The Vodacom Bulls have announced both their sides to face the Golden Lions in the curtain raiser and the DHL Stormers in the main game on Saturday in Polokwane.

The DHL Stormers have also announced their side to face the Vodacom Bulls in the main game.

Bulls:

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke named two strong teams to take on the Golden Lions’ Vodacom Cup side and the Stormers at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.

The coach included recent recruits – Piet van Zyl (Cheetahs) and Jacques-Louis Potgieter (France) – in the team that will face the Lions in the early match of the day, but made it clear that not much must be read into his selections for these two warm-up matches.

Former Springbok lock Victor Matfield, who was due to make his return on Saturday, was NOT included in either of the two squads named.

No mention was made as to why he was omitted.

“To have almost everyone fit and able ahead of our first match is great and we need to thank our medical staff for that. It does give the coaching staff the luxury of trying different combinations and that is exactly what we will be looking for in Polokwane,” Ludeke said.

“I would like to see both teams playing to our patterns, as this will make it easier to decide which players will suit our style best ahead of the season opener next month. To be successful in Super Rugby, you need a squad though, so I will be looking at both matches with equal interest,” the coach said.

“The players understand the squad principle and all is keen to contribute towards achieving our goal of winning the 2014 tournament.”

Coach Frans Ludeke, who grew up in Polokwane, had a luxury of a fit squad and bar prop Morné Mellett, could name particular combinations for the matches against the Stormers and the Golden Lions Vodacom Cup teams.

He is also pleased to be back in his old stomping ground.

“We appreciate the effort of everyone involved in bringing the game to Polokwane, as we try to bring the team to our fans where possible. One can expect early season jitters, but hopefully we can give the spectators good value for their money.”

Vodacom Blue Bulls team to play the Golden Lions at 15:00:

Team: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Ulrich Beyers, 11 Jesse Kriel, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Jono Ross, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Marcel vd Merwe
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 20 Wiaan Liebenberg, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Waylon Murray, 24 Ryan Nell, 25 Jacques-Louis Potgieter

Date: Saturday 1 February
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane
Kick-off: 15:00 SA Time (13:00 GMT)
Referee: Jaco van Heerden

Vodacom Bulls team to play the DHL Stormers at 17:00:

Team: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Louis Fouché, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Arno Botha, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 Flip vd Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Marcel vd Merwe, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Jono Ross, 20 Rudy Paige, 21 Handré Pollard, 22 Ulrich Beyers, 23 Travis Ismaiel.

Date: Saturday 1 February
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane
Kick-off: 17:00 SA Time (15:00 GMT)
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe

Stormers:

Stormers head coach Allister Coetzee has announced his starting line-up for Saturday’s Super Rugby warm up match against the Bulls at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

As usual with the Super Rugby pre-season warm ups the Stormers have named an extended replacements bench.

Springbok skipper Jean de Villiers will lead the Stormers, with fellow Bok star Schalk Burger starting in the No 7 jersey and assuming the team vice-captaincy.

Burger will form a potent all-Bok loose trio alongside Duane Vermeulen (No 8) and Siya Kolisi (No 6), with Rynhardt Elstadt and Ruan Botha packing down in a new-look second row for the Stormers.

De Villiers, meanwhile, will resume his all-Bok partnership alongside Juan de Jongh in the midfield, with Damian de Allende starting in the No 11 jersey.

WP Under 21 star, Kobus van Wyk, will start on the right wing and Springbok fullback Gio Aplon will provide plenty of experience from the No 15 position.

The Stormers will play two more warm-up matches after this weekend, against the Southern Kings (Friday 7 February) and Boland (Saturday 15 February).

DHL Stormers team to play the Vodacom Bulls at 17:00:

Team: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (Captain), 11 Damian de Allende, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger (Vice-captain), 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Alistair Vermaak / Justin Ackerman, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 Michael Rhodes, 21 Nizaam Carr, 22 Nic Groom, 23 Gary van Aswegen, 24 Scott van Breda, 25 Ryno Eksteen, 26 Deon Fourie.