There were smiles all around with the news that the Vodacom Bulls talisman Francois Hougaard returns to the side for this weekend’s Vodacom Super Rugby clash with the Hurricanes in Napier.
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Hougaard, possibly the Bulls player of the tournament last year, is one of three changes to the starting line up made by coach Frans Ludeke, and potentially the spark that can reignite the Bulls hopes of finding their form again.
The other changes see Zane Kirchner return from injury and take up his fullback position from Jaco van der Westhuyzen while Gary Botha swops places with Chiliboy Ralepelle at hooker.
Ralepelle, Van der Westhuyzen and Gerhard van den Heever, the latter being replaced by Hougaard, drop down on the bench as the Bulls revert to a more traditional four-three split.
Danie Rossouw, whose wife gave birth to a bouncing baby boy named Danna this week, has stayed behind in Pretoria while his team-mates boarded the flight to New Zealand, and will rejoin them on Saturday, thereby missing the game.
But while the Bulls chose to name their team early after leaving for New Zealand late, using the same late departure that secured them a win in their first game on tour last year, they will be hoping the momentum they secured from the 30-23 win over the Lions last week can continue on their travels.
And Hougaard, who finally returned to action two weeks ago after a foot stress fracture, has the chance of establishing himself again as one of the most exciting players in the competition.
Few will forget his magical tries that gave the Bulls some wonderful momentum in the Orlando semifinal and final, and the exceptional part he played on the wing for the defending champs as they swept to their third title in four years last year.
Teams:
Bulls : 15.Zane Kirchner, 14.Bjorn Basson, 13.Jaco Pretorius, 12.Wynand Olivier, 11.Francois Hougaard, 10.Morné Steyn, 9.Fourie du Preez, 8.Pierre Spies, 7.Dewald Potgieter, 6.Deon Stegmann, 5.Victor Matfield (c), 4.Bakkies Botha, 3.Werner Kruger, 2.Gary Botha, 1.Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16.Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17.Roussouw de Klerk, 18.Flip van der Merwe, 19.Derick Kuün, 20.Francois Brummer, 21.Gerhard van den Heever, 22.Jaco van der Westhuyzen.