The Bulls have set in motion their rotation policy in considering their squad to take on the Waratahs at Loftus, Pretoria on Saturday.
Official Media release from the Bulls:
Derick Kuün will start as openside for the Vodacom Bulls for the first time in three years when they take on the Waratahs at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Kuün, who moved back from the hooker position where he played Super Rugby in 2008 and 2009, last played on the side of the scrum for the Bulls in the final of the 2007 competition.
He replaces the regular number six, Deon Stegmann, as part of Bulls coach, Frans Ludeke’s, rotational policy in a move that also sees Danie Rossouw starting at eight and centurion Pedrie Wannenburg again wearing the number seven jersey.
Rossouw is fit again after a neck strain prevented him from a start against the Brumbies and will replace Pierre Spies, who is still recovering from a knock to the knee suffered in that game.
“We are losing a lot of fire power with Pierre not available as he is one of our main ball carriers. But luckily we have someone similar with Danie, who also carries the ball very well and is fit again”, Ludeke said of this move.
Flip van der Merwe, who replaced Rossouw a week ago, retains his place after a strong showing against the Brumbies.
Dewald Potgieter will make his first appearance off the bench after recovering from the knee injury that prevented earlier participation.
Ludeke left his back line unchanged, although Jaco van der Westhuyzen might replace John Mametsa, providing that his clearance papers from his Japanese club, NEC Green Rockets, arrive on time.
With regards to the Waratahs, Ludeke said that he expecting another tough onslaught.
“I thought Bryan Habana was the only difference between them and the Stormers last weekend, with his brilliance taking the game away from the Waratahs. They have a international front row and a massive pack, but the Bulls also have world class players, so we will be ready.”
Captain Victor Matfield again committed his side to play positive rugby.
“We will continue to try and score tries. We scored from 70% of the attacking line-outs we forced on the Brumbies and will continue to look for those opportunities.”
The team is (with number of Super 14 caps): 15. Zane Kirchner (29), 14. Gerhard van den Heever (6), 13. Stephan Dippenaar (4), 12. Wynand Olivier (59), 11. Francois Hougaard (6), 10. Morné Steyn (61), 9. Fourie du Preez (87, v/c), 8. Danie Rossouw (90), 7. Pedrie Wannenburg (100), 6. Derick Kuün (44), 5. Victor Matfield (97, c), 4. Flip vd Merwe (8), 3. Werner Kruger (30), 2. Gary Botha (61), 1. Gurthrö Steenkamp (54). Replacements: 16. Bandise Maku (10), 17. Bees Roux (19), 18. Deon Stegmann (27), 19. Dewald Potgieter (19), 20. Heini Adams (31), 21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter (20), 22. John Mametsa (5) or Jaco van der Westhuyzen (47).
Hey waars my dankie !!!
En check die “from” BULLS website, vinger het geglip…
This is what sets the bulls apart. They could’ve played rossouw @ 4 and brought potties back @ 8. But they are showing faith in VD merwe after his good showing, rewarding him and motivating him to make a statement on the field.
That is how you get the best out of someone.
Good team.
Wie moet ons bedank.. Boland, Boland Bank….
Ou Bloubuffel, ek het die op mail ontvang man… as jou naampie Michelle was het ek jou nou bedank…
Hey man, be fair ….I told you first !!! 😆
What happened to Potgieter, I really would want to see him in action again, pref at 8, but 7 will do.
Bulls heavies to drive the Waratahs lighties all the way to Jan Smuts airport, into the airoplane and on their way back to whinestralia.
15/15 for the Bulles after 3 rounds!
5@ Hokaai – altwee Potgieters is oppie bench virrie Bulle…. Dewalt en Jacques-Louis
Ek kyk alweer soos my gat!
Ek wil nou nie snaaks wees nie, maar het die Bulls nie volgende naweek af nie? Hoekom nou al spelers begin rus, hoekom nie werk aan hul beste kombinansies nie? Miskien is dit maar ‘n troos wedstryd vir crybaby Kuun, want met Spies, Potgieter, Stegman, Danie en P3 gesond dik ek nie daar is plek vir hom in die span nei…
Dit gaan lekker wees om te sien as Blondie2 en Steggies later opkom. Ek voorspel weer ‘n laaaang agtermiddag vol trane vir die HalfMens!
