This is the 8th and last article in the series of Bulls Squad Contenders for Super Rugby 2014. We do 2 articles per week per South African Super Rugby participating franchise.

We discuss the players IN the Super Rugby Group, and not all the options beyond that.

In this Article we look at the contenders for BACK THREE in the Vodacom Bulls 2014 Super Rugby group, and whether they could force their way into Bok contention.

The Contenders:

Name: Bjorn Alberic “Bjorn” Basson:

Position Left Wing / Fullback Height 1.85m Weight 84kg Date of Birth 11 February 1987 Place of Birth King William’s Town Provincial Debut 2008 for Griquas in Vodacom Cup against Border Provincial Caps 71 Provincial Points 300 Super Rugby Debut 2007 for Cheetahs Super Rugby Caps 55 Super Rugby Points 130 Test Debut 5 June 2010 vs Wales in Cardiff Test Caps 11 Test Points 15

Bjorn Basson is a product of Central Primary School and Dale College in King William’s Town.

He started his career playing for the Border Under 19 side in 2005 and 2006, he then moved to Kimberley to join Griquas. He made his debut in the 2008 Vodacom Cup competition, starting the match against former side Border Bulldogs in East London and scoring a try to help Griquas to a 15–5 win. He played in 8 matches, scoring five tries. His first ever Currie Cup season was in 2008 and saw him score a further 6 tries in 11 matches.

As a Griquas player, he could also play Super Rugby for the Cheetahs. He was included in the Cheetahs for the 2009 Super 14 season, scoring 1 try in 5 appearances. He also scored 1 try in his 3 appearances for Griquas in the 2009 Vodacom Cup. He started 12 matches for Griquas in the 2009 Currie Cup Premier Division, as well as 1 substitute appearance and scored 6 tries to once agains feature in the top ten try scorers list.

2010 Was Basson’s most prolific season of all. He scored 5 tries in just 4 starts for the Cheetahs in the 2010 Super 14 season, 6 tries in his 7 matches in the 2010 Vodacom Cup for Griquas, finishing joint third overall try scorer in the competition. and 2 tries in a compulsory friendly match against SWD Eagles prior to the 2010 Currie Cup Premier Division season.

He then broke the record for the most number of tries scored in a single Currie Cup season, scoring no less than 21 for Griquas in the 2010 Currie Cup Premier Division.

Basson signed a 2-year contract with the Blue Bulls Company on 19 September 2010. He later extended his contract, signing on until October 2016.

In 2011, Basson was the joint top try scorer in the 2011 Super Rugby season with 11 tries for the Bulls, along with Sean Maitland and Sarel Pretorius.

In 2008, Basson was chosen to represent the Emerging Springboks team, which went on to win the 2008 IRB Nations Cup in Romania.

During the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, he twice played against the Lions – once for the Royal XV and again for the Emerging Springboks.

Basson was selected for the Springboks tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2010. He made his Test debut on 5 June 2010 against Wales in Cardiff.

On 15 November 2010 he and Chiliboy Ralepelle were suspended and sent home from the Northern Hemisphere tour after testing positive for a banned substance after the game against Ireland on 6 November 2010. Both players tested positive for methylhexaneamine, a “non-specified stimulant” on the prohibited substances list of WADA.

Basson played in 2 Tests during the 2012 mid-year series for the Springboks – their 36-27 win over England and their 14-14 draw with England.

In 2010 Bjorn was awarded the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year award.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2005 – Border – SA Under 19 Competition
• 2006 – Border – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2007 – Griquas – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2008 – Wildeklawer Griquas – Vodacom Cup, Emerging Springboks – IRB Nations Cup, Wildeklawer Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2009 – GWK Griquas – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Cheetahs – Vodacom Super 14, Emerging Springboks – British & Irish Lions Tour, Royal XV – British & Irish Lions Tour, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2010 – Vodacom Cheetahs – Vopdacom Super 14, GWK Griquas – Vodacom Cup, Springboks – Vodacom Incoming Tours, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – Outgoing Tours
• 2011 – Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super Rugby, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – Castle Tri-Nations, Springboks – Outgoing Tours
• 2012 – Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super Rugby, Springboks – Castle Incoming Series, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2013 – Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super Rugby, Springboks – Castle Lager Incoming Series, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – The Rugby Championship

Bjorn knows where the try-line is, he is a try-scoring machine, is great under the high balls both on the chase and defence but has one flaw and that is his defence under attacking play against a direct opponent. He will be the Bulls left wing starter.

