This is the second article in the series of Bulls Squad Contenders for Super Rugby 2015. In 2015 the Bulls will be better off in the hooker department, having contracted Adriaan Strauss, the Springbok hooker from the Toyota Cheetahs, although they have also lost the services of Bongi Mbonambi to the DHL Stormers.

We discuss the players IN the Super Rugby Group, and not all the options beyond that.

In this Article we look at the contenders for HOOKERS in the Vodacom Bulls 2015 Super Rugby group, and whether they could force their way into Bok contention.

In 2015 the Bulls subsequently sit with a current Springbok hooker, an erstwhile Springbok hooker and a hooker who was invited to the Springbok training squad in 2014 by Heyneke Meyer, to fire their Super Rugby campaign… and with these hookers next to 2 current Springbpk props as well as a choice of 2 erstwhile Springbok props.

The Contenders:

Name: Jan Adriaan “Atter” Strauss:

Position Hooker Height 1.85 Weight 113 Date of Birth 18 November 1985 Place of Birth Bloemfontein Provincial Debut 2005 Provincial Caps 78 Provincial Points 60 Super Rugby Debut 2006 for Bulls Super Rugby Caps 105 Super Rugby Points 45 Test Debut 19 July 2008 vs Australia (Springbok No 800) Test Caps 44 Test Points 25

Adriaan Strauss is yet another product of Grey College in Bloemfontein and he also attended the University of Pretoria.

He is a seasoned campaigner and also part of the leadership core at the Springboks and for his Super Rugby Franchise.

Strauss is one of the two current Springbok regular hookers. He has shown for a number of seasons now why he is so highly rated as a hooker and much will be expected from him in the 2015 season, both for the Bulls as well as for the Springboks.

Strauss had tremendous seasons in 2013 and 2014, both on provincial and international level and has also given Bismarck du Plessis a good run for a Springbok starting berth at hooker. A lot of pundits believe Adriaan Strauss is a better fit at the Springboks to start, compared to Bismarck du Plessis.

At the end of the 2014 season he re-joined the Bulls from the Cheetahs.

Rugby Career:

• 2004: Blue Bulls (ABSA Under 20 Competition Section A), South Africa (IRB Under 19 World Championships)
• 2005: Vodacom Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round), Blue Bulls (ABSA Under 21 Competition), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
• 2006: Vodacom Bulls (Vodacom Super 14), Vodacom Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup), South Africa (IRB Under 21 World Championship), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
• 2007: Vodacom Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 14), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
• 2008: Vodacom Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 14), Springboks (Vodacom Incoming Tours), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
• 2009: Vodacom Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 14), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (British & Irish Lions Tour), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (Vodacom Outgoing Tours)
• 2010: Vodacom Cheetahs (Vodacom Super 14), Vodacom Free state Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (Outgoing Tours)
• 2011: Toyota Cheetahs (Vodacom Super Rugby), Springboks (Castle Tri-Nations), Toyota Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
• 2012: Toyota Cheetahs (Vodacom Super Rugby), Springboks (Castle Incoming Tours), Toyota Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (The Rugby Championship), Toyota Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation), Springboks (Castle Outgoing Tours)
• 2013: Toyota Cheetahs (Vodacom Super Rugby), Springboks (Castle Lager Incoming Series), Toyota Free State Cheetahs (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (The Rugby Championship), Springboks (Castle Lager Outgoing Tour)
• 2014: Toyota Cheetahs (Vodacom Super Rugby), Springboks (Castle Lager Incoming Series), Springboks (The Rugby Championship), Springboks (Castle Lager Outgoing Tour)

Name: Bandise Grey “Bandise” Maku:

Position Hooker Height 1.85m Weight 106 kg Date of Birth 24 July 1986 Place of Birth King William’s Town Provincial Debut 2006 for Vodacom Blue Bulls Provincial Caps 97 Provincial Points 20 Super Rugby Debut 2008 for Vodacom Bulls against the Chiefs, Rotorua Super Rugby Caps 53 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut 2010 vs Italy (Springbok No 811) Test Caps 1 Test & 3 Tour matches Test Points 0

Bandise is a product of Dale College in King William’s Town.

He represented his local team Border Bulldogs at the 2004 Craven Week before moving to the Blue Bulls, for whom he played rugby at youth levels.

He was first named in a Blue Bulls squad during the 2006 Vodacom Cup. He made his Currie Cup debut the following season, coming on as a 72nd minute substitute against Boland Cavaliers. A year later, he was also included in Bulls squad for the 2008 Super 14 season, making his debut in Rotorua against the Chiefs.

He joined the Lions for the 2011 Super Rugby season, where he started in 14 games. He also played Currie Cup rugby for the Golden Lions, where he was also a member of the starting line-up which defeated the Sharks 42–16 to win the 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division. He was injured for the entire 2012 Super Rugby season, but did play some Currie Cup rugby at the end of the 2012 season.