8@ Koning – Ons weet Spies dra ‘n effense besering, dit verklaar sy afwesigheid. Kuun sal moet uithaal en wys om naby so goed soos die In-Form Stegmann te wees.
So eintlik net 1 ongewone keuse in Kuun, maar Steggies is darem op die bank om te kom red!
Nee, ek weet van Spies wat beseer is, maar ek dink net dis ‘n moerse kans om met Kuun te begin. Ek sal wel dit oorweeg om net Kuun of Maku in die 22 te he. Kuun kan mos haker ook cover
10@ Koning – Voor Kuun haker toe geskuiwe was, was hy ‘n uitstekende loosie… en ek dink steeds dis waar hy pas.
Bulle moet net nie oorgerus wees nie, dit pla my effe.
Die heavies gaan hulle pap speel en dan kom Steggies op saam met Potties om die laaste lug(baie dun lug!!) uit hulle te hardloop. Mens moet die lugdruk tot jou voordeel gebruik jong.
Ek dink ook die logiese besluit is om Maku uit die 22 te haal. Maar politiek lol nog effe en ons gekleurde spelers is bra min. Dit sal verander wanneer aikona terug kom maar tot dan moet ons vir Maku hou. Hy doen goed elke keer as hy opkom maar ek sien nie dat hy meer as 10 minute saterdag sal kry nie.
12@ Onerb – Klink vir my ook maar of die Tahs slotte lig innie broek is… so ons moet hulle moor met die voorries!
Good team. Also good to see D. Potgieter back. Probably ease him back in, the way it should be. He is a outstanding player.
Danie will do fine at 8 but eventually think they will bring in Potties. See Stegmann is also getting a rest on the bench. So far think he is playing some brilliant rugby.
Good to give some players a bit of a rest. S14 season is very long.
Kingpaul,
ek hoor wat jy se oor die ruskans, maar onthou een ding – Dit is na week 3, so daar is dan 10 aaneenlopende weke daarna + semi’s en finls as ons dit maak.
Ek dink Frans wil die manne uitgerus he na die rus week want daarna is dit ‘n maraton.
Die sharks het laas jaar ook na week 3 ‘n ruskans gehad. Hulle was voor op die punte leer. En kyk waar het hulle ge-eindig.
Ek dink ook dat die coach wil keer vir beserings nou terwyl die manne nog wedstrydfiks word. Gelukkig speel ons teen die landers na die breek en ons kan weer bymekaar kom die donderdag voor die wedstryd 🙂
I asked Frans Ludeke about the early bye and how this affects them. He said that it is something they can’t do anything about, it is the hand which was dealt to them, they have to ride WITH it and use it to their advantage as best as possible.
Personally I would do the following if I were the Bulls, I would break the Super 14 into THIRDS (3 weeks PLUS Bye week, 5 weeks, 5 weeks)… with the end of the 1st THIRD being after the bye, then enter the 2nd THIRD and playing my FULL TEAM in this THIRD but at the end of the 2nd THIRD, resting a couple of key players in need of rest or recuperation… then enter the last THIRD and rest a couple of others in need of rest, first up so that I’m able to play a full strengh team in the last 3 weeks and into the semi’s and finals.
The Bulls have the depth to do this…
17 – GBS, Bulls I think play 10 in a row. That is just so hard on the body. Sharks had to do that last year. Think we played 11 in a row before we got our first bye. So daft. I think in S14 there should be not only one bye but two. Tourney so tough and very long.
The last 3 games for the Bulls going to be tough. Sharks, Saders and Stormers.
Stormers even worse with the last games. Their last 5 games. Chiefs in Hamilton, Reds in Brisbane, Saders home, Sharks Durban, Bulls home. All very tough games to end the tourney with. Reds seem a far better side this year if going by the way they played the Saders.
Players are going to have to be mangaged proper. That is why it is great to see Stegmann on the bench. A small rest but he is being managed. You will need him until the end. Maybe Spies’s injury is a blessing and he gets this time for a rest. Bakkies too having a rest and will be back. If teams have the depth players need to be rotated.
