The Vodacom Bulls confirmed on Wednesday that regular captain, Pierre Spies, has been withdrawn from the team to play the Toyota Cheetahs in a Vodacom Super Rugby match in Bloemfontein on Friday.
Spies suffered a blow to the elbow in last weekend’s match against the Cell C Sharks and it did not recover as hoped. He will be replaced by Jacques Engelbrecht, who moves up from the bench. Wiaan Liebenberg will replace Engelbrecht on the bench.
Should he take to the field, Liebenberg will make his Super Rugby debut.
Flip van der Merwe takes over the captaincy.
Vodacom Bulls lock Grant Hattingh will make his first appearance for his team this season on Friday against the Toyota Cheetahs after being included in the side for the Bloemfontein clash.
Hattingh replaces Paul Willemse in the only change to the side that came up short against the Sharks in Durban last weekend.
Flanker Deon Stegmann remains unavailable for selection due to a groin strain and will again miss the match, with Jono Ross donning the number six jersey.
Media Release
Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke made it very clear that his team’s performance against the Sharks was not of acceptable standards en that they need to rectify that with a convincing performance against the Cheetahs.
“It was clear during our review that we totally underperformed and all accepted the fact that this was not even close to the standards we have set ourselves. We have put that behind us now, as we look towards the Cheetahs match with a positive and determined frame of mind. They also had a disappointing result and would like to bounce back.”
Ludeke confirmed his confidence in his player corps and the style of play.
“We know it will work, but then you have to apply it properly and execute your plays. This is something we will work on this week.”
Vodacom Bulls captain Pierre Spies, is adamant that they not only need to deliver an improved performance for their fans, but also to themselves.
“We are a new group, but we need to maintain the standard of excellence that was set in the past. Last weekend’s performance did not measure up against those standards. We realise Super Rugby is a marathon, not a sprint, and that there will be hick-ups along the way, but we did let ourselves down with that start. The nice thing is that we can put the record straight immediately. The squad realise that and we will be a better team on Friday.”
Vodacom Bulls (with Super Rugby caps): 15 Jurgen Visser (12), 14 Akona Ndungane (97), 13 JJ Engelbrecht (34), 12 Jan Serfontein (13), 11 Bjorn Basson (55), 10 Louis Fouché (20), 9 Francois Hougaard (57), 8 Jacques ‘Vleis’ Engelbrecht (15), 7 Jacques du Plessis (2), 6 Jono Ross (5), 5 Grant Hattingh (21), 4 Flip van der Merwe (Captain – 64), 3 Werner Kruger (93), 2 Callie Visagie (24), 1 Dean Greyling (39).
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi (3), 17 Frik Kirsten (32), 18 Marcel van der Merwe (4), 19 Victor Matfield (125), 20 Wiaan Liebenberg (0), 21 Piet van Zyl (33), 22 Handré Pollard (1), 23 Ulrich Beyers (0).
Notes:
- If he takes to the field, Ulrich Beyers will make his Vodacom Super Rugby debut.
- Piet van Zyl, who represented Cheetahs in 32 matches and Marcel van der Merwe, who played in three Super Rugby matches for the Bloemfontein side, will face their former team mates for the first time in this competition since moving to Pretoria.
- If he takes to the field, Victor Matfield will become the most capped South African in Super Rugby as he will play in his 126th match (117 Bulls, 8 Cats). He currently shares the record of 125 appearances with John Smit and AJ Venter.
- Francois Hougaard is one try away from 100 Vodacom Super Rugby points.
- Coach Frans Ludeke (117 matches) will extend his record as the most experienced South African coach in Super Rugby. He is the most experienced of all 15 coaches in the competition as well.
NZINCHINA wrote:
Noodles…..after one game they ARE topping the log boet
@23 NZinC
I would also expect the Chiefs to maybe win it again, and the Saders will, as always be there or there a outs, but they haven’t won it since 2008 and they are minus Carter this year, plus Read must get extra rest and at some stage they might be forced to give McCaw a break here and there. SA players don’t have that luxury of the board stepping in and dictating some rest, so our top players will be played into the ground by their franchises as usual and the June Bok team will again be some second choice players as the 1st choice guys will inevitably be injured,
My earlier point regarding the Sharks topping the combined log is based on possible points at the end of the season. The Chiefs should have tougher derby matches this year, as the Sharks are head and shoulders above any of the other SA sides, so they should get 32 for 8 wins plus the odd bonus points. They have a nice draw of home games against the NZ and Aus teams, so even if they lose maybe twice, they should finish with more than 60 log points, and that should be enough to end 1st on the combined log
NZINCHINA wrote:
Ja, just like New Zealand have to learn how to win a RWC away from home, when it really counts.
