Courtesy News 24

Brenden Nel – SuperSport

Johannesburg – Vodacom Bulls captain Derick Kuün believes there is a “big excitement” in his team at the moment ahead of their first hit-out of the season against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday night.

Kuün, who will lead the largely second-string side in a quest to impress the coaching staff with their play, believes most of the young players are keen just to get out onto the field against the Kings after two months of practising and doing fitness.

“It’s the beginning of the season and we’re all excited. We’ve all done some hard work over the off-season on conditioning and this is the first chance we have to test ourselves in a game situation. The most important thing is to do the small things right, and then the other things will come, “ Kuün said.

“They (the Kings) are the type of opposition we are looking for. They never had a break over Christmas and New Year and have been training the entire time. We know they are ready as well, but so are we and there are a number of guys in our team who want to prove a point. It will be a tough game but we will definitely be up for it.”

While Kuün is one of the more experienced players, with more than 50 caps behind his name at Super Rugby level, his young team does include no less than 11 players who have tasted the Southern Hemisphere competition before.

Many of them will still consider themselves inexperienced, given the wealth of depth at the Bulls, and Kuün knows all too well what he has to do to get them going and over those initial nerves.

“It will be important for me to keep the guys focussed. The younger players in the team often put more pressure on themselves for a game like this but it is up to me to ensure they are calm and remember that if they do their job in the team context, the other things will come,” he adds.

“You could see the difference from Monday’s training, especially in the guys who are playing. There is a sharpness in attitude there. We are a team that works together and everyone knows we are going to need more numbers this year. Each guy knows that if he gets called, he needs to be able to give his best. This is why this is an important game for us.”

The team will include the first comeback in two seasons for Bok Akona Ndungane, who broke his leg twice in as many years, while Sevens Bok Sampie Mastriet will be on the other wing. The Bulls have decided not to risk Flip van der Merwe, who twisted his ankle in practice Tuesday, while former Lion Hans van Dyk is on the bench while Chiliboy Ralepelle stays in legal limbo.

Team:

Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Akona Ndungane, Stephan Dippenaar, Stefan Watermeyer, Sampie Mastriet, Francois Brummer, Ruan Snyman, Gerrit-Jan van Velze, CJ Stander, Derick Kuün (c), Juandré Kruger, Fudge Mabeta, Werner Kruger, Henry Bantjes, Dean Greyling

Replacements: Hans van Dyk, Frik Kirsten, Cornell Hess, Tendayi Chikukwa, Okkie Kruger, Dustin Jinka, Louis Fouché, Bradley Moolman, Courtnall Skosan