Name: Akona Zilindlovu “Akona” Ndungane:

Position Right Wing Height 1.83m Weight 93kg Date of Birth 20 February 1981 Place of Birth Mthatha Provincial Debut 2003 for Mighty Elephants vs SWD Provincial Caps 92 Provincial Points 235 Super Rugby Debut 2005 for Vodacom Bulls vs Cats Super Rugby Caps 96 Super Rugby Points 160 Test Debut 15 July 2006 vs Wallabies in Brisbane Test Caps 11 Test caps plus 2 Tour games Test Points 5

Akona Ndungane is the twin brother of former Springbok wing Odwa Ndungane from the Sharks and is a product of St. Patricks Primary School, Hudson Park High School and Eastern Cape Technicon.

He started his long career in 1999 for Border at Under 21 level and played for the Mighty Elephants senior sides in 2002 and 2003. In 2004 he played for the Bulldogs in Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup and also represented South Africa A in their Outgoing Tour in 2004.

He played with the Border Bulldogs in the Currie Cup, before he was loaned out to the Blue Bulls for two seasons from 2005. He was then bought outright by the Blue Bulls after the two strong seasons. In 2004 he was included in the Springbok Sevens side to compete at the IRB series in Bordeaux and London. In 2005 he made his Super 12 debut for the Bulls against the Cats.

Akona made the Springboks’ 2006 Tri Nations Series squad, was included in the Springboks’ 2007 Rugby World Cup squad, but was left out of the squad for the 2008 Tri-Nations Series. Among the players who got in ahead of him, was his twin brother Odwa.

It will be a decade of first class rugby for Ndungane, but he is ageing like a good red wine. He has not lost his uncanny ability to compete and contest balls in the air or to finish off half breaks. Ndungane’s chasing from kick-offs has become legendary and the Vodacom Bulls will again get 100% commitment and ability from this true professional.

His playing career is as follows:

• 1999 – Border – Bankfin Under 21 Competion
• 2002 – Mighty Elephants – Bankfin Under 21 Competition
• 2003 – Mighty Elephants – Vodacom Shield, Mighty Elephants – ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Rounds, Mighty Elephants – ABSA Currie Cup First Division, Mighty Elephants – ABSA Reserve Division B
• 2004 – Bulldogs – Vodacom Cup, Bulldogs – ABSA Currie Cup First Division, South Africa A – South Africa A Outgoing Tour
• 2005 – Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super 12, Border Bulldogs – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round, Border Bulldogs – ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2006 – Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super 14, Springboks – Vodacom Tri-Nations, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – Vodacom Outgoing Tours
• 2007 – Springboks – World Cup warm-up matches, Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super 14, Springboks – Vodacom Incoming Tours, Springboks – Vodacom Tri-Nations, Springboks – Vodacom Outgoing Tour, springboks – IRB Rugby World Cup 2007
• 2008 – Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super 14, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2009 – Bulls – MTN test, Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super 14, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2010 – Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super 14, Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2011 – Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super Rugby, Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2012 – Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super Rugby, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2013 – Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super Rugby, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division

Akona is long in the tooth but still solid under the high ball in the chase and on defence, but maybe it’s time for a youngster to lift him out of the starting berth.

Name: Petrus Jürgen “Jürgen” Visser:

Position Fullback / Flyhalf Height 1.91m Weight 93kg Date of Birth 13 September 1989 Place of Birth Paarl Provincial Debut 2010 for Western Province Provincial Caps 45 Provincial Points 92 Super Rugby Debut 2012 for Vodacom Bulls vs MTN Lions Super Rugby Caps 11 Super Rugby Points 5 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Jürgen Visser is a product of Vredendal Primary School and Paarl Gymnasium.

