The 8th and last Article in the set discussing the Vodacom Bulls.

In this Article we look at the contenders for the BACK THREE (Wings & Fullbacks)  in the Vodacom Bulls 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.

The Contenders:

Name: Bjorn Alberick (Bjorn) Basson

Position Wing Height 1.87 Weight 82kg Date of Birth February 11 1987 Place of Birth King William’s Town Provincial Debut 2008 v Border Bulldogs Provincial Caps 57 Provincial Points 245 Super 14 Debut 2009 v Lions Super 14 Caps 25 Super 14 Points 75 Test Debut 2010 v Wales Test Caps 6 Test Points 0

Whilst Bjorn usually plays on the left wing, he is a very able fullback.

Having cut his teeth at GWK Griquas and then went on to represent the Cheetahs at Super Rugby level, he decided to move to the Blue Bulls in 2011.

Bjorn represented the Emerging Springboks in 2009 and also played for the Royal XV against the British & Irish Lions.

At The Bulls he Has played Super Rugby, then gone on to represent the Springboks and also played for the Blue Bulls in the ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division.

We all know Bjorn to be a speed-freak and try scoring machine but if there is possibly one area where he needs to sharpen up is on defence.

Try-scoring comes easy for Basson, who topped the Super Rugby and Currie Cup logs in this regard for the Pretoria franchise. His pace, vision on attack and uncanny ability to contest in the air makes him one of the most dangerous wings in the competition and the Bulls will be looking to give their record-breaking finisher ample opportunity with the ball in hand.

Name: Johannes Jacobus (JJ) Engelbrecht

Position Wing Height 1.90 Weight 95kg Date of Birth February 22 1989 Place of Birth Port Elizabeth Provincial Debut 2009 v Elephants Provincial Caps 27 Provincial Points 65 Super 14 Debut Super 14 Caps 0 Super 14 Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

A product of Grey School (Port Elizabeth), JJ Engelbrecht is rated as one of the most promising young talents in South Africa.

A classical wing, Engelbrecht is powerful with ball in hand and blessed with great speed. The former Eastern Province Craven Week and Under-19 star attended Stellenbosch University after school, playing for the famous Maties 1st XV, and was a member of the 2010 Western Province Currie Cup squad, having made his debut for the region in 2009. In 2011 He continued to represent DHL Western Province and the DHL Stormers.

Still just 22 years old, Engelbrecht has been unlucky with injuries early in his career but is expected now to play a big part for the Bulls.

In 2011 JJ was the Players Player of the Year at Western Province Rugby Union.

The hard-running Engelbrecht will be keen for some game time in the competition, the reason why he moved from Western Province and the Stormers at the end of the 2011 season. Fast and dangerous on attack, the new recruit will provide coach Frans Ludeke with valuable options, both on attack and defence. This could be a big year for the winger, who has consistently delivered at Currie Cup level.

Name: Akona Ndungane

Position Wing Height 1.82 Weight 92 Date of Birth February 20 1981 Place of Birth Umtata Provincial Debut 2003 v SWD (EP) Provincial Caps 67 Provincial Points 195 Super 14 Debut 2005 v Cats Super 14 Caps 67 Super 14 Points 120 Test Debut 2006 v Australia Test Caps 11 Test Points 5

Akona is the twin brother of fellow Springbok wing, Odwa Ndungane (who plies his trade at the Sharks), grew up in Umtata and attended Hudson Park Secondary School.

He represented the Elephants in 2002 and 2003, then the Border Bulldogs in 2004, before moving to the Blue Bulls where he has represented the Vodacom Bulls and Blue Bulls, before making his Springbok Test debut on 15 July 2006 against Australia in Brisbane, becoming Springbok Number 774.

Two serious leg breaks has hampered Akona in the last couple of years but towards the end of 2011 he seemed to be coming back into prime form.

Maybe not a fabulously spectacular wing anymore, Akona is as steady as they come, finishes well and his defence is exemplary.

A lot has happened to Ndungane since his debut all those years ago, but the veteran winger has showed great courage and determination to get back to this level of play. He will be looking to improve on his already impressive Super Rugby medal tally in 2012.

Akona owns 3 Super Rugby winners medals (2007, 2009, 2010) as well as a World Cup winners medal (2007).

Name: Zane Kirchner

Position Fullback Height 1.84 Weight 92 kg Date of Birth June 16 1984 Place of Birth George Provincial Debut 2003 Provincial Caps 99 Provincial Points 209 Super 14 Debut 2008 v Stormers Super 14 Caps 54 Super 14 Points 70 Test Debut 2009 v British & Irish Lions Test Caps 14 Test Points 5

Zane attended Kretzenhoop Primary School and PW Botha College in George.

