Vodacom Bulls lock Flip van der Merwe has been passed fit to face the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday and will lead the team for their third tour match to Australasia.
This will be the first of two matches the Vodacom Bulls will play in Australia as part of their Vodacom Super Rugby tour.
Van der Merwe got injured in last weekend’s bonus point loss to the Highlanders in Dunedin, but has recovered sufficiently from his arm injury to lead the team.
Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke named the same starting team that played in Dunedin, but made one change on the bench, where Rudy Paige will act as scrumhalf cover. Should Paige takes to the field it will be his first appearance in the competition this year.
“We are very keen to get back on the winning trail. We had opportunities in Napier and Dunedin, but could not convert enough of those to secure us victory. We have played well in patches, so will be looking for a solid performance in Sydney,” Ludeke said.
“We realise we are facing one of the leading teams in the competitions in the Waratahs, who has been playing great rugby this season, but also know that we are very hard to beat if we stay in our structures, rhythm and manage to keep the ball.”
Van der Merwe said they owe it to themselves to deliver on Saturday.
“We are desperate for a win and the only way we will achieve that is by showing up and playing to our potential on Saturday. We have ambitions in this tournament, but we need to make a stronger statement about that than we have done up to now.
The team to play the Waratahs (with Super caps) is: Jurgen Visser (19), Bjorn Basson (63), JJ Engelbrecht (41), Jan Serfontein (20), Francois Hougaard (64), Jacques-Louis Potgieter (48), Piet van Zyl (39), Grant Hattingh (27), Jacques du Plessis (9), Jono Ross (11), Victor Matfield (131), Flip van der Merwe (69, c), Werner Kruger (100), Callie Visagie (31), Dean Greyling (46). Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi (8), Marcel van der Merwe (23), Morné Mellett (16), Paul Willemse (12), Jacques Engelbrecht (20), Rudy Paige (4), Handré Pollard (6), William Small-Smith (1).
Milestones:
•Victor Matfield will become the most capped Vodacom Bulls player in the Vodacom Super Rugby competition in playing in his 124th match for the franchise. He surpasses Mornè Steyn (123 matches). Matfield is also the most experienced South African in Super Rugby (131 matches), having played for the Cats in his debut season. He is also the most experienced South African captain in Super Rugby, having captained the Vodacom Bulls 77 times.
•Francois Hougaard is one try away from 100 Vodacom Super Rugby points.
•Rudy Paige will play in his first Vodacom Super Rugby match of the season, should he take to the field.
Hy het in 440 minute speeltyd NOG NIE 1 TURNOVER BEWERKSTELLIG NIE, die bal 36m gedra en 5 tackles gemis.
Hoe op dees aarde regverdig hy sy plek in die span?
En dan 3 skrumskakels in die span - met Paige op die bank!
Ek moet dom wees want ek verstaan nie hoe hierdie span gekies word nie.
Ons gaan erg sukkel teen die Tahs!
Behalwe vir Ross (en lostrio kombinasies) nou nog vir Paige op die bank!!!
Daar is nie pille nie!!
Go Waratahs!!! Maybe moet ons al die games verloor sodat iets gebeur!!!!!!
Verder is Ludeke besig om van Ross 'n tweede Luke Watson te maak, ek kry die arme jongman jammer wat so ge-violate word deur sy eie mense. Die jongman is heeltemal buite sy klas en vermoee en dit is nie sy skuld nie, maar Ludeke hulle ontbloot hom naweek vir naweek voor die hele wereld, om hom te spot. En die BBRU roem op hul sogenaamde familie kultuur en omgee vir mekaar ? Hulle vernietig hierdie arme outjie, wat 'n goeie agsteman kan wees, maar nie 'n nr.6 flank nie.
Om dinge nog erger te maak, Wimpie kon op die bank gewees het in Paige se plek, maar ook dit word nie gedoen nie. Dalk die politiek, die BBRU wat begin gat kruip by die minister wat gedreig het oor meer swart spelers in die span ?
Miskien moet die BBRU sommer gou sy politieke kleure begin wys sodat ons wat rugby liefhet, en nie politiek nie, kan begin ander span soek ?
Gaan die eerste keer in my hele lewe wees dat ek ooit hoop 'n ander span klop my geliefde span, maar hoe gaan die klomp daar op Loftus ooit wakker word ?
Behalwe dat spelers om hom hardloop.Hardloop hulle ook bo oor hom.Hy kan ook nie die bal dra nie?
Hooper gaan ons verneder op die grond!
Magtig man.Speel Bongi flank.Enigeiets behalwe ROSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As die minister sy 60:40 kwotas deurdruk sal ek persoonlik gaan betoog dat alle internasionale sport gestop moet word weens politieke inmenging.
Hoeke het ons daai posters in 1981 in NZ wat HART gesê het gehaat. Ek sal ook vi rmy so 'n poster maak. Halt All Racists Tours.
