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Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke tweaked his backline with a new midfield combination for their Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Toyota Cheetahs and changed his front row, but stuck with almost the same match 23 that came up short against the Force in Perth last weekend.
Ludeke included Junior World Cup winning players William Small-Smith and Handre Pollard in the starting team for the first time this season and also gave prop Marcel van der Merwe a first start for the match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Small-Smith replaces JJ Engelbrecht, who moves to the bench in place of Ulrich Beyers, Pollard swop places with Jacques-Louis Potgieter (bench) and Van der Merwe takes to the field with Werner Kruger being used as impact player this time around.
Callie Visagie returns to hooker, with Bongi Mbonambi on the bench and Bandise Maku dropping out.
Ludeke said it was time for rotating players again and expressed his confidence in the two youngsters earning their first start.
"Both Handre and William have slotted in well at this level and are eager to show what they have to offer. This is a good opportunity for them."
He admitted that his team is under pressure against a high-flying Cheetahs team, who earlier this year broke their Vodacom Super Rugby duck against the Bulls.
"We are back at Loftus Versfeld where expectations are even higher and to be honest, not in a situation we wanted to be at this stage of the tournament. We need to get out of our losing streak and back to winning ways, not only to stay in the competition but to justify the hard work we have put in. I am confident that we can turn things around, as it is small things that are costing us at the moment."
The team (with Super caps) is: Jurgen Visser (20), Akona Ndungane (103), William Small-Smith (2), Jan Serfontein (22), Bjorn Basson (65), Handré Pollard (8), Francois Hougaard (66), Grant Hattingh (29), Jacques du Plessis (11), Jono Ross (13), Victor Matfield (133, c), Paul Willemse (14), Marcel van der Merwe (13), Callie Visagie (32), Dean Greyling (48). Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi (10), Morné Mellett (18), Werner Kruger (102), Jacques Engelbrecht (21), Wimpie van der Walt (19), Rudy Paige (6), Jacques-Louis Potgieter (50), JJ Engelbrecht (43).
Milestones:
•Victor Matfield will extend a number of records: most capped South African in Vodacom Super Rugby (134th match), most capped Vodacom Bulls player in VSR (126th match) and the most as captain (80th).
•William Small-Smith, Handrè Pollard and Marcel van der Merwe will all earn starts for the Vodacom Bulls the first time this season.
•Francois Hougaard needs one try to score 100 Vodacom Super Rugby points.
Small-Smith, Pollard in beginspan vir Vodacom Bulls
Die afrigter van die Vodacom Bulls, Frans Ludeke, het veranderinge aan sy middeveld en voorry aangebring vir sy span se Vodacom Super Rugby-wedstryd teen die Toyota Cheetahs Saterdag op Loftus Versfeld.
Ludeke het die twee Junior Wêreldbekerwenners van 2012, Handrè Pollard en William Small-Smith, vir die eerste keer in sy beginspan ingesluit en ook aan stut Marcel van der Merwe sy eerste opdrafkans gegee, maar grootliks by dieselfde 23-tal gebly wat verlede week in Perth teen die Force vasgeval het.
Pollard en Small-Smith ruil plekke met Jacques-Louis Potgieter en JJ Engelbrecht, wat albei bank toe skuif, terwyl Van der Merwe en Werner Kruger roteer. Callie Visagie is weer terug op haker, met Bongi Mbonambi wat op die bank sit en Bandise Maku wat wegval.
Volgens Ludeke is dit 'n goeie tyd om sy rotasiebeleid in te span en het sy volle vertroue in die twee 21-jarige agterspelers gestel.
"Beide Handre en William is gretig om te begin en hulle talente uit te stal. Hierdie is 'n goeie geleentheid vir hulle," het Ludeke gesê.
Die afrigter erken die span is onder druk, veral omdat die Cheetahs stert in die lug is en vroeër vanjaar die Bulls vir die eerste keer in Vodacom Super Rugby geklop het.
"Ons is terug by die huis en op Loftus Versfeld is die druk en verwagtinge altyd meer. Ons is nie in 'n ideale situasie wat die toernooi aanbetref nie. Ons moet uit die verloorgroef kom as ons in aanspraak op die toernooi wil behou. Ons moet ook beloning begin kry vir die harde werk wat ons insit."
Ludeke glo sy span kan die ommekeer die naweek bewerkstellig.
"Dit is klein dingetjies wat ons kortwiek en ek glo die nodige regstellings is gedoen."