Zane made his name at the GWK Griquas where he played between 2003 to 2007, whereafter he joined the Blue Bulls from 2008 till present. He became Springbok Number 804 when he made his Test debut for the Springboks against the British & Irish Lions on 4 July 2009. He is now a seasoned Springbok with Tours to France, Italy & England in 2009 and the British Isles & Ireland in 2010.

As one of the senior members in the squad, Kirchner will be an important cog in his side’s performances in 2012. The fullback, who was also capped at outside centre for the Springboks, needs to show all his attacking, defensive and tactical virtues, not only to provide guidance, but also to impress at national level where a new Springbok coach will be looking to build a new squad for 2015.

If one can critisize Zane it would be that he overuses the up-and-under kick from the back a bit too much, but one has to remember that this tactic was a large part of the Bulls game plan a few seasons ago… the so-called kick and chase… and apply pressure.

Name: Petrus Jurgen (Jurgen) Visser

Position Fullback / Flyhalf Height 1.91 Weight 93 kg Date of Birth September 13 1989 Place of Birth Paarl Provincial Debut 2009 vs Elephants Provincial Caps 13 Provincial Points 0 Super 14 Debut Super 14 Caps 0 Super 14 Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Jurgen attended Vredendal Primary School and then attended Paarl Gymnasium where he matriculated in 2007. In his matric year he played for Western Province in the Coca-Cola Craven Week. In 2008 he played for Western Province in the Under 19 Competition and in 2010 he played for Western Province in the Under 21 Competition and for Maties in the FNB Varsity Cup.

Jurgen is currently studying Sports Management at Tukkies where he also went on to play in the FNB Varsity Cup in 2011, part of the Tukkies side who made it all the way to the Final.

In 2011 he finally got his chance to also play for the Blue Bulls in the ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division.

Super Rugby debutant Visser has steadily risen through the ranks at domestic level and should be successful in Super Rugby as well. A schoolboy and age group star at Western Province, Visser graduated into provincial rugby after showing real promise in the Varsity Cup competition, first with Maties and then Tuks. He headed north for more game time in 2011 where he forced his way into the Blue Bulls Currie Cup team.

He may still be a bit green, but has the opportunity to really stick his hand up in 2012.

Name: Clayton Blommetjies

Position Fullback / Wing Height 1.85 Weight 75 kg Date of Birth August 30 1990 Place of Birth Paarl Provincial Debut Provincial Caps Provincial Points 0 Super 14 Debut Super 14 Caps 0 Super 14 Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Clayton attended Paarlzicht Primary School and New Orleans Secondary School where he represented Boland Under 16 at the Coca-Cola Craven Week in 2006, Boland Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week in 2007, and then Boland Under 18 Academy Week in 2008.

In 2010 he represented Tuks in the Varsity Cup, the Blue Bulls in the Vodacom Cup and played for the Blue Bulls in the Under 21 Competition.

In 2011 he represented the Blue Bulls in the Vodacom Cup.

The gutsy 21 year old player is solid on defence and under the high ball, very dangerous on attack and creates a number of chances for players on his outside when joining the line at speed.

He is decidedly light and small in modern rugby terms, but makes up for it in heart and determination.

Name: Sampie Mastriet

Position Wing Height 1.80 Weight 81 kg Date of Birth August 3 1990 Place of Birth Mairsdas Provincial Debut Provincial Caps 0 Provincial Points 0 Super 14 Debut Super 14 Caps 0 Super 14 Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Sampie attended Bonnievale Primary School and HTS Drostdy.

He represented Boland from Under 16 level through to Under 18 and Under 21 level from 2006 to 2008, before going to Pretoria to further his rugby career.

A serious speedster, Sampie is also a Sevens Blitzbok and has played for Tuks in the FNB Varsity Cup, Blue Bulls Under 21  in the Under 21 Competition as well as South Africa in the IRB Junior World Championship, all in 2009.

In 2010 he played for Tuks in the FNB Varsity Cup, the Blue Bulls in the Vodacom Cup and South Africa’s Blitzbokke in the IRB Sevens World Series.

In 2011 he played for the Blue Bulls in Vodacom Cup.

Additional Players:

A Number of the Bulls players already discussed in other positions, like Francois Hougaard (who primarily will play scrumhalf), will also be used on the wing. So too, Wynand Olivier, who has represented the Springboks on the wing, apart from his regular berth at centre.

We can therefore assume that the Bulls wing cupboard is pretty packed, but it seems slightly light at fullback.

Starters:

I think Bjorn Basson (No 11), JJ Engelbrecht (No 14) and Zane Kirchner (No 15) are the most likely starters, but don’t discount old Akona Ndungane… the old horse is still reliable.

Francois Hougaard WILL help out on the wing too, possibly even Wynand Olivier.

This was the LAST article in the range dealing with the Vodacom Bulls, only 2 Franchises left to discuss.. the Sharks & MTN Lions, they will be up next.