Reshuffled Vodacom Bulls backline for Cheetahs clash
Vodacom Bulls coach Nollis Marais moved Jesse Kriel to fullback when he named his team to play the Toyota Cheetahs in a Vodacom Super Rugby match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Kriel, who started at centre in the win against the Sunwolves last weekend, replaces Warrick Gelant, who has been ruled out of action due to a broken jaw sustained in the same match, in a revised back three.
Travis Ismaiel returns to the starting team as right wing, with Jamba Ulengo replacing Bjorn Basson on the left. Basson is injured.
Jan Serfontein will return to the midfield to link up with Burger Odendaal. His place on the bench will be taken by SP Marais. The former Southern Kings and Cell C Sharks player could debut for the Vodacom Bulls if he takes to the field.
Marais also bracketed Arno Botha and Nic de Jager at the back of the scrum. Lappies Labuschagne is back to full fitness and is named on the bench pending this afternoon’s training session, with De Jager as possible cover, should Labuschagne pull out.
Scrumhalf Piet van Zyl has been released to the Currie Cup team for match fitness and Ivan van Zyl will deputise at scrumhalf.
Marais believes his team is due a solid performance.
“We have to get it right. We are battling to put together 80 minutes of rugby at a time. We have been lucky so far that it did not come back to bite us, but we cannot continue like that if we have title ambitions. We need to sustain our first half effort and the players are very aware of that.”
Vodacom Bulls captain, Adriaan Strauss, is expecting another tough and typical local derby.
"The Cheetahs will be pumped to come here and beat us. This is one of their big matches of the year and if we cannot repel their enthusiasm and commitment by producing our own 80 minute effort, we will be in trouble. Luckily, the team is very aware of that. We are playing at home and have the expectations of our fans, but also the drive from within the team to deliver a good performance."
The team (with number of Super Caps) is: Jesse Kriel (20), Travis Ismaiel (8), Jan Serfontein (40), Burger Odendaal (14), Jamba Ulengo (2), Tian Schoeman (11), Rudy Paige (25), Arno Botha (37)/Nic de Jager (4), Jannes Kirsten (4), Roelof Smit (7), RG Snyman (4), Jason Jenkins (4), Marcel van der Merwe (37), Adriaan Strauss (122), Lizo Gqoboka (4). Replacements: Bandise Maku (51), Trevor Nyakane (62), Pierre Schoeman (1), Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (4), Lappies Labuschagne (39), Ivan van Zyl (0), Francois Brummer (9), SP Marais (35).
•This weekend’s round of Vodacom Super Rugby will exhibit the aesthetically appealing sight of the Vodacom Bulls clad in bright pink playing kit as they take on the Toyota Cheetahs. This bold statement is more than just a visually striking gesture but more significantly resonates symbolically with the plight of cancer.
The #get your pink on campaign is thus a joint effort between the Vodacom Bulls and the CANSA organisation to raise funds for a mobile testing unit station. The money generated from the campaign will be the collective result of a number of fund-raising streams.
Fans and members of the public can play their part by either SMSing “Pink” to 42336, bid for an actual game day jersey on bid or buy or make any further donations at www.getyourpinkon.co.za.
Ismaiel, Serfontein en Paige hoort nie daar nie.
Go Bulls
Nollis please don't let us say we told you so
Would have been a perfect opportunity to introduce Kefentse Mahlo from the bench as he can cover all back 3 positions in the backline.
Jammer maar dit is nou maar nrt so.
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Frans ludeke jou pateet jy het n klomp ouens se rugby opgedonner. Die Bulle gaan nog lank laaang trane huil.
Die samesteling vd span lyk of die Bulls wil hardloop. Os vleuels moet bietjie uithaal en wys.
Ek dink met Galant beseer, word daar gevoel SP Marais mag dalk nodige backup verskaf sou Jesse dalk sukkel.
Onverstaanbaar waarom Nollis nie vir Hanro Liebenberg enigins nader trek nie.
Anyway, on a lighter note - the photo of Warrick Galant on the front page with his pink jersey looks like his lips have been painted with a lite flavour of Rosemary as well. :))
Ai, waar is Hanro, CB kaptein?
Ek stem saam,met ander ondersteuners, kom ons gee eers die manne kans om hul voete te vind, letterlik en figuurlik, voordat ons sommer net hire en fire.
Ten spyte van die "swak" vertonings van die spelers en afrigters, vaar die span nie te sleg nie, wen darem so af en toe!!
Kom nou mense ja daar is nog heelwat wat nie reg loop nie en baie oefening nog nodig om behoorlike rugby te speel, maar minstens lyk dit asof die skrums en lynstane begin werk. Daar is mos vordering. En om nou sommer die senior spelers weg te laat ter wille van ' juniors wat hulself nog nie op hierdie vlak bewys het nie is mos ook nie reg nie? Is julle almal bv tevrede met Burger Odendaal se algemene spel? Ek dink nie hy het al heeltemal die mas opgekom nie? Maar dit beteken ook nie hy moet nou sommer uitgegooi word nie. Jan Serfontein gaan waarskynlik op hierdie stadium deur 'n dip, en kort net bietjie selfvertroue. Of wil ons hom ook soos 'n Frnacois Venter verloor om by 'n ander span sy vorm te herwin? Nee, gee kans, dinge lyk alreeds baie beter as verlede jaar.
Opinions from the likes of Bullterrier and Blue Bull can only be described as "the blind leading the blind".
It is a pleasant surprise to see comments from Vis that make sense, and I am thinking that he has been making fools out of bloggers that have kept rising to his bait. Hopefully he has proved his point and will be a value adding participant in future.
As for those that threaten to leave this site, and those that have nothing good or positive to say, feel free to go. Good riddance to you!!
Best wishes to the Bulls for Saturday.
I like discussions on rugby. If you feel threatened by my views - then ignore my writings and rather stick with the highly intelligent daily discourses of pervert Vis. But need I to remind you that everybody here speaks their minds on rugby. Zaandberg Jansen did it, Naas does it, and Ashwin too.
know this - we don't need your head boy-like speeches to read and think for ourselves.
And Don't be concerned - I don't claim to be the leader of a resistance movement on this blog. I speak my opinion and who ever wants to differ or collaborate can do as they like.
I have been long enough on this blog to know whenever a nerve is struck in the Bulls camp on this blog - then the inner circle starts barking at the supporters without actually making intelligent statements themselves.
If for instance you disagree that Hanro Liebenberg is not being overlooked, then state the opposite with a good solid argument.
I will back up all my opinions - subjective as they might be - with facts. if I ask the difficult questions about a player being constantly ignored - don't bark at ME - answer the question and back it up with facts.
I said before the team was announced what Nollis' strategy might be - go and look it up. I was actually spot on.
So, what do you bring to the table Bulls Supporter? What are your views?
nie eers die kings span haal nie ..... nader te trek ????
Nee wat .... dis die domste besluit al is dit "short term"
As dit waar is ondersteun ek die blou bulle. Ek het van 'n baie betoubare bron verneem dat dit nie 'n April fools joke is nie...
Hy kan al reeds volgende week uitdraf - Heel moontlik as kaptein.