The Bulls have announced a strong team to face the Sharks at Loftus on Saturday, but it also includes a surprise or two.

In the first place, it is a welcome return for Bakkies Botha in the No 4 jersey, with Danie Rossouw relegated to the bench and probably the unluckiest player, Flip van der Merwe the unfortunate one to lose out on the match day 22.

Secondly, Jacques-Louis Potgieter has been selected at outside centre in view of the injury to Jaco Pretorius. One would have expected Jacques-Louis Potgieter to slot in at inside centre with Wynand Olivier at outside centre, this being the way they played this past weekend against the Lions, with tremendous success, after Jaco’s injury.

In related news, Francois Hougaard is back at left wing after Akona Ndungane’s freak leg-break, whilst the old stalwart, John (Sello) Mametsa is back at the Vodacom Blue Bulls for their semi’final against the Sharks XV in the Vodacom Cup.

Here is a slice of the full news release by the Bulls:

Jacques-Louis Potgieter will start a match for the Vodacom Bulls for the first time against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Potgieter, who made nine appearances as a substitute already this year, replaces the injured Jaco Pretorius in one of five changes in the starting line up from the side that beat the Lions 51-11 last weekend.

Potgieter will start in the midfield with Wynand Olivier, his fellow former Afrikaans Boys High School pupil.

“I have been waiting for this for ten weeks now, so I cannot wait to take on the Sharks,” Potgieter said.

“I am very keen to use the opportunity and grab my chance.”

Bakkies Botha resumes his locking partnership with Victor Matfield in his first appearance for the year after recovering from Achilles surgery.

He replaces Danie Rossouw, who moves to the bench, as will Derick Kuün in a rotational switch with Deon Stegmann. Fourie du Preez is also back as scrum half and replaces Heini Adams. John Mametsa and Flip van der Merwe misses out altogether.

Francois Hougaard recovered from the hamstring strain that ruled him out of the Lions match and will start at left wing, while regular team member, Stephan Dippenaar, who played for the Blue Bulls in a Vodacom Cup quarter-final match last weekend, warms the bench.

The team (with caps) is: Zane Kirchner (36), Gerhard van den Heever (14), , Jacques-Louis Potgieter (27), Wynand Olivier (67), Francois Hougaard (12), Morné Steyn (69), Fourie du Preez (95), Pierre Spies (52), Dewald Potgieter (27), Deon Stegmann (35), Victor Matfield (105), Bakkies Botha (83), Werner Kruger (38), Gary Botha (69), Gurthrö Steenkamp (62). Replacements: Bandise Maku (16), Bees Roux (26), Danie Rossouw (98), Derick Kuün (51), Heini Adams (34), Stephan Dippenaar (9), Pedrie Wannenburg (108).

Notes:

  • Morné Steyn need 23 more points to become the fastest player to 200 points ever in Super Rugby. Daniel Carter (12 matches, 2004) holds the record. Steyn’s 671 points are already the most by any Bulls player and the most by any South African player in the competition.
  • Jacques-Louis Potgieter starts for the Bulls for the first time. He played for the Bulls 10 times and also has 19 caps for the Vodacom Cheetahs.
  • Bakkies Botha last played for the Vodacom Bulls in the 2009 Vodacom Super 14 final.
  • Wynand Olivier (95), Jacques-Louis Potgieter (92), Fourie du Preez (90) and Pierre Spies (95) are all looking for their 100th point in the competition.
  • The Vodacom Bulls will try to extend their winning run at Loftus Versfeld in Super Rugby to 17 consecutive wins.
  • 69 Responses to Bulls Team announced to face the Sharks

    • 1

      Kom my Bulletjie… gooi die Tjarkies in ‘n sloot, sny hulle vinne af, grind al hulle tanne stomp!

      …. en slaat hulle moer hard in die agterlyn…

      … en onthou, besit van die bal is goud!

    • 2

      As die Bulle die Sharks klap die naweek gaan die Stormers ‘n makliker game he volgende week want die Sharks gaan vir alle praktiese doeleindes weet hulle het geen kans meer nie.

      So kom Bulle, doen die Stormpies ‘n guns !!! 😆

    • 3

      Vyf veranderings. Is dit kontinuiteit of rotasie?

    • 5

      Better to start Bakkies so he can be subbed.

      2 girls at centre — do they share hair stylists(not sure its style though)

      Expect a tough game though I think Sharks’s backs will be their downfall.