He started his career at Western Province at the 2007 Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week and stayed with Western Province through 2008, 2009 and 2010 where he played Under 19, Under 21 and Vodacom Cup rugby. In 2010 he also played for Maties in the Varsity Cup.

He made his move to the Blue Bulls in 2011 and played for Tuks in the Varsity Cup and the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup Premier Division.

In 2012 he made his Super Rugby debut for the Bulls, played Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup Premir Division rugby and in 2013 also played for the Bulls in Super Rugby and in the ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2007 – Western Province – U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week
• 2008 – Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2009 – Vodacom Western Province – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Western Province – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2010 – Maties – Varsity Cup, Western Province – Vodacom Cup
• 2011 – Tuks – Varsity Cup, Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2012 – Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super Rugby, Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2013 – Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super Rugby, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division

With Zane Kirchner having left for overseas, 2014 will be the year where Visser has the opportunity to make the Bulls fullback position his own and one hope he rises to the occasion as fullback is one of the positions I am worried about at the Bulls. He can help out at flyhalf in an emergency.

Name: Travis Keenan “Travis” Ismaiel:

Position Wing Height 1.90m Weight 94kg Date of Birth 2 June 1992 Place of Birth Cape Town Provincial Debut 2013  for Vodacom Blue Bulls vs Griquas Provincial Caps 10 Provincial Points 35 Super Rugby Debut Super Rugby Caps 0 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Travis Ismaiel is a product of Tygerberg High School and the University of Pretoria (Tuks).

He played for the Blue Bulls Under 19 team in the 2011 Under 19 Currie Cup competition and for the Blue Bulls Under 21 team in 2012 and 2013.

He was included in the SA Under 20 squad for the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship competition and made 1 appearance for them, in their pool stage match against Italy. He was also an unused substitute in the final against New Zealand.

He made his first class senior debut for the Blue Bulls in their opening match of the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition, starting their match against Griquas. He scored his first senior try a week later, when he dotted down in the 78th minute against the Pumas. He made 7 appearances in total in that competition, scoring 6 tries.

His Currie Cup debut came later in 2013, when he was included in the Blue Bulls starting team to face Western Province in the opening match of the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division season.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2011 – Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2012 – Vodacom Blue Bulls squad member – Vodacom Cup, South Africa – IRB Junior World Championship, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2013 – Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, Tuks – Varsity Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division

Travis is a youngster who is probably still a year away from delivering his best rugby and did not overly impress for the Vodacom Blue Bulls in the ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division in 2013. He will have to step up if he wants Super Rugby game time.

Name: Sampie Mastriet:

Position Right Wing Height 1.85m Weight 89kg Date of Birth 3 August 1990 Place of Birth Maraisdal Provincial Debut 2011 for Vodacom Blue Bulls vs Boland in Vodacom Cup Provincial Caps 34 Provincial Points 100 Super Rugby Debut 2013 for Vodacom Bulls Super Rugby Caps 1 Super Rugby Points 5 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Sampie Mastriet is a product of Bonnievale Primary School, HTS Drostdy and University of Pretoria (Tuks).

After representing the Boland Cavaliers at several youth tournaments, he joined the Blue Bulls in 2010.

He made his senior team debut for the Vodacom Blue Bulls in the 2011 Vodacom Cup against his former team Boland Cavaliers. He made several appearances in this competition over the next 2 seasons and made his Currie Cup debut in the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division against the Free State Cheetahs.

He also played for Tuks in the 2009 and 2010 Varsity Cup competitions.

In 2013, he was included in the squad for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens and made 1 appearance for the Bulls in Super Rugby.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2006 – Boland – U16 Coca Cola Grant Khomo Week
• 2007 – Boland – U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week
• 2008 – Boland – U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week, South Africa – U18 Elite Squads, Boland – ABSA U21 Promotion / Relegation
• 2009 – Tuks – Varsity Cup, South Africa – IRB Junior World ChampionshipsVodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2010 – Tuks – Varsity Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls squad member – Vodacom Cup, South Africa – IRB Junior World Championships, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Vodacom Blue Bulls squad member – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2011 – Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2012 – Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2013 – Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, Tuks – Varsity Cup, Vodacom Bulls – Vodacom Super Rugby, South Africa – IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, South Africa – HSBC Sevens World Series (Gold Coast, Dubai & South Africa)
• 2014 – South africa – HSBC Sevens World Series (Las Vegas USA)

He is a speedster with potential and plays mostly at right wing, one of the positions where the Bulls are thin at present, so he could make a name for himself in 2014.

