Gary Botha is back at the helm of the Blue Bulls and will lead the team onto the field when they take on the Eastern Province Elephants in a compulsory friendly in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

rugby365

Botha last played for the Blue Bulls in 2007 and missed the 2008 and 2009 Currie Cup – having joined Harlequins in the English Premiership, after helping the Springboks win the World Cup in France in ’07.

He is joined by a number of former players now back with the daisy on the chest.

Jaco van der Westhuyzen (Japan), Juandré Kruger (England) and Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Free State) are also back in light blue, while Hayden Groepes (Boland) is on loan from the south and gets a chance to impress.

Bees Roux (Griquas) also changed into a lighter shade of blue.

Numerous Vodacom Cup-players will make their debuts for the Currie Cup side, including Vainon Willis, Okkie Kruger, CJ Stander, Danie Faasen and Clayton Blommetjies.

Alan Solomons, the Director of Rugby at Eastern Province, has picked a new-look Elephants team and said he is using the encounter with the Bulls to “assess the talent” at his disposal.

The Elephants will be captained by Springbok De Wet Barry, who featured in one game for the Bulls in the Super 14.

Five players in the starting team – Tiger Mangweni (who also featured briefly for the Bulls in the Super 14), Wayne Stevens, Donald Stevens, Lungelo Payi and Darron Nell – will play for EP for the first time.

Payi, who has played for Western Province, the Border Bulldogs and the Falcons, has been snapped up from the Cape Town club ranks. He was on the bench for the Southern Kings for their game against the British and Irish Lions last year, but did not get onto the field.

Solomons also has two loose forwards on trial – American Eagles international and UCT Varsity Cup star JJ Gagiano, as well as Morné Hanekom. They will play off the bench.

Samoan wing Paul Perez will also join EP on Thursday.

Solomons also announced his Currie Cup squad.

Teams:

Eastern Province Elephants: 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Milo Nqoro, 13 Wayne Stevens, 12 De Wet Barry (captain), 11 Norman Nelson, 10 Matthew Tyler-Smith, 9 Donald Stevens, 8 Darron Nell, 7 Zolani Mofu, 6 Jacques Potgieter, 5 Lungelo Payi, 4 Rory Duncan, 3 Riaan Vermeulen, 2 Sangoni Mxoli, 1 Pumlani Nodikita.
Replacements – from: Bobby Dyer, Raoul Larson, Sphephelo Mayaba, Brendon Snyman, JJ Gagiano, Morné Hanekom, Marlon Lewis, Jaco van Schalkwyk, Mzwandile Stick, Paul Perez.

Blue Bulls: 15 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 14 Vainon Willis, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Hayden Groepes, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Ruan Snyman, 8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 7 Derick Kuün, 6 Okkie Kruger, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Fudge Mabeta, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha (captain), 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Jeandré Kruger, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Danie Faasen, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Clayton Blommetjies.

Date: Saturday, July 3
Venue: EPRU Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 16.00 (14.00 GM)
Referee: Jason Jaftha
Assistant referees: Francois Veldsman, Phillip Bosch

The Elephants Currie Cup squad:

Forwards: Nolan Clark, Rory Duncan, Bobby Dyer, Pietie Ferreira, Raoul Larson, Sphephelo Mayaba, Mpho Mbiyozo, Thabiso Mngomezulu, Zolani Mofu, Sangoni Mxoli, Darron Nell, Pumlani Nodikita, Lungelo Payi, Jacques Potgieter, Eugene Smith, Brendon Snyman, Riaan Vermeulen.

Backs: De Wet Barry, Jaco Bekker, Braam Gerber, Marlon Lewis, Tiger Mangweni, Norman Nelson, Howard Noble, Milo Nqoro, Paul Perez, Donald Stevens, Wayne Stevens, Mzwandile Stick, Matthew Tyler-Smith, Jaco van Schalkwyk, Coenie van Wyk.