    • 6

      can somebody paraphrase the 1st 4 posts please?

    • 7

      heeeeellllllllloooooooooooooo????????????
      .
      .
      .
      .
      .
      echo…….
      heeeeeeellllllloooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • 8

      Danie Rossouw moet Kaap toe kom, die Nulle mors met sy talent.

    • 9

      Gbs said go Bulls beat the Sharks break their fins, hold the ball and hit them with the backline

      blouste said if the Bulls beat the sharks the Stormers will have it easier because the sharks wont have any motivation left.

      dweeper asked if this is rotation

      i said you tell us

    • 10

      Pam, dom blond. the Bull’s cows have big blue boobs, that’s the paraphrase.

    • 11

      Hello Boel ,

      Julle het respek begin kry vir hom ne.
      paar jaar terug hom lekker afgelag.
      Ek is bly hy rus die naweek, ek sou selfs vir Victor gedwing het om ook te rus, maar ek is gelukkig nie coach nie.

    • 12

      #9 — thanks.

      Stormers have easier if Sharks lose — I doubt it — they’d want to beat at least 1 SA side.

      Boerboel — glad the Bulls Babes are back but seems like some nepotistic inclinations – believe Warren Brosnihan’s wife is in charge? He finished his career at Bulls if not mistaken?

    • 13

      @12 – stupid tit – they beat Lions allready.

    • 14

      Super, hoe gaan dit? Ek is hier in PTA vanaand. Ek het nog altyd respek gehad vir Danisoures.

    • 15

      14
      I know Boel, but most down in the Cape did not. He is like Pedrie a real stalwart for the Bulls.

      What are you doing there , come down to the Lowveld.

    • 16

      Super, ek gaan more tot in Warmbad en dan weer terug na PTA. Besig met werk goeters. maar ons gaan een van die dae kom kuier. My planne raak nie op nie.

    • 17

      Goodnight, it is tedious to type on the cell phone.

    • 18

      16
      Ek gaan vrydag op verlof vir 3 weke, gaan so paar dae weg wees maar gaan meestal by die huis dinge doen, baie werk wat ek beplan, tuin herontwerp een van hulle. Al my bome wat ek geplant het 15 jaar terug het te groot geword, gaan bietjie spasie maak vir my broodbome.

    • 19

      18 – Super, Enjoy your holiday boet. Holidays are for enjoying don’t work too hard in the garden.

      My trees have grown far, far too big here too, but seeing that I will be selling my home in Joburg will leave it. With all the rain everything looking great all still green.

      Read that the field at Loftus is looking great for Saturday. So maybe the rain has been good for it. Now with a bit of sun will make it even better.

    • 20

      Hello Blue Bird, How you doing?

    • 21

      Well my bru picks are in. Bulls team look damn strong in all positions, but wont go against my Sharkies, so have them by 2 😀

    • 22

      Okay no-one at home. Will catch up tomrrow.

    • 23

      22 – mean no-one at home here on RT. Where is everyone? Big, big games coming up this weekend.

      Catch up tomorrow then.

    • 24

      Puma 19 – I thought you did not speak Afrikaans!! superBuls post was a complete mystery to me….3 weeks was all I made out!! 🙂

    • 25

      Reading some articles on the web, NZ are a bit worried that the Crusaders might slip up by not concentrating on the game. McCaw plays his 100th Super rugby game

    • 26

      “The skipper may be shrugging it off, but the Crusaders say they’ll jump on board the Richie McCaw Super rugby century bandwagon for their big game in Cape Town this weekend”

    • 27

      18@ SuperBul – Jy moet die vakansie geniet, ou maat.

      Wat dink jy van ons Bulle span….. Bakkies terug, J-L P op buitesenter…

    • 28

      24
      BB, i planned this holiday at home, but the nearer it gets the lazier i feel. Might just wait for winter to tackle the garden job.

      I have the option to lie low in the bush again but my wife says i am up too early she wants to rest and sleep late. In the bush i like to be up at dawn, cant waste a minute 😆

    • 29

      23 – Puma, I was going to talk superbru picks to you and you go and run out on me!! 🙁

      GBS and superBul won’t share their decisions!! 😉

    • 30

      28 superBul, that is great though when you are so excited at the though of what lies ahead you leap out of bed….Makes life worth living.

      Someone I know not too far from us here told me something like – Sleeping is good for the dead…..meaning get as much as you can from life!

      What was that saying?

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