Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke named the same run-on team from last weekend to face the Toyota Cheetahs on Saturday in Bloemfontein in their first away trip in the 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby competition.

The same 15 that ran out in the win over the Cell C Sharks will front up in the Free State Stadium as the Vodacom Bulls looks to build the momentum gathered from the win against the coastal side.

Ludeke only made 1 change to the bench, where Piet van Zyl returns to Bloemfontein to face his former Super Rugby team.

“We finally found the momentum we were looking for in the opening rounds of the competition against the Sharks and managed 4 tries,” Ludeke said in Pretoria on Thursday.

“We will need the confidence and rhythm picked up on the weekend against the Cheetahs. They are one of the early front runners and will be full of self-belief. I am happy to name the same team. This is not only a vote of confidence, but we are also blessed with no injuries, something that hampered our consistency in the first couple of weeks,” the coach said.

Vodacom Bulls captain Pierre Spies, who scored 1 of the 4 tries against the Sharks last weekend, was keen for his troops to continue their positive mind-set on attack and self-belief in the set-phases.

“We did front up last weekend and for the first time this season, managed to finish when we created try-scoring opportunities. Training was much easier this week as the belief came back. We had a good week and are again looking for a good result. It will not be easy. They won in Bloem last year, something we need to change,” Spies said.

Vodacom Bulls (with Super caps): 15 Jesse Kriel (4), 14 Bjorn Basson (74), 13 JJ Engelbrecht (52), 12 Jan Serfontein (31), 11 Francois Hougaard (75), 10 Handré Pollard (16), 9 Rudy Paige (10), 8 Pierre Spies (Captain, 106), 7 Lappies Labuschagne (30), 6 Deon Stegmann (82), 5 Victor Matfield (141), 4 Jacques du Plessis (18), 3 Trevor Nyakane (45), 2 Adriaan Strauss (108), 1 Morné Mellett (27)
Replacements: 16 Callie Visagie (40), 17 Dean Greyling (56), 18 Marcel van der Merwe (20), 19 Grant Hattingh (37), 20 Hanro Liebenberg (1), 21 Tian Schoeman (1), 22 Piet van Zyl (46), 23 Jurgen Visser (26).

Milestones:

• There are 3 centurions in the squad line-up. Victor Matfield 141 (Bulls 133 & Cats 8); Adriaan Strauss 108 (Cheetahs 97, Bulls 11) and Pierre Spies 106 (all Bulls).
• Coach Frans Ludeke will extend his Vodacom Super Rugby as most experienced coach ever – He has coached the Vodacom Bulls in 112 matches and the Cats in 24, for a tally of 136.
• Victor Matfield will extend his SA record as most capped Super Rugby player to 142 and his Vodacom Bulls record to 134. It also is his 16th season of Vodacom Super Rugby, a record he shares with Tony Brown and Tana Umaga.

Die Vodacom Bulls se afrigter, Frans Ludeke, het sy beginspan behou vir Saterdag se Vodacom Super Rugby-wedstryd teen die Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

Dieselfde 15 wat teen die Cell C Sharks diens gedoen het, sal dus ook in die Vrystaat Stadion uitdraf.

Ludeke het wel 1 verandering op die plaasvervangerbank gemaak, waar Piet van Zyl in Travis Ismaiel se plek op sy ou tuisveld sal uitdraf.

“Ons het uiteindelik die momentum gekry waarna ons in die openingsrondtes gestreef het en kon 4 drieë teen die Sharks druk. Ons sal graag daardie selfvertroue en ritme wil behou teen die Cheetahs,” het Ludeke gesê.

“Die Cheetahs is pas-aangeers en ons was stadig uit die blokke, maar ek is tevrede met die span na bykans ‘n maand in die kompetisie. Ons was ook gelukkig met beserings wat weggebly het, anders as in die eerste paar wedstryde en ons kan hopelik nou meer konstant raak.”

Die Vodacom Bulls se kaptein, Pierre Spies, 1 van die 4 driedrukkers teen die Sharks, het die spelers aangespoor om daardie ingesteldheid te behou en ook hul vertroue in hul eie vermoë te vertrou.

“Ons het verlede week gewys wat ons kan doen en uiteindelik die geleenthede afgerond wat ons geskep het. Hierdie week se oefening het veel makliker verloop, want die ouens is gemotiveerd en sien dat die harde werk op die oefenveld vrugte bring. Ons besef dit gaan taai wees in Bloem. Die Cheetahs het ons verlede jaar daar geklop en is goed op stryk, maar ons aanvaar die uitdaging wat op ons wag,” het Spies gesê.

Vodacom Bulls (met Super wedstryde): 15 Jesse Kriel (4), 14 Bjorn Basson (74), 13 JJ Engelbrecht (52), 12 Jan Serfontein (31), 11 Francois Hougaard (75), 10 Handré Pollard (16), 9 Rudy Paige (10), 8 Pierre Spies (Kaptein, 106), 7 Lappies Labuschagne (30), 6 Deon Stegmann (82), 5 Victor Matfield (141), 4 Jacques du Plessis (18), 3 Trevor Nyakane (45), 2 Adriaan Strauss (108), 1 Morné Mellett (27)
Plaasvervangers: 16 Callie Visagie (40), 17 Dean Greyling (56), 18 Marcel van der Merwe (20), 19 Grant Hattingh (37), 20 Hanro Liebenberg (1), 21 Tian Schoeman (1), 22 Piet van Zyl (46), 23 Jurgen Visser (26).

Notas:

• Daar is 3 spelers wat meer as ‘n 100 Super Rugby wedstryde gespeel het in die span. Victor Matfield 141 (Bulls 133 & Cats 8); Adriaan Strauss 108 (Cheetahs 97, Bulls 11) en Pierre Spies 106 (almal Bulls).
• Afrigter Frans Ludeke verbeter sy toernooirekord as mees ervare afrigter na 137. Hy het die Bulls reeds 112 keer en die Cats 24 keer gebrei.
• Victor Matfield verbeter sy SA rekord as mees ervare speler in Super Rugby na 142 en sy franchise rekord na 134.