Anyone here who want fresh lion photos watch it now, just loaded new ones taken today.
I had a friend with me and he just warned me in time that there is something moving. He asked me if it is lions and yes there they were 6 lions all fat and beautiful. I was at the point of climbing out to work on the telephone pole, they were 150 meters from my intended workplace. 5 female and 1 young male called a nomad.
It is the last 8 on the LIONS album
19 – Super, Will take a look. Damn hope they pay you extra for danger pay….hahaha. Working so close to the Lions. Still must have been awesome to have seen them.
Super, Magnificent. They are awesome.
Also now looked at the big 5 album. The big male in that photo is a beauty. Wow!!!!!!!!!! You work in the most awesome surroundings. I feel envious….haha.
Really love the wild life here. Bush holidays for me are one of the best ever. We are really blessed to have wild life like that on our door step.
Puma sometimes i must pinch myself, this is great. Also very dangerous. After that lion sighting i did not climb the poles, that will be done tomorrow. They move away. Unless they catch a meal right there.
We had cases where lions killed n girrafe under a telephone line and the line could not be fixed until they finished eating. It took them 3 days. The stench of blood was almost unbearable, but the show must go on.
Later this afternoon i had to go past a dam with elephants drinking there. Will post a few of these ones now. Of course i went past 50+ wildebeast, about 30 sebras , a million Impalas 3 jackals…..
23 – Super, Lucky those lions were spotted otherwise you would have been in huge trouble up that pole. Sounds very dangerous but also very exciting work where all the wild life are.
Sometimes when I visited the Kruger Park I never saw Lions. Well only one time when I had my overseas visitors with me. Trust it to have been that time. Otherwise have always seen them. Mostly on the night drives.
Never seen the Cheetahs wild or Wild Dogs ever. Seen everything else.
You are really lucky to work where there is wild life.
24 – Super, Put those Elephant photos up. They are magnificent animals. Saw about 70 female with their young on two of my holidays in the Kruger. Very protective of their young, we had to drive quick away from them. Then while parked a long way from them could have a good look. Otherwise they wanted to chase our car.
The Males (Bulls) are not too bothered and just wonder on their own most of the time.
Sometimes i dont see lions for weeks, you know traveling long distances in this bush you must see it sometimes. Although there is too many elephants i could not see a single one in almost 3 months, then i could not miss them again, saw them 3 times a day. It varies a lot. The fact is i am here and they are here too.
At the moment the grass is long you can drive over a lions tail.
In 18 years here i have 7 wild dog sightings , 3 of them with my wife on a weekend or a holiday.
Cheetahs i see about 3 times per year and leopards average once every 6 months, but like i said they are here, i just miss them. They watch me as i climb those poles. 😆
Super, Just had a look at those Elephant photos. Brilliant. See they had some young with them. Must have been keeping a eye on you or who was taking the photo. The Ears of the mother is flapping wide. Eyes wide. They are really dangerous with their young with them. Very protective.
Brilliant to see. Thanks for sharing that with us. You r my friend are really blessed to work around those beautiful wild animals.
We have to take holidays to go and see that. You see them while working. Awesome.
27 – They sure do watch you while you climb those poles…..hahaha. You in their turf that is for sure.
So wild dogs is a rare sighting? Also Cheetahs? I have only ever seen leopards once on one of my holidays in the Kruger. Olso on a night drive. Saw two. A mother with a young one. Was great to see. Those big yellow eyes at night (well they look yellow at night) were awesome. They must be the most beautiful of all the animals to see.
Remember once when we were at Olifants (my favourite place in the kruger to stay) on a night drive we stopped over this shallow bridge. On either side was water and there must have been about 50 crocs in the water. You just saw what felt like hundreds of yellow eyes looking at the truck. Just magnificent. Had my Scots visitors with that time. They felt very worried…….hahahaha. As the bridge was so low that the water could almost go over.
Wow!! We live in the most awesome country when you think of what we can do on our doorstep. The holidays in this very country is about the best in the world.
olso = also
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