The Vodacom Bulls named their squad of 26 players to travel to Australia next week for Super Rugby tour matches against the Rebels, Waratahs, Highlanders and Chiefs.
Official Bulls Media Release
Included in the squad, who has all played Super Rugby this season, is Willie Wepener and Deon Stegmann, with both returning from a long layoff.
Stegmann, who injured his hamstring in week two against the Cheetahs, will have to pass a fitness test before travelling. Should he not make it, his rehabilitation will continue in Pretoria and he will then join the squad as soon as he is passed fit.
Wepener is suffering from Gamsay Hunt syndrome, a virus that attacked his facial muscles, but his condition has improved to such an extent that he will be able to tour with the team. He last played against the Reds in week four.
Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke said the four matches will determine their season.
“We are in a good spot at the moment. We have no serious injury concerns and will travel with some momentum after the last win over the Brumbies. The bye was also a good one and the players were able to refresh mentally. We will need to win on the road though if we want to stay in the hunt for the play-off position.”
The squad is:
Zane Kirchner, Akona Ndungane, Bjorn Basson, JJ Engelbrecht, Wynand Olivier, Francois Venter , Johann Sadie, Louis Fouché, Morné Steyn, Jano Vermaak, Francois Hougaard, Pierre Spies (Captain), Arno Botha, Deon Stegmann, Jacques Potgieter, CJ Stander, Juandré Kruger, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Dean Greyling, Frik Kirsten, Dawie Steyn, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Bongi Mbonambi, Willie Wepener.
The Bulls fixtures on tour are:
- 4 May: Rebels, AAMI Park, Melbourne
- 11 May: Waratahs, Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
- 19 May: Highlanders, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
- 25 May: Chiefs, Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Milestones:
Morné Steyn is due to play his 100th Super Rugby clash for the Vodacom Bulls on 19 May, should he be picked for the two Australian matches prior to the Highlanders clash. Steyn debuted in against the Crusaders in Pretoria in 2005. He will become the sixth player from the franchise to play 100 matches.
Good group… hope Stegmann passes the fittness test.
Funny old virus which aatacked Willie Wepener’s facial muscles…
Damn, Bulls need to win most of these tour matches… here’s hoping!
I concur, time to give Arno Botha an extended run. In the interest of SA Rugby, because right now, with Vermeulen out, we are down to only a few options at 8, and the only experienced 8 has gone “flaccid”!
Semi Spies, then we have Koster, Strauss, Whiteley, Van der Walt, and CJ Stander.
Have the bulls touring group got their refs (marius and co) with them?
3 @ Wallabie.:
Hello Walla….
Fresh coming from you when the Brumbies were aided to an undeserved win over the Cheetahs just a number of weeks ago.
What comes around, goes around!
Care to tell us your views on the disasterous Australian Super Rugby Season, so far?
Apart from a young Brumbies side punching above their weight, at times…. nothing much happening in Aussie Rugby, except injuries by heaps and coaches moving teams – and then shunned by his current team’s players.
The Aussie rugby rot seems to have started in the World Cup, when only Brycie saved the Wallabies from the Bokke…
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