Grant kanipaas.. o donner
Ek hoop vleis het spies HARD gestamp by die oefening sodat die man kan bykom.
Ek is nie n Bul supporter nie maar kan nie verstaan hoekom Jono Ross bo Jacques Engelbrecht gekies word nie, dis nie asof Jono eintlik iets doen nie. En Jacques mag dalk n impak speler wees maar, as jou span 20 punte agter is wanneer jy op die veld kom gaan jou impak nie veel help nie.
“as the Sharks are head and shoulders above any of the other SA sides”
Reserve judgment on that till they have played all.
As good as they were against the Bulls and as bad as the Bulls were all can change in a matter of weeks.
Making conclusive judgments to soon I reckon nortierd
37@Gena
As much as I live in hope that the Stormers can be a serious threat to the front runners, I just can’t seem to see it happening. We are even worse off than the last few after losing some good players, and even then we played dour rugby. Granted, in 2011 and ’12 we were winning more than losing, but we haven’t progressed while other teams have.
We should do ok against the other 3 SA franchises, but as much as I hate to say this, the Sharks have been pro active in everything they did, while we have stagnated and even regressed. I just can’t see how we can challenge them.
I might be way wrong and the Sharks might not be the best SA team this year, but looking at their players, depth, coaching, CEO etc and comparing it to ours, I somehow doubt it
Just remember Jake does as much as he can to be in the limelight and have media exposure.
All credit if they beat us and that remains as IF until it happens bud
Yep, I’m really expecting the worst this year. We were terrible last year, losing to some very poor sides, and this year we have an even worse draw with a squad that doesn’t look very good. I don’t blame the players, I blame AC and the board for losing promising youngsters and signing lemons like Taute for millions. Grant got a paid holiday last year as well. We can’t even field a decent backline for the 1st game already. I still think we should win this weekend, only because the Lions are not going to be contenders this year
40 @ nortierd:
Nortie,
Only judge your team once you have seen them play. I think they will surprise you. Stormers are still a very good side. I know you without Eben and he is a huge loss but you do have some good Locks. Kolbe is a loss though as well, but you will have cover. I think Stormers will surprise a few. Will have to see of course how they go against the Lions at altitude first.
40 @ nortierd:
You also have Demetri and he will control the game well. Last year Elton struggled with the Stormers game plan as it never suited his style of play.
40@Puma
Hi Pooms, I expect us to do ok, maybe win one or 2 more than we lose, but that’s about it. Maybe score a couple of tries from line out mauls per game, if our hooker can actually get the throw in straight that is, but we for sure wont see a revelation down in Cape Town with the same coaches and even worse players than the last few years. We should defend and bore everyone watching our way to a few wins, but not if we up against teams that play positive and have the players to score tries.
The DHL Stormers team for Saturday (v the Lions – kick-off 19h10) is as follows:
15. Gio Aplon
14. Kobus van Wyk
13. Michael van der Spuy
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. Manuel Carizza
4. Rynhardt Elstadt
3. Frans Malherbe
2. Scarra Ntubeni
1. Steven Kitshoff
Replacements:
16. Deon Fourie
17. Oliver Kebble
18. Pat Cilliers
19. Michael Rhodes
20. Nizaam Carr
21. Nic Groom
22. Kurt Coleman
23. Ryno Eksteen
Referee: Jaco Peyper
43 @ nortierd:
Just put your team up on the teams of the week thread.
Just take a look at your team Nortie that is one powerful loose trio. Actually it is a damn good team I feel.
43 @ nortierd:
I think you underestimating your team bud, that is a very good team AC has selected for this week.
Loose forwards look ok, backline doesn’t look good at all.
12 and 13 and 15 look alright, at least I know them, lol, don’t even know the wings. But those positions are only there to defend, the ball doesn’t get past whichever fatboy forward stands at 10 in any case. Everyone knows the Stormers pass from 9 to some donkey forward who thinks he’s a fly half.
nortierd wrote:
Scrap 12 and 13, I don’t know who van der Spuy is, De Alende at 11 we know.
Puma, I must disagree, this is not a good team, there are no one that will instill fear in any opposing team.
47 @ nortierd:
Nortie move over to the Team of week 2 thread. We posting there.
I give up with the non believers, I need a drink..
SuperRugby Pierre Spies is out of the Cheetahs clash this weekend because of an elbow injury. Flip Van Der Merwe will captain the side.
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