The recall of a fit-again Handré Pollard, first starts to William Small-Smith and David Bullbring and returns for Sampie Mastriet and Marcel van der Merwe highlights the Vodacom Blue Bulls team announcement ahead of their Absa Currie Cup clash against GWK Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday.
In all, Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar made six changes to his starting line-up, with Jurgen Visser also returning at fullback and Clayton Blommetjies dropping to the bench.
Pollard missed last week’s clash against the MTN Golden Lions due to an ankle injury and comes in for Tony Jantjies, whilst Mastriet made way for Springbok Bjorn Basson’s cameo appearance for the team. Van der Merwe replaces injured Mornè Mellett as loose head prop.
Small-Smith and Bullbring have not started an Absa Currie Cup match for the Vodacom Blue Bulls yet. The outside centre swops places with Ulrich Beyers, who move to the bench, whilst Bullbring comes in for Wilhelm Steenkamp, who drops out of the match 22 altogether.
A fit-again Bongi Mbonambi has also been recalled and will play off the bench, with Jaco Visagie returning to the Under-21 side. According to Pienaar, the team has been selected with a specific plan in mind.
“I think it is fair to say that we will try and play in a particular way and for that, we will need a very strong contribution from our bench. All 22 will have to contribute if we want to beat Griquas in Kimberley.
They are a very dangerous side at home and came so close in a number of their matches. This really will be our toughest challenge of the season, given our log position and the number of matches left.”
Vodacom Blue Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Sampie Mastriet, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Akona Ndungane, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Jono Ross (Captain), 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 17 Frik Kirsten / Dean Greyling, 18 Grant Hattingh, 19 Jacques Engelbrecht, 20 Lohan Jacobs, 21 Ulrich Beyers, 22 Clayton Blommetjies.
According to some web-sites, Jake White has sensationally quit his job at the Brumbies. How do you sensationally quit a job?
yup, he might be linked to position at Stormers or Sharks
There is a lot of talk on this and most of it seems to be true. It also seems that they have not agreed upon a release date as yet. So time will tell.
But I hope he goes to the Stormers.
Jake White has an inflated ego and opinion of himself… and just cannot keep his mouth shut… other than that he is a great coach.
Well, Jake is a good coach, but is uncontrollable. He’s always in a fight with the people on top.
Freegin hell, my Bullies will have to pull out all the stops against Kwas in Kimberley… this is effectively the fight for the wooden spoon, I think.
Additionally a good Blue Bulls win might bring them within range of a play-off spot should the Free State Cheetahs and also the Golden Lions lose on the weekend.
Not a good Currie Cup year for the Blue Bulls considering they almost have to rebuild from scratch and so far youngsters like Handré Pollard, Tony Jantjies and the Blue Bulls scrummies have not grabbed their chances.
My biggest worry is at scrumhalf, where the Blue Bulls are in very short supply at present… oh, what we would have given for a struggling Hougaard at present…
@ grootblousmile:
ai gbs sal wat wou gee vir fdp om volgende jaar terug te kom en pollard intl te lyf… wie weet. dalk koppie nr 4?
Ek is nie n fan van ons scrummies nie maar die laaste twee weke was hulle alright. dis jet ons verdediging wyd was so pateties is. bulle kort 10-12 punte van die laaste drie games om te kwalifiseer en ek glo dis moontlik. Maar kimberley is n helse sielkubdige barrier.
Maar vlok wtf doesn jacque du plessis in die span? dis gaan my verstand te bowe.
ons los trio werk net nie. hoekom word niks gedoen om dit tereg te stel nie?
Al speel hul hoe tos sal hulle weer gekies word.
Paul willemse dek klaar op sy eie 4 en 7.
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