Geen internasionale deelname vir sokker nie. Hulle is in elk geval hopeloos en nou wil hulle rugby wat al twee World Cups gewen het aftrek na dieselfde vlak toe. Voor ons die bokke sien slae kry week na week agv hierdie waansin keer moet ons eerder oprobeer om dit te keer. Selfs Skotland en Tonga en Japan en Rusland sal ons moerse loesings gee as die twak gebeur
HART!! HART!!!
Ek verstaan nie almal kla oor Ross en sal nogsteeds speel. Hattingh is ook nie vir my op die vlak nie.
Ross, Hattingh, Paige het ons al laas jaar in Currie Beker gewys hulle kan nie eers op daardie vlak speel nie. Ek wens Paige kom op dat hulle ons sommer met 30 punte kan moer.
Hooper gaan vir Ross wys wat n flank moet doen.
Ek sien nie kans nie ek wil nie eers tyd mors en vir die clowns kyk nie. Elke ander spele gaan 110% moet gee om op te aak vir clowns soos Ross,Hattingh en Paige op die veld.
As ons wil verloor - want dit is hoe dit vir my lyk met die span - kan ons net sowel proefnemings maak.
Speel Basson op heelagter soos iemand al genoem het. Skuif JJ vleuel toe en speel WSS senter. Dan kan Visser op die bank wees om heelagter en vleuel te cover. Pollard is daar om losskakel en senter te cover.
Ek dink ook Mbonambi sal 'n beter 6 uitmaak as Ross.
Hoekom Paige daar is gaan my verstand te bowe. Daar is alreeds 2 skrummies op die veld. Sit eerder vir Wimpie op die bank of kry 'n erkende 6 flank en vlieg hom oor.
Meer kan/wil ek nie se nie
http://www.rugby365.com/article/59491-mehrtens-time-for-sa-to-go
Politiek eerste, rugby en bulle tweede en derde.
Ek dink wel ons kan goed doen die naweek,die mane kan mekaar nou leer ken en hulle samespel kan verbeter as hulle nie te veel veranderings maak nie.
Wat Paige aan betref is dit verseker 'n Kwita besluit. Dink nie hulle het 'n keuse gehaat nie met Akona Ndungane wat nog nie reg is nie moet hulle die kwita reg hou.
Ek glo nie hy sal speelkans kry nie, hoop nie so nie want hy is versekker nie op die vlak nie.
Potgieter will want to show Frans what he lost
The team will want to play for Palu's loss (his dad)
Folau will want to prove a point to ARU.
The team will want to bounce back in front of their crowd and bounce back from the Force loss.
BIG ASK!
Still behind the team. I cannot understand the reasoning behind Ross.
Why do we have 3 scrum halves in the team?
Why didnt we rather fly over a player like Kriel or Blommetjies or SOMEONE!
ross = kwots
Wat het mense anders verwag ?
Lofliedere omdat dieselde foute oor en oor gemaak word ?
It has been apparent that Ross is trying, but cannot fulfil the same role, as he is a natural No 8 with the result the opposition have been getting quick ball to launch attacks with, something that has cost the Bulls.
But Ludeke didn’t agree and defended his choice of loose trio for the game.
“If you look at the bigger picture and obviously that is also vital – to look what your loose forwards bring for you. Obviously you need a ball carrier and a guy who can play forwards and backwards, in the role of a no.8, the special function that a number 8 has – we’re confident Grant can do that for us. He’s been there, is good under the high ball and links well with the backs and forwards,” he explained.
“On the blind side, Jacques du Plessis, who up until now has had the most ball carries – he is effective with the way he applies himself. Then when you look at the openside role and Jono Ross, we definitely look at areas where he can try and slow down defensive breakdowns. He is chasing that and it is a matter of time and he will also have an effect there. But it is still smart decisions, Not giving away silly penalties is more important than chasing something and trying to make an impact.
His all round impact in terms of applying himself and his workrate, there is nothing wrong there. We’re happy with Jono Ross and we’re chasing that breakdown.”
Al wat ek kan se is: Joe Public kyk ook die game. En as hy nie te gesuip en befoeterd eenogig is nie, kan hy ook nogal sien. Stats is oral beskikbaar vandag.
My vriend dis waar jou probleem le. Net Duppie hoort daar.
Julle gaan pakslae kry by breukpunte en Hooper sal Ross wys hoe speel mens rugby. Dink Tahs met 10, Maar as Paige opkom kan ons n groter pakslae verwag
Ons moet meer met die bal hardloop in minder die bal doelloos skop, ons moet werk aan die klomp foute wat ons elke keer maak, ons is in elkgeval beter as die Stormers en Cheetahs in ag geneem hulle het geen punte verdien op toer
Die Bulle vaar in elkgeval baie goed sover as ons dink ons het so baie ouens af gestaan wat oorsee speel
Ja ons almal word kwaad en terleurgestel, maar ons doen goed
Ek dink as ons saterdag wen sal dit so met 5 tot 7 punte wees, en as ons verloor sal dit ook so met 7 punte wees
Ons moet net positief wees en op hou om ons span so af te kraak
NOU VIR DIE BLOU