In 2013 he joined the Southern Kings for the 2013 Super Rugby season.

After the 2013 Super Rugby season, he rejoined former team the Blue Bulls, signing a contract at the team until October 2016.

On the international front his first tour of duty for his country was with the Springboks to France, Italy, Ireland & England in late 2009. He earned his first cap for his country playing against Italy. In 2010, Maku was again called up for duty with the Springboks in a November tour of Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England. His call came two matches into the tour on 18 November 2010, after a controversial incident in which two other Springbok players tested positive for a banned substance.

Maku has won a Super Rugby title with the Bulls and became a Springbok also at the Bulls. A durable and skilled hooker, Maku could provide adequate backup for Adriaan Strauss at the Bulls, but he will have to put more effort in to return to the form which saw him becoming a Springbok a few years ago and 2013 as well as 2014 were forgettable years for him in his playing career.

Rugby Career:

• 2004: Border (Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week)
• 2005: Blue Bulls (ABSA Under 19 Competition)), Blue Bulls (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
• 2006: Vodacom Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup), Blue Bulls (ABSA Under 21 Competition), South Africa (IRB Junior World Championship)
• 2007: Vdacom Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup), SA Emerging (IRB Nations Cup), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Under 21 Competition), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
• 2008: Vodacom Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Friendlies), Vodacom Bulls (Vodacom Super 14), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
• 2009: Bulls (MTN Test), Vodacom Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Friendlies), Vodacom Bulls (Vodacom Super 14), Emerging Springboks (British & Irish Lions Tour), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (Vodacom Outgoing Tours)
• 2010: Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Friendlies), Vodacom Bulls (Vodacom Super 14), Springboks (Vodacom Incoming Tours), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (Outgoing Tours)
• 2011: MTN Lions (Vodacom Super Rugby), MTN Golden Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
• 2012: MTN Golden Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
• 2013: Southern Kings (Vodacom Super Rugby), EP Kings (ABSA Currie Cup First Division), EP Kings (ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
• 2014: Vodacom Bulls (Vodacom Super Rugby), Vodacom Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)

Name: Callie-Theron “Callie” Visagie:

Position Hooker Height 1.88m Weight 108 kg Date of Birth 9 July 1988 Place of Birth Paarl Provincial Debut 2012 for MTN Golden Lions Provincial Caps 32 Provincial Points 5 Super Rugby Debut 2012 for MTN Lions Super Rugby Caps 38 Super Rugby Points 10 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Callie is a product of Paarl Boys’ High School.

Visagie was one of the first players to be approached by the Vodacom Bulls when the MTN Lions lost their Super status, a testament to his abilities in a position where depth is a problem.

Callie Visagie needs to considerably sharpen up his lineout throwing as well as his workrate and effectiveness on defence.

Callie has certainly received many, many chances from coach Ludeke to stamp his mark on the game, but has disapointed to a large degree. Between Visagie and Maku they will have to fight the battle for the regular backup spot at hooker, after Adriaan Strauss.

Visagie was called up as cover to the Springboks during the Castle Lager Incoming Series in 2014, why I do not know… in my estimation he certinly does not count anywhere near the top 7 hookers in South Africa!

Rugby Career:

• 2004: WP (Under 16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week)
• 2007: Vodacom WP (ABSA Under 19 Competition)
• 2008: Vodacom WP (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
• 2009: Maties (FNB Varsity Cup), Western Province (Vodacom Cup), Western Province (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
• 2010: Maties (FNB Varsity Cup), Western Province (Vodacom Cup), Vodacom Western Province (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
• 2011: Maties (FNB Varsity Cup -Captain)
• 2012: MTN Lions (Vodacom Super Rugby), MTN Golden Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
• 2013: MTN Golden Lions (Vodacom Cup), Vodacom Blue Bulls (Vodacom Cup), Vodacom Bulls (Vodacom Super Rugby), MTN Golden Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
• 2014: Vodacom Bulls (Vodacom Super Rugby), Springboks (Castle Lager Incoming Series – Squad Member), Vodacom Blue Bulls (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)

Starters:

The Bulls have acquired the vital services of Adriaan Strauss, one of the 2 prime Springbok hookers, between seasons, so it’s really a no-brainer to suggest that the Bulls should start with Adriaan Strauss at hooker in 2015. Rotation at hooker is vital in a long competition though and the real question will be which one of Bandise Maku or Callie Visagie will the first choice backup hooker.

Both Callie Visagie and Bandise Maku have their serious shortcomings, in the case of Callie Visagie his inability to throw in accurately at the lineouts as well as an inherrent lazyness in the defensive stakes. Bandise Maku has fallen off the pace of what is required from an international hooker in all facets of play since a number of seasons ago when he was highly rated and he will once again have to bring his A-game if he wants to see enough game time in 2015.

The loss of Bongi Mbonambi will be felt by the Bulls.

The next Article in the range will deal with the Bulls locks.