Marcel van der Merwe and Dean Greyling will earn 1st starts in the 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby competition as Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke made 3 changes to his pack that will face the Western Force at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Van der Merwe and Greyling, who both made late starts to the competition due to injury, will swop places with Trevor Nyakane and Morné Mellett respectively. In anther swop, Grant Hattingh will earn his 1st start of the season whilst Victor Matfield will move to the bench.
The bench also has 2 new faces this week, with Arno Botha returning and Jaco Visagie replacing the injured Callie Visagie as hooker replacement. Should he take to the field, Visagie will make his Vodacom Bulls and Vodacom Super Rugby debut.
Botha, who was injured in the season’s opener against the DHL Stormers, is fit again and replaces Hanro Liebenberg.
Ludeke left his backs unchanged.
“We are good to go after a week’s rest and determined to maintain the momentum the last 2 wins have created,” Ludeke said. “We have made some changes to the pack, but its part of the rotational policy. All 3 players deserve a start. We are also happy to see Arno back in full force.”
Vodacom Bulls captain, Pierre Spies, warned that the Force cannot be underestimated, given the closeness of results between the teams in the past.
“We always seem to be in tight matches against each other. The trick for us will be to play the big moments better and to execute whenever we create scoring opportunities.”
Vodacom Bulls (with Super Rugby caps): 15 Jesse Kriel (5), 14 Francois Hougaard (76), 13 JJ Engelbrecht (53), 12 Jan Serfontein (32), 11 Bjorn Basson (75), 10 Handré Pollard (17), 9 Rudy Paige (11), 8 Pierre Spies (Captain, 107), 7 Lappies Labuschagne (31), 6 Deon Stegmann (83), 5 Grant Hattingh (38), 4 Jacques du Plessis (19), 3 Marcel van der Merwe (21), 2 Adriaan Strauss (109), 1 Dean Greyling (57)
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie (0), 17 Morné Mellett (28), 18 Trevor Nyakane (46), 19 Victor Matfield (142), 20 Arno Botha (23), 21 Piet van Zyl (47), 22 Tian Schoeman (1), 3 Jurgen Visser (27).
Milestones:
- There are 3 centurions in the match day squad. Victor Matfield 142 (Bulls 134 & Cats 8); Adriaan Strauss 109 (Cheetahs 97, Bulls 12) and Pierre Spies 107 (all Bulls).
- Coach Frans Ludeke will extend his Vodacom Super Rugby record as most experienced coach ever – He has coached the Vodacom Bulls in 113 matches and the Cats in 24 for a tally of 137.
- Victor Matfield will extend his SA record as most capped Super Rugby player to 143 and his Vodacom Bulls record to 135 if he takes to the field. It also is his 16th season of Vodacom Super Rugby, a record he shares with Tony Brown and Tana Umaga.
Other Facts:
- In the regular season, the Bulls have won their last 15 encounters at home against Australian sides, last losing in February 2007; however that defeat was inflicted by the Force.
- The Bulls have the best ruck success rate this year (96%) in the competition.
Date: Saturday 21 March
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-Off: 17:05 SA Time (23:05 AWST, 15:05 GMT, Sunday 02:05 AEDT)
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Jason Jaftha (South Africa), Pro Legoete (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Marcel van der Merwe en Dean Greyling begin Saterdag vir die 1ste keer hierdie Vodacom Super Rugby-seisoen ‘n wedstryd vir die Vodacom Bulls nadat afrigter Frans Ludeke 3 skuiwe in sy beginpak vir die wedstryd teen die Western Force op Loftus Versfeld gemaak het.
Van der Merwe en Greyling ruil beginspan-plekke met Trevor Nyakane en Morné Mellett onderskeidelik, met die tweetal wat as plaasvervangers sal opdraf.
In nog so ‘n skuif gaan Grant Hattingh op slot uitdraf, met Victor Matfield wat bank toe skuif. Dit is ook Hattingh se 1ste beginwedstryd.
Daar is 2 nuwe gesigte op die plaasvervangerbank.
Jaco Visagie vervang die beseerde Callie Visagie as plaasvervanger haker en kan sy debuut vir die Vodacom Bulls in die kompetisie maak, sou hy speelkans kry.
Arno Botha is ook weer fiks en vervang Hanro Liebenberg.
Die agterlyn is onveranderd.
“Ons het nou goed gerus en is slaggereed om die momentum voort te sit wat die 2 agtereenvolgende oorwinnings aan ons besorg het,” meen Ludeke.
“Die skuiwe is deel van die rotasie- en rusbeleid en al 3 spelers verdien ‘n kans om te begin. Dit is lekker om Arno terug te sien, hy het goed gelyk in die Vodacombekerspan,” het Ludeke gesê.
Die kaptein van die Vodacom Bulls, Pierre Spies, het gemaan dat die Force nie ligtelik opgeneem kan word nie.
“Al ons vorige wedstryde teen hulle was bitter taai en die uitslae wys dit. Om een of ander rede is die punteverskil altyd bitter klein. Die verskil Saterdag vir ons sal wees om die groot oomblikke in die wedstryd reg te speel en enige aanvalsgeleenthede deurslaggewend te maak.”
Vodacom Bulls (met Super Rugby wedstryde): 15 Jesse Kriel (5), 14 Francois Hougaard (76), 13 JJ Engelbrecht (53), 12 Jan Serfontein (32), 11 Bjorn Basson (75), 10 Handré Pollard (17), 9 Rudy Paige (11), 8 Pierre Spies (Captain, 107), 7 Lappies Labuschagne (31), 6 Deon Stegmann (83), 5 Grant Hattingh (38), 4 Jacques du Plessis (19), 3 Marcel van der Merwe (21), 2 Adriaan Strauss (109), 1 Dean Greyling (57)
Plaasvervangers: 16 Jaco Visagie (0), 17 Morné Mellett (28), 18 Trevor Nyakane (46), 19 Victor Matfield (142), 20 Arno Botha (23), 21 Piet van Zyl (47), 22 Tian Schoeman (1), 3 Jurgen Visser (27).
Notas:
- Daar is 3 spelers in die wedstrydgroep wat 100 of meer Super Rugby wedstryde gespeel het – Victor Matfield 142 (Bulls 134 & Cats 8); Adriaan Strauss 109 (Cheetahs 97 & Bulls 12) en Pierre Spies 107 (almal Bulls).
- Afrigter Frans Ludeke verbeter sy Vodacom Super Rugby toernooirekord as mees ervare afrigter in die kompetisie na 138 (Vodacom Bulls 113, Cats 24).
- Victor Matfield verbeter sy SA rekord as mees ervare Super Rugby-speler na 143 en sy Vodacom Bulls rekord vir meeste wedstryde na 135.
Bykomende Feite:
- Gedurende gewone seisoenwedstryde het die Bulls hul laaste 15 wedstryde teen Australiese teenstanders tuis gewen, met die laaste verloor in Februarie 2007; hoewel dit merkbaar is dat daardie verloor teen die Force was.
- Die Bulls het tans die beste losgemaal suksespersentasie van die jaar (96%) in die toernooi.
Datum: Saterdag 21 Maart
Plek: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Afskop: 17:05 SA Tyd (23:05 AWST, 15:05 GMT, Sondag 02:05 AEDT)
Skeidsregter: Nick Briant (Nieu Seeland)
Assistent Skeidsregters: Jason Jaftha (Suid-Afrika), Pro Legoete (Suid-Afrika)
TWB: Shaun Veldsman (Suid-Afrika)