Greyling to play in 50^th against Stormers

Vodacom Bulls prop Dean Greyling will play in his 50th Vodacom Super Rugby match for his team on Saturday, when the Pretoria team takes on the DHL Stormers at Loftus Versfeld.

Bulls Media Release

Greyling, who made his debut for the men in blue in 2008 against the Lions, will again line-up in a front row that will also consist of Callie Visagie (hooker) and Marcel van der Merwe (tighthead) as Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke retained his starting pack for the clash.

Ludeke made one change to the backline that started against the Toyota Cheetahs last week though, with JJ Engelbrecht back in the number 13 jersey for the clash against the Cape side.

Engelbrecht swops places with William Small-Smith, who moves to the bench for the north/south derby.

Victor Matfield will again lead the side as Flip van der Merwe serves his last week of suspension.

According to the veteran lock, who will play in his 135th Vodacom Super Rugby match, the Vodacom Bulls must maintain the momentum they picked up in the second half of the match against the Cheetahs.

“We kept our composure and stuck to our structures, something we will need to do again against the Stormers. They have shown some decent form in the last couple of weeks and are playing without fear, which makes them dangerous opponents. As is the norm with local derbies, it will be a physical affair and the challenge for us will be to remain calm and not get sucked into the match they want us to play,” Matfield said.

Vodacom Bulls (with Super Rugby caps): 15 Jurgen Visser (21), 14 Akona Ndungane (104), 13 JJ Engelbrecht (44), 12 Jan Serfontein (23), 11 Bjorn Basson (66), 10 Handré Pollard (9), 9 Francois Hougaard (67), 8 Grant Hattingh (30), 7 Jacques du Plessis (12), 6 Jono Ross (14), 5 Victor Matfield (134, Captain), 4 Paul Willemse (15), 3 Marcel van der Merwe (14), 2 Callie Visagie (33), 1 Dean Greyling (49)
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi (11), 17 Werner Kruger (103), 18 Morné Mellett (19), 19 Jacques Engelbrecht (22), 20 Wimpie van der Walt (19), 21 Rudy Paige (6), 22 Jacques-Louis Potgieter (51), 23 William Small-Smith (3).

Milestones:

• Victor Matfield will extend a number of Vodacom Super Rugby records. He is the most capped South African ever in the competition and will play in his 135th match, holds the Vodacom Bulls franchise record of 126 matches and the South African record as captain (78).
• Akona Ndungane (104 caps) will extend his Vodacom Bulls record as a wing and Werner Kruger (103) his record as most capped Vodacom Bulls prop when he takes to the field.
• Dean Greyling (49 caps, 20 points) will play in his 50th Vodacom Super Rugby match for the Vodacom Bulls. He debuted in 2008 against the Lions.
• Lock Paul Willemse scored his first Vodacom Super Rugby try against the Toyota Cheetahs last weekend, which means that everyone in the Vodacom Bulls starting line-up has now scored at least one career try in the competition.
• Francois Hougaard needs one try to score 100 Vodacom Super Rugby points.
• Coach Frans Ludeke will take charge of his 128^th Vodacom Super Rugby match (104 Bulls, 23 Cats/Lions). This makes him the most experienced South African coach in the competition ever and only second to current Australia national coach Ewen McKenzie’s 131 (Reds (2010-2013: 65); Waratahs (2004-2008: 66).

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Greyling speel 50^ste in Stormers-stryd

Die Vodacom Bulls se loskopstut, Dean Greyling, speel Saterdag op Loftus Versfeld in sy 50ste Vodacom Super Rugbywedstryd vir sy span as hulle teen die DHL Stormers uitdraf. Greyling het sy debuut vir die span in 2008 teen die Lions gemaak.

Die Vodacom Bulls-afrigter, Frans Ludeke, het slegs een verandering aan die span vir die Stormers wedstryd gemaak.

JJ Engelbrecht, wat verlede naweek se wedstryd teen die Toyota Cheetahs op die plaasvervanger-bank begin het, skuif terug na die buitesenter-posisie, met William Small-Smith wat weer afskuif bank toe.

Die span word weer deur Victor Matfield aangevoer, met Flip van der Merwe wat die laaste week van ‘n skorsing uitdien.

Volgens die veteraan-slot, wat in sy 135ste Vodacom Super Rugbywedstryd speel, moet die Bulls die momentum behou wat hulle in die tweede helfte van die Cheetahs wedstryd opgebou het.

“Ons het kalm gebly en by ons struktute gehou en die vrugte daarvan gepluk. Dit is iets wat ons teen die Stormers ook sal moet doen as ons weer suksesvol wil wees. Hulle spelpeil toon ‘n opwaarste kurwe en hulle speel nou sonder vrees, wat hulle altyd gevaarlik maak,” het Matfield gesê.

“Omdat dit ‘n plaaslike derby is, gaan dinge ook fisiek wees. Ons uitdaging sal wees om kalm te bly en nie toe te laat dat die Stormers ons dwing om hulle spelpeil te speel nie.”

Vodacom Bulls (met getal Super-wedstryde): 15 Jurgen Visser (21), 14 Akona Ndungane (104), 13 JJ Engelbrecht (44), 12 Jan Serfontein (23), 11 Bjorn Basson (66), 10 Handré Pollard (9), 9 Francois Hougaard (67), 8 Grant Hattingh (30), 7 Jacques du Plessis (12), 6 Jono Ross (14), 5 Victor Matfield (134, Kaptein), 4 Paul Willemse (15), 3 Marcel van der Merwe (14), 2 Callie Visagie (33), 1 Dean Greyling (49)
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi (11), 17 Werner Kruger (103), 18 Morné Mellett (19), 19 Jacques Engelbrecht (22), 20 Wimpie van der Walt (19), 21 Rudy Paige (6), 22 Jacques-Louis Potgieter (51), 23 William Small-Smith (3).

Mylpale:

• Victor Matfield verbeter ‘n paar rekords in sy 135ste verskyning in Super Rugby, die meeste nog vir ‘n Suid-Afrikaner. Sy 127ste wedstryd vir die Vodacom Bulls is ‘n franchise-rekord en hy sal vir die 79ste keer as kaptein opdraf, ‘n Bulls en SA rekord.
• Akona Ndungane (104) en Werner Kruger (103) verbeter hulle Vodacom Bulls-rekord as die mees ervare vleuel en stut in hul Super Rugby geskiedenis.
• Dean Greyling (49 wedstryd, 20 punte) speel in sy 50ste wedstryd vir die Bulls. Hy het sy debuut in 2008 teen die Lions gemaak.
• Slot Paul Willemse het verlede week teen die Cheetahs sy eerste drie in Super Rugby gedruk. Dit beteken dat die hele Bulls-beginspan nou minstens een Super Rugby drie in hul loopbaan gedruk het.
• Francois Hougaard kort een drie om 100 Vodacom Super Rugby punte te behaal.
• Afrigter Frans Ludeke brei ‘n span vir die 128ste keer in die kompetisie (104 Bulls, 23 Cats/Lions). Dit maak van hom die mees ervare Suid-Afrikaanse afrigter nog en tweede op die algehele lys na Australie se nasionale afrigter, Ewen McKenzie’s 131 (Reds (2010-2013: 65); Waratahs (2004-2008: 66).