Akona Ndungane will become the ninth Vodacom Bulls player to play 100 Vodacom Super Rugby matches for the franchise when they take on the Blues at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. The stalwart winger made his Super Rugby debut way back in 2005 against the Cats and earned his 50^th cap for the Bulls in 2009, playing against the Reds in Pretoria.

Ndungane, who scored against the Blues in last year’s win in Auckland, will start in an unchanged backline, as all three changes to the starting line-up made by Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke, are in the forward pack.

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Werner Kruger comes into the tighthead position for Frik Kirsten, who is suffering from a sore back. Flanker Deon Stegmann will start for the first time in this year’s competition. Stegmann has recovered from a groin strain and will replace Jono Ross at number six. Ross moves to number eight in place of Grant Hattingh.

Ludeke made one changes on the bench as well. A fit-again Mornè Mellett will make his first appearance for the team this year, replacing Kirsten.

“We are quite pleased to have Steggies back. He is an experienced campaigner and is not a Springbok for nothing. The Blues thrive on quick ball and Steggies will play a big role for us in slowing their ball down and creating turnovers,” Ludeke said.

“It also allows Jono to move to his more natural position at the back of the scrum.”

Ludeke was full of praise for Ndungane.

“What a player to have in your side. He had to work so hard to get back into rugby after suffering two broken legs in a row and I think I speak on behalf of everyone in congratulating him on this milestone in his career. He has been exceptional for us and I am privileged to be his coach,” Ludeke said.

Vodacom Bulls team (with Super caps): 15 Jurgen Visser (14),  14 Akona Ndungane (99), 13 JJ Engelbrecht (36), 12 Jan Serfontein (15), 11 Bjorn Basson (58), 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter (43), 9 Francois Hougaard (59), 8 Jono Ross (7), 7 Jacques du Plessis (4), 6 Deon Stegmann (75), 5 Victor Matfield (127), 4 Flip van der Merwe (66, Captain), 3 Werner Kruger (95), 2 Callie Visagie (26), 1 Dean Greyling (41)
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi (4), 17 Morné Mellett (12), 18 Marcel van der Merwe(6), 19 Paul Willemse (7), 20 Jacques Engelbrecht (17), 21 Piet van Zyl (34), 22 Handré Pollard (2), 23 Ulrich Beyers (3).

Notes:

• Ndungane will play in his 100^th Vodacom Super Rugby match for the Vodacom Bulls. The other centurions for the franchise are Bakkies Botha (100), Pierre Spies (103), Wynand Olivier (108), Fourie du Preez (112), Pedrie Wannenburg (113), Danie Rossouw (116), Victor Matfield (119) and Mornè Steyn (123).
• Fellow winger Bjorn Basson will play in his 50^th match for the Vodacom Bulls. He also played nine times in Toyota Cheetahs colours. The winger, who holds the Vodacom Bulls try-scoring record in a season, made his Bulls debut against the Lions in 2011.
• Victor Matfield will play in his 128^th match at this level, a South African record. He has played in 119 matches for the Vodacom Bulls and eight for the Cats.
• Francois Hougaard is one try away from 100 Vodacom Super Rugby points.

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In additional news, the Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais included NNT Docomo loan player Wimpie van der Walt on the bench of his team to face GWK Griquas in the opening match of the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition on Saturday.

Van der Walt joined the Pretoria side this week and will get an opportunity off the bench to proof his fitness levels.

Marais named David Bulbring as captain of the team, which also include former Springboks Waylon Murray and Bandise Maku, who along with Bulbring and Van der Walt, played Vodacom Super Rugby for the Southern Kings last year.

Louis Fouchè will start at flyhalf, ahead of regular pivot Tony Jantjies.

Vodacom Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup) to play Griquas 14:30: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Jesse Kriel, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Waylon Murray, 11 Travis Ismaiel, 10 Louis Fouché, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Clyde Davids, 7 Christiaan de Bruin, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg, 5 David Bulbring (Captain), 4 Schalk van Heerden, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Sidney Tobias, 17 Neethling Fouché, 18 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 19 Wimpie van der Walt, 20 Lohan Jacobs, 21 Tony Jantjies, 22 Burger Odendaal / Rohan Janse van Rensburg.