Die span (met Super-wedstryde) is: Jurgen Visser (20), Akona Ndungane (103), William Small-Smith (2), Jan Serfontein (22), Bjorn Basson (65), Handré Pollard (8), Francois Hougaard (66), Grant Hattingh (29), Jacques du Plessis (11), Jono Ross (13), Victor Matfield (133, c), Paul Willemse (14), Marcel van der Merwe (13), Callie Visagie (32), Dean Greyling (48). Plaasvervangers: Bongi Mbonambi (10), Morné Mellett (18), Werner Kruger (102), Jacques Engelbrecht (21), Wimpie van der Walt (19), Rudy Paige (6), Jacques-Louis Potgieter (50), JJ Engelbrecht (43).
Mylpale:
•Victor Matfield verbeter die volgende rekords: meeste verskynings as Suid-Afrikaner in die kompetisie (134ste wedstryd), meeste verskynings vir die Vodacom Bulls (126ste) en meeste as kaptein (80ste).
•William Small-Smith, Handrè Pollard en Marcel van der Merwe speel almal vir die eerste keer vir die Vodacom Bulls in die beginspan.
•Francois Hougaard kort een drie om 100 Vodacom Super Rugby punte aan te teken.
Extremely excited to see Handre starting and he needs to take this opportunity with both hands and run with it!
Tremendously excited about William Small Smith and if he can bring an attacking flair to the backline, it might just force Ludeke to consider JJ on the wing until he gets that form he had last year.
Marcel completely deserves his start. He competes on the floor and scrums really well. If he can hold up he too can cement a place in that jersey.
I still don't get the selection of Ross but i guess too many changes can also disrupt a team.
HANDRE THIS IS YOUR CHANCE!
Come on Boys! I still believe in you. Lets put that terrible tour behind us and start playing some rugby!
Pollard and WSS starting. Breath of fresh air I say!! Hopefully Pollard, JS and WSS can spark something and get the backs going...
The Bad...
Callie Visagie back starting... Why not give Bongi another run??
The down right Ugly...
Why play Hattingh and Ross in the losse forwards???
How is it even possible that Hattingh is a better 8th man than Engelbrecht?? Also, Ross... I'm really sick and tired of Frans Ludeke selecting this guy. What is it that he sees in this player that 1000's of Bulls fans (and other fans for that matter) don't see... I'd love to know.
I'm dumbfounded really...
The sad thing is that no matter how exciting the backs look, if we cant secure our own ball at the rucks... we won't have any ball toswing to the backs...
We need to start getting bonus points wins as well...
Let's hope for the best
Gaan nogsteeds sukkel teen Cheetahs met hul BAIE BETER lostrio!!!!
Dis hoogtyd dat WSS en Pollard start.
Asb Jan pas net so nou en dan die bal na jou backline - hulle sal kook.
Victor Matfield hoofafrigter
Fourie dy Preez agterlyn afrigter.
En n splinternuwe voorspeler afrigter. Kon nie sy naam mooi sien in die kaarte nie.
FL retired, Slattjips ver suid en Pine - wel erens soos Luiperds.
Daar staan nie dalk iewers iets wat begin met 'n M en eindig met 'n t of iets in daai bal nie???? Het jy nie dalk daai naam by hoofafrigter gesien en VM s'n by die forwards nie?? Dalk 'n klein paralaks foutjie met die bal wat so rond is jy weet
I wonder if Bongi will be a better 6 than Ross, he fetches better anyway??????????
Go BB for this is all up to you reaching the playoffs
Aan die ander kant kan ek jou belowe Frans Ludeke is onder geen druk as hy week in en week uit Hattingh, Visser, Visagie en Amazing Ross speel nie. Sy posisie is seker verseker vir nog vele jare.
Ek sal eeder Marcell op 6 speel hy doen beter werk op grond as Ross.
Ek gee op ek se die Cheetahs met 10
Go Cheetahs skuif die Bulle onder toe laat hulle uitval uit Super Rugby!!!!!!!
Leon ek het vir Bongi al reguit gevra of hy nie fetcher/no 6 wil speel nie en sy antwoord was verbatim "Nee oom ek bly maar liewer op haker"
Hoe dit ookal sy dit gaan 'n interessante game wees Saterdag. Miskien die BULLE met 1 tot 3???
Ek dink ons verdediging is baie goed, selfs beer as wat ons soms Pine krediet voor wil gee.
Ons kan die een wen met n bonus 3. Gee net die backline goeie geleenthede, skop die bal uit en contest in die lynstaane. Die up and unders gaan nie lekker werk nie, eenvoudig omdat die chasers en kicker nog nie so lekker gesinkroniseer is nie.
