Wilco Louw, Corniel Els, Pierre Schoeman. Replacements: Jan Enslin, Neethling Fouche, Piet-Louw, Strauss, Nqobisiwe Mxoli, Jean Droste, Corne Cooper, Rudi van Rooyen, JP Smith, Lood de Jager, Marquite September.
Kick-off: 15:00, Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
Referee: Pro Legoete
Ek dink JLP kan wel waarde toevoeg, hy was net nog nooit bekend as n betroubare stelskopper nie. Weet nie of dit die laaste seisoen of 2 wat hy oorsee was verbeter het nie?