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:
So GBS who is the representing Rugby Talk in Cape Town for the Stormers v Bulls match?
27
Team looks good , just sad that VM is hardegat and dont want to take a break. He could do with one.
I might be away from the PC for a week sometime in my holiday, will let you know if so.
24 – Blue Bird, I don’t speak afrikaans too well. I can read and understand it about 85% so understand most of what is written down here. I am rubbish when speaking it though. So don’t want anyone here to laugh at me…..hehehe. I try sometimes.
How you doing?
BB the first game who do you pick Wara or High?
31@ BB – Still thinking whether I should fly down for the game… go visit Pietman (and eat some Crayfish)… see KingPaul… and watch the Bulls win… hehehe
30 – Blue Bird, Agree 100%. You sleep late you missing out on life. I am like Super, up early once I hear the birds in the trees.
Now have damn tonsillitis! I never get sick just about never, now saw my eat surgeon and says I must have them OUT!!!! AT my age. It has to wait. Going on holiday in 3 weeks time. So on antibiotics. Have not taken antibiotics in years. Now just when the holiday is coming up.
36 meant ent surgeon.
31
GBS will take me on a holiday down there with him, then we can take our friend Pietman to wear his Blue Bull jersey in public. He is itching to walk around Newlands in the Champions jersey.
Puma – Doing just great thanks. You may have seen my attempts to speak Afrikaans…I was once told I wrote it like Polish people talked it!!
Since the ‘Spyker’ incident I no longer worry if people laugh at me!! 🙂
35 – Super, Just DO IT life is too short go to the Cape it would be fantastic to go to the game. Make sure you get tickets. Read it is very difficult getting tickets for that game.
36@ Oupa Puma – Eat Surgeon????
I think I need one of those… no wait, I think you and BB thinks I need an Eat Surgeon… to cut out my bad eating habits…
PS! I still have my tonsils too… and they’re staying put, where they are!
39 – Well you can get it wrong, me being brought up here I should be able to speak it fluent. My brother and sisters all can but not me….haha.
I read it well though.
34 superBul – Tahs by 10 !!
Now show me yours!! Hehehhe
41 – gbs……..hahahahaha. TYPO boeta. meant ENT surgeon. Mine has to come out but not now. After the holiday. Damn why now in life. I never ever get sick. Have kak knees and a bad lower back but hardly get sick.
Puma you must run when they want to shave you for that tonsil operation 😆
41 – gbs, Ja you would do well with a EAT surgeon…..HAHAHAHAHA. Damn funny that…hehehe.
35 – GBS Don’t think about it…..JUST DO IT….!!!
Listen to Puma…He is a man of action. Get out and have a great time! Just make sure you give us a good write up and take some pics!
45 – Super 😀 maybe, heard it is painful…hehehe. I will wait and see.
36 Puma, nearly missed your tonsilitis episode there..Good grief…eat lots of ice cream!!
You poor old thing!
43
Thats about what my head say, but with all the surprises and late runs in the season i have this uneasy feeling this game is build for a surprise. The Waratahs like to slip up near the end.
My heart say Highlanders by 3
will take a look at all the news and pick tomorrow evening
Stormers vs Crusaders?
49 – Blue Bird, Why ice cream?
SuperBul – I wear my Bulls jersey lots. Especially at the running club to annoy the Sharks supporter there!! 🙂
52 – Blue Bird, Do you have Sharkie supporters there?….hehehe. We are everywhere. 😀
50 – SuperBul I say Saders by 5, although I want the Stormers to win!!!
Puma – Ice cream to soothe the burning tonsils….try it!!
The best thing for tonsilitis is to drink lots of condensed milk…. I mean, look at me, I never get tonsilitis…. hell I don’t think I’ve EVER had tonsilitis!
54 – Blue Bird, I have Stormers by 3. Though have a bad feeling. Hope not. Maybe cause I picked them to win last week and they last. Think they will be better at Newlands though.
See McCaw is starting and Carter. So that makes it a bit more difficult for Stormers but they have a good team Stormers.
ps. Puma, you Sharkies get everywhere!!
OK I have to go now…lovely to chat to you all.
Perhaps tomorrow.. Super whats your Canes / Cheifs?
55 – Blue Bird, Okay then it is full of sugar!! Yoghurt? Plenty of that I think..hehe. Trying to be a bit healthy now for my holiday but this had to happen.
56 – Gbs, Your teeth going to go rotten…..hehehe.
I wish one could pick after 10 minutes into the game, that one will be determined by the players attitude i think. If the Stormers feel they are under the mountain and save they will pay. If they play with the intensity that they had against the Blues they will dent the Crusaders hopes.
I think the Stormers will have the right attitude , Stormers by 7
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