Name: Clayton Blommetjies:

Position Wing / Fullback Height 1.85m Weight 87kg Date of Birth 30 August 1990 Place of Birth Paarl Provincial Debut 2010 for Vodacom Blue Bulls in Vodacom Cup Provincial Caps 32 Provincial Points 40 Super Rugby Debut Super Rugby Caps 0 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Clayton Blommetjies is a product of Paarlzicht Primary School, New Orleans Senior Secondary School and University of Pretoria (Tuks).

After representing Boland Cavaliers at youth level, he joined the Blue Bulls in 2009.

He has made a total of 19 appearances in the Vodacom Cup and made his Currie Cup debut in the opening match of the 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division against Griquas.

Blommetjies was the outstanding back in the 2012 Varsity Cup and after good performances in the Under 19 and Under 21 sides of the Blue Bulls, make his presence felt in Currie Cup rugby in 2012. He again starred in the Varsity Cup and will look at 2013’s Currie Cup tournament as one to break into Super Rugby in 2014. He has represented Tuks in the Varsity Cup since 2009.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2006 – Boland – U16 Coca Cola Grant Khomo Week
• 2007 – Boland – U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week
• 2008 – Boland – U18 Academy Week, South Africa – U18 Elite Squads, South Africa – SA Schools Academy
• 2009 – Tuks – Varsity Cup, South Africa – IRB Junior World Championships, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Under 21 Competition, South Africa – SA Students, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Under 19 Competition
• 2010 – Tuks – Varsity Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Vodacom Blue Bulls squad member – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2011 – Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Under 21 Competition
• 2012 – Tuks – Varsity Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, South Africa – HSBC Sevens World Series (Glasgow & London), Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
• 2013 – Tuks – Varsiy Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division

Claton is an exciting player and does some fabulous stuff one moment and some horrendous stuff the next moment, hopefully he can cut out the irratic stuff in 2014.

Name: Jesse Andre “Jesse” Kriel:

Position Fullback Height 1.86m Weight 95kg Date of Birth 15 February 1994 Place of Birth Cape Town Provincial Debut 2013 for Vodacom Blue Bulls in Vodacom Cup vs Golden Lions Provincial Caps 3 Provincial Points 0 Super Rugby Debut Super Rugby Caps 0 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Jesse Kriel is a product of Merchiston Primary School, Maritzburg College and University of Pretoria (Tuks).

He started his career at Kwazulu Natal in 2012 where he played in the Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week before being selected for South Africa at SA Schools level.

In 2013 he joined the Blue Bulls and Tuks and played Varsity Cup, Vodacom Cup and Under 19 and Under 21 rugby for the Blue Bulls. He also represented South Africa at the IRB Junior World Championship.

His playing career is as follows:

• 2012 – KZN – U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week, South Africa – SA schools U18
• 2013 – Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, Tuks – Varsity Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Under 19 Competition

Jesse Kriel is a prodigious talent, with a bright future ahead and a meteoric rise is predicted for this kid.

Starters:

The Bulls should start with Bjorn Basson at No 11 (left wing), Akona Ndungane at No 14 (right wing) and Jürgen Visser at No 15 (fullback)… but that’s not exactly what I would do. I would have Bjorn at left wing, JJ Engelbrecht at right wing (and in JJ’s place on outside centre I would play William Small-Smith) and with Jürgen Visser at fullback.

Sampie Mastriet is also a good right wing prospect and I expect a rapid rise of Jesse Kriel at fullback. Clayton Blommetjies is a bit erratic at fullback. Travis Ismaiel is a bit light in the pants at this juncture.

This was the last Article in the series dealing with the Bulls and this article finally also conclude 40 articles describing the squad contenders of all 5 South African super Rugby franchises for 2014.