A late venue change handed the Vodacom Blue Bulls home ground advantage for their Vodacom Cup semifinal match against defending champions, the Golden Lions, on Saturday.
The two teams will now meet at Loftus Versfeld due to the hosts finishing above their southern neighbour on the points log.
The match was originally scheduled for Johannesburg on Friday, but a proper look at the regulations of the competition prompted a venue switch.
Blue Bulls Media Release
Coach Nollis Marais made a number of changes to the side that squeezed past the Toyota Free State in the quarterfinal match in Bloemfontein, with the inclusion of Tony Jantjies the most noticable. Jantjies kicked a late penalty to secure victory in Bloemfontein and has been rewarded with a starting berth, with Tian Schoeman dropping to the bench.
With Jesse Kriel now on Junior Springboks duty, a fit-again Travis Ismaiel will play on the left wing in the other change at the back.
Up front, Marvin Orie is another promoted from the bench, with the lock taking over from injured Schalk van Heerden. Christiaan de Bruin is also drafted into the side at flank, with Reniel Hugo covering the lock position on the bench.
Vodacom Blue Bulls: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sampie Mastriet, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Travis Ismaiel, 10 Tony Jantjies, 9 Lohan Jacobs, 8 Clyde Davids, 7 Christiaan de Bruin, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 David Bulbring (Captain), 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Juan Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Arno van Wyk, 17 Basil Short, 18 Reniel Hugo, 19 Roelof Smit, 20 Kefentse Mahlo, 21 Tian Schoeman, 22 Ryan Nell.
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‘n Verandering van stadion het aan die Vodacom Blou Bulle ‘n onverwagte tuisveldvoordeel besorg vir sy Vodacombeker-halfeindstryd teen die Goue Leeus.
Die wedstryd sou Vrydag in Johannesburg plaasgevind het, maar ‘n kykie na die regulasies van die toernooi het die skuif na Loftus Versfeld genoodsaak, waar die wedstryd nou Saterdag sal plaasvind.
Die Vodacom Blou Bulle het bo die Goue Leeus op die noordelike afdeling se puntelys klaargemaak en kan dus die halfeind aanbied.
Afrigter Nollis Marais het vier skuiwe in sy span gemaak wat verlede naweek naelskraaps in Bloemfontein teen die Vrystaat kon wen.
Tony Jantjies, wat laat in die wedstryd die wenpunte aangeteken het, is in die beginspan, met Tian Schoeman wat bank toe skuif en Jesse Kriel word deur Travis Ismaiel vervang. Kriel is betrokke by die Junior Springbokke se opwarmingswedstryde.
In die pak skuif Marvin Orie van die bank af slot toe in die beseerde Schalk van Heerden se plek en Christiaan de Bruin begin op flank met Reniel Hugo wat bank toe skuif.
Vodacom Blue Bulls: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sampie Mastriet, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Travis Ismaiel, 10 Tony Jantjies, 9 Lohan Jacobs, 8 Clyde Davids, 7 Christiaan de Bruin, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 David Bulbring (Kaptein), 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Juan Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Arno van Wyk, 17 Basil Short, 18 Reniel Hugo, 19 Roelof Smit, 20 Kefentse Mahlo, 21 Tian Schoeman, 22 Ryan Nell.