Marnitz change eight in Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-21 starting team.
Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-21 coach Handré Marnitz made numerous changes to his starting team to play the Xerox GoldenLions Under-21 team at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The team lost at the same venue against the Toyota Free State last weekend and is in danger of dropping out of the top four in the Absa Under-21 Provincial Championship. The Golden Lions are in second place at the moment and will have their tales up after a big win over the Pretoria side in the opening week of the competition.
The Blue Bulls backline show wholesome changes. At fullback, Marcell Steyn-Scholtz will earn a first start in the competition, Divan Rossouw is back on the wing and Joshua Stander and Theo Maree will start as the new halfback combination.
There are four changes in the pack. With Dayan van der Westhuizen and Pierre Schoeman released from Currie Cup duty,they slot straight back in as the starting front row, while another Junior Springbok, Jason Jenkins, will start after coming off the bench last weekend. The other change is at no8, where Hendrik Viljoen will start.
The team is: Marcell Steyn-Scholtz, Keanon van Wyk, Marquit September, Daniel Kriel, Divan Rossouw, Joshua Stander, Theo Maree,Hendrik Viljoen, Riekert Hatting, Marco van Staden, Nicholaas Janse van Rensburg (c), Jason Jenkins, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Corniel Els, Pierre Schoeman. Replacements: Jan van der Merwe, Nqobisizwe Mxoli, Ashton Fortuin, Chris Massyn, JP Smith, Kobus Marais, Adrian Maebane.
Jackson at flyhalf for Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-19’s
Junior Springbok JT Jackson will play at flyhalf when the Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-19 team take on the Xerox Golden Lions Under-19 at Loftus Versfeld in an Absa Under-19 Provincial Championship match on Saturday.
Jackson played at centre in last week's win over the Leopards, but slots into flyhalf in place of regular captain, Tinus de Beer, while Ruan de Beer moves into the vacated midfield position.
Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-19 coach Hayden Groepes also moved Brendan Owen from wing to fullback, with Thepiso Mahashapromoted to the run-on side. Up front, Wynand de Necker starts at tight head and Eli Snyman at lock. Luigy van Jaarsveldt is also starting at flank.
The team is: Brendan Owen, Coneree Poole, Ruan de Beer, Franco Naude, Thepiso Mahasha, JT Jackson, Stephan Enslin, Denzil Hill, Luigy van Jaarsveldt, Dean van der Westhuizen, Eli Snyman, Sam Mitchel, Wynand deNecker, Alandre van Rooyen, Madot Mabokela. Replacements: Jungqo Hennings, Gavin van den Berg, Jaco Holtzhausen, Hendre Stassen, JD Fourie, Dale Hendricks, Kurt Webster, Curtley Prins.
(1) Jackson at flyhalf for Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-19’s