Good luck for saturday! Both VC and S15 teams
Ross was verlede jaar in die laaste Curriebekerwedstryd gekies as "fetcher" en die Bulle het 'n skraal kans gehad om die uitspeelwedstryde te haal as hulle gewen het. Op die ou einde het hulle 'n pakslae gekry en die Cheetahs het met ons gemors in die losskrums.
Ongelukkig Cheetas met 8.
As ek Ross was het ek begin sleg voel elke keer as ek gekies word.Op watter meriete is hy in die span.Dit kan nie op sy spelpeil wees nie en Hattingh ok.En dis niks persoonliks nie.
Oor Ross... Waar het ek nou weer my dubbel whiskey gesit?
But Ludeke seemed to admit that Ross should not chase the breakdown as an openside flank should, and that he had been instructed not to do so. Ross can be forgiven though as he is a more natural number 8, but selections should be better.
“We also know that, but Jono’s rest of his game is good enough for us as a side, and what he brings in terms of work rate and how he is improving there. There was one game where he chased the breakdown and it cost a lot of points. He is improving there and he is a great player. We know what we have in Wimpie (van der Walt) and every week he is more in our game plan. In the end it is not just the breakdown for an opensider, there are a lot of other points as well.
“We look at the total package. Jacques du Plessis is probably one of the most in-form blindside flankers in the competition in terms of tackles and carries. Grant is used to playing eight and we see it every week in the line-out, where we are improving. He makes our line-out great. Jacques Engelbrecht is a great option from the bench.
Ek sien al Rip van Winkel se lookalike wat opdraf.....
As ons ooit weer die S15 wil wen, moet ons die beste Direkteur van Rugby en die beste afrigters kry. Mallet is een van daardie. Ek is net gatvol om die bespotting van Super rugby weer te wees. Die Kiwis en Aussies het GEEN meer respek vir ons nie.
Ek stem saam oor die kritiek teen Frans se opmerking. Ek dink hy rasionaliseer sy spankeuse en hy weet baie goed die probleem le tans by daardie lostrio. Ek het sovrr elke wedstryd gekyk waar Ross die nr. 6 was. My gevoel is hy gee regtig alles maar hy IS nie goed genoeg nie. Hy vat heelwat tackels van baldraers maar dis selde effektief. Daar is verskil tussen hy doen "ander goed ook" en "hy is effektief in dit en dat." FL kon nie eens uitstippel waarmee hy spesifiek dan vir Ross.insluit nie, en dis om daardie rede dat ek dink.FL is besig om die probleem onverstaanbaar te smooth over.
Ek stem saam met Brendan Nel.dat die skakelpaar en senters nie noodwendig die veranderjnge is wat die Bulle nou nodig het nie, maar veral die lostrio. Dit maak of breek ons momentum. Vir my is die mixed boodskappe.wat met spankeuses gemaak word die kenmerk van Frans se 2014 Supertoernooi.
Brendan Venter hdt vandeesweek baie insiggiggewende artikel geskryf oor SA spanne se strategie. Hy wys veral op.die Bulls se swakplekke in hul.eie strategie.
Toe Mallett nog Bok coach was wou hy die gebruik om voor games te bid summier afskaf. Hy het groot teenstand gekry, die span het in opstand gekom teen hom!
Dus kan ek nie sien hoe hy in ons kultuur kan in pas nie! Geen probleem met discipline nie!
Hy het ook aan Skinstad geklou en Teichman laat gaan wat ons 1999 Wolrd cup gekos het. Lyk my elke afrigter het maar iemand aan wie hulle vas klou! Verder sal hy heeltemal te duur wees.......oplossing is op ons voorstoep, Jimmey Stonehouse, hy is selfs bereid om as hulp afrigter te werk!
Ek hou maar 1 maal nie van die arrogante tipe afrigters soos Jake White, Nick Mallett, Brendan Venter nie.
Gee my maar eerder afrigters soos Frans Ludeke, Heyneke Meyer, Dawie Theron en Jimmey Stonehouse.
Die Bulle het die Sharks daardie aand verras en met die agterlyn op loop gegaan, selfs van strafskoppe af. Brendan se teorie is dus in die kol. Dis die Shar5ks wat eendimensioneel was daardie aand.
As ek na die Bulle se spankeuse kyk vir more, dink ek juis dis die rede hoekom Pollard more 10 speel.