Vodacom Bulls ready for Force in Perth
Vodacom Bulls coach Nollis Marais named Hanro Liebenberg as eighth man in the Vodacom Bulls team taking on the Western Force in Perth on Friday in their tour opener Down Under.
This will be Liebenberg’s first appearance for the Vodacom Bulls in the Vodacom Super Rugby competition since April last year, with Junior Springboks duties and injury interrupting the five caps the 20-year old has earned for the team this far.
Liebenberg comes into the starting line-up as Marais made two changes to the run-on team that played against the Reds at Loftus Versfeld two weeks ago. The no8 takes over from Arno Botha and at scrum half Piet van Zyl will start, with Rudy Paige moving to the bench, where Marais made some tweaks.
Bandise Maku, Dries Swanepoel and Roelof Smit will replace Jaco Visagie, Dan Kriel and Deon Stegmann on the bench respectively.
Marais was happy with the team’s travels and preparations, following a week off since the Reds win.
"We are, in a way, still under the radar and that is a good thing I believe. We are slowly starting to put a proper match together and as a unit is improving, no doubt. A coach cannot ask for more than that. We had soft moments and patches in a couple of matches, but overall, we are starting to find rhythm and some fluency in our game,” Marais said.
Vodacom Bulls captain Adriaan Strauss is only too aware of the fact that the Force have proved a very difficult opponent for the Bulls in Perth.
"Yes, they do have a good record against us here, but that is not something that we see as an important issue. A lot of our guys are first time tourists with the team and just want to go out and enjoy playing for the Vodacom Bulls. We have ambitions in how we want to approach the game and execute our game plan, but know very well that the Force will not make it easy for us. We will have to work very hard for a win, but I can tell you now, this team is prepared to do that.”
Late team change: Jason Jenkins out due to a pectoral muscle injury. Marvin Orie in at lock with Jannes Kirsten (now also lock cover) drops to the bench. Arno Botha takes over at openside flank.
The team (with number of Super Caps) is: SP Marais (38), Travis Ismaiel (11), Jesse Kriel (23), Jan Serfontein (43), Bjorn Basson (91), Francois Brummer (12), Piet van Zyl (60), Hanro Liebenberg (5), Arno Botha (39), Lappies Labuschagne (42), Marvin Orie (4), RG Snyman (7), Marcel van der Merwe (40), Adriaan Strauss (125, c), Trevor Nyakane (65). Replacements: Bandise Maku (53), Lizo Gqoboka (6), Werner Kruger (115), Jannes Kirsten (7), Roelof Smit (9), Rudy Paige (27), Tian Schoeman (14), Dries Swanepoel (1).
•Winger Jamba Ulengo returned to South Africa for personal reasons this week, with Bjorn Basson replacing him on tour.
Harde 5 weke wag.
Jammer Ulengo moet terug keer.
Go Bulle, hou net aan met die spel
Competition is always a good thing, something that was non-existent under FL.
I think the team could well. They just have to change the mindset when playing away from home (overseas specifically) where they become super conservative and stick only to driving mauls, etc... It has cost us in the past....
Good team overall. Real pity about Jamba. Hope he returns soon as he creates more play than Bjorn Basson
Really hope the boys do well.
Kan dalk 'n verskil maak.
I am very hppy for Hanru gettng his first opportunity - I just think he is being thrwon into the deep end after 9 rounds of not plying at all - not even form the bench. But that is a risk that the coach wants to take so Nollis will know by half time if this was the right thing to do or not. But Lappie sis experienced and he seems to bring out the best from his forwards, so hopefully we can start moving forward now.
The Force did not have a goodie against the Waratahs, and I think it was their 6th defeat in a row - so the best time to play them and have a chance is right now. this is also probably the only game of the three where we stand a chance to beat a team form Aus in their own back yard. We have always gad very close encounters with them - be it at Loftus or in Australia, and i don't think this will be any different.
Pity about Ulengo, wonder what happened? Bjorn's experience might just be the thing we need for this tour.
I Hope Piet van Zyl wil play with studded gloves - his poor handling hs let himself and the team down. But it is a good thing for Paige as well - hopefully this will boost his game.
Voorspoed manne!
Sterkte Bulle, eerste game op toer altyd die belangrikste. Maak of breek jou toer en seisoen.
Hahhahahahhhaaha
Hanru , Arnoi en Lappies
Met Jason terug sal dit bestye span wees , alhoewel Hanru my nog nie impress het in cc nie
Hoekom nie eerste op die Bulle se webwerf nie????
Ek sou Arno en Kirsten gespeel het met Hanru op die bank. Maar net my opinie. Die coach is nader aan die aksie, ken die spelers beter en ek glo, weet beter!
Go die BLOU!!
Dis n massive verlies, in my opinie.
Sou vir Kirsten in Jenkins se plek gesit het vir meer gewig in skrum asook beter werkverrigting as Orie.
Hoop maar die skuif werk.
Sharks se wen laasweek was nie goed vir ons nie, ons moet nou een game meer wen om voor hulle te bly, en more is hulle laaste toergame, en ons toer begin.
So môre se wen is baie belangrik vir ons toer en die res van die seisoen.
Sterkte Bulle!
Moeilik om te sê wie hierdie wen gaan wen. Bulle se toerrekord lyk maar beroerd. Maar ek het tog hoop vir die game. Ons moet eenvoudig net wen.
Hou so aan Nollis, ek kan n helse verbetering sien. Ons hoef nie terug te staan vir die Brumbies nie.
Geniet die wen!
P.S. daai laaste drie was beslis nie n drie nie, dankie oneerlike TMO
Loosies lyk die beste wat ek hulle nog gesien het die seisoen - Hanro maak 'n groot verskil.
Geniet die wen Bulle.
Ek hoop ek is verkeerd,maar losskakel (Handre se besering) gaan nog ons grootste uitdaging wees, veral teen Stormers en Leeus tuis! As ons 1 en/of altwee daardie wedstryde wen(met of sonder bonuspunte) gaan ons in n baie goeie posisie aan die einde vd liga rondtes wees.
Ek is steeds verstom ( nes Breytie en Tokka en so baie ander weepee supporters) oor hoe ons sover vaar die jaar!!
Ons speel met durf en passie en ons monde toe!
Bulle !!!!
Goeie begin van toer, as ons 1 van 2 wat oor is kan wen, het ons goed gedoen.
Strauss, slotte, lostrio, Jan en SP was baie goed. RG en Jan was uitstaande en Orie het my verbaas, hoop hy kan daarop voortbou.
Stem egter saam met Agrobul, losskakel bly ons groot probeem, kort 'n generaal daar, dan kan hierdie span ver gaan. Brummer wel beter as Tiaan op hierdie stadium.
Hoop Piet bly op skrummie, beter en vinniger as Paige.
Nou die blou!