Flip van der Merwe
Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke made 2 changes to his starting team that will take on the Reds in a Vodacom Super Rugby clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Springbok hooker Adriaan Strauss is given a rest in compliance the Springbok rest agreement with the 5e franchises and Callie Visagie will start in the No 2 jersey. This will be Visagie’s 1st start of the season. His place on the bench will be taken by Jaco Visagie, who on 2 previous occasions this season did bench duty.
The other change from the side that came up short in Johannesburg against the Emirates Lions is at flank, where a fit-again Arno Botha will replace Hanro Liebenberg. Botha recovered from a hamstring strain, with Liebenberg replacing Roelof Smit on the bench.
Another new face on the bench is that of Flip van der Merwe, who replaces Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg. Van der Merwe missed the 1st half of the season due to a pectoral muscle tear, but is keen to add to his 72 caps in the competition.
“It is great to have Flip back,” Ludeke said.
“He does not only provide a physical presence and some real grunt up front, he is also an important leader in the squad and with Victor Matfield out for a couple of weeks, Flip’s return could not come at a better time. “
The coach also opted to give Handré Pollard and Jan Serfontein another week off, with the latter also rested due to theSARU arrangement.
“We have some big games and a tour coming up and I would like both of them to be 100% fit for that. Both Jacques-Louis Potgieter and Burger Odendaal played well when called upon and I am happy to give them another opportunity. You need your whole squad to contribute to be successful in this competition,” said Ludeke, who won titles in 2009 and 2010.
Vodacom Bulls captain Pierre Spies was adamant that their low log position does not mean that the Reds will be an easy opponent.
“They are desperate to get their season going and teams like that are always dangerous. They have some classy players in their team and if they are on song on the day, they can destroy you in a blink. We will have to play all the big moments well, but will also have to force our style of play on them and dictate the terms. That will requirecommitment and discipline,” Spies said.
Vodacom Bulls prop Trevor Nyakane will play in his 50th Vodacom Super Rugby match on Saturday, with 42 of those appearances coming in the colours of the Toyota Cheetahs.
Vodacom Bulls (with Super Rugby caps): 15 Jesse Kriel (8), 14 Francois Hougaard (79), 13 JJ Engelbrecht (56), 12 Burger Odendaal (2), 11 Bjorn Basson (78), 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter (57), 9 Rudy Paige (14), 8 Pierre Spies (Captain, 110), 7 Arno Botha (24), 6 Deon Stegmann (86), 5 Grant Hattingh (41), 4 Jacques du Plessis (22), 3 Trevor Nyakane (49), 2 Callie Visagie (42), 1 Dean Greyling (60)
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Morné Mellett (31), 18 Marcel van der Merwe (24), 19 Flip van der Merwe (72), 20 Hanro Liebenberg (4), 21 Piet van Zyl (50), 22 Tian Schoeman (1), 23 Jurgen Visser (27).
Milestones:
- Trevor Nyakane will play in his 50th Vodacom Super Rugby match on Saturday, with 42 of those appearances coming in the colours of the Toyota Cheetahs.
- Coach Frans Ludeke will take charge of his 140th match as coach at this level (13 coaching the Cats), extending his own tournament record.
Date: Saturday 11 April
Kick-Off: 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT, Sunday 03:10 AEST)
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant Referees: Quinton Immelman, Pro Legoete
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
Die Vodacom Bulls-afrigter, Frans Ludeke, het 2 skuiwe aan sy pak gemaak vir Saterdag se Vodacom Super Rugbywedstryd teen die Reds op Loftus Versfeld.
Springbok-haker Adriaan Strauss kry ‘n ruskans kragtens die ooreenkoms tussen SARU en die 5 streekspanne en Callie Visagie sal vir die 1ste keer vanjaar in die Nr 2 trui uitdraf. Sy plek op die bank word deur Jaco Visagie ingeneem.
In die ander verandering keer Arno Botha terug op flank in die plek van Hanro Liebenberg, wat bank toe skuif. Botha is weer fiks na ’n dyspierbesering.
Liebenberg neem die plek in van Roelof Smit, wat afskuif na die Vodacom Blou Bulle.
Die span verwelkom ook Flip van der Merwe terug na sy borsspierbesering. Die slot sal sy 1ste verskyning in vanjaar se reeks van die bank af maak en hy vervang vir Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg op die bank.
“Dit is uitstekend om Flip terug tekry,” het Ludeke laat blyk.
“Hy bring nie net die ervaring van 72 wedstryde op die vlak en massiewe fisieke teenwoordigheid nie, maar is ook 1 van ons leiers in die groep. Veral met Victor Matfield wat nou vir ‘n paar weke buite aksie gaan wees, kon Flip se terugkeer nie op ‘n beter tyd gekom het nie.”
Ludeke het ‘n onveranderde agterlyn gekies en besluit om Handré Pollard en Jan Serfontein nog ‘n week af te gee.
“Daar is ‘n paar taai derbies wat wag in die volgende twee weke en dan begin ons toer, so dit is belangrik dat hulle dan op alle silinders vuur. Ek dink Jacques-Louis Potgieter en Burger Odendaal het goed gedoen en ek gee hulle graag nog ‘n kans. Dit is belangrik dat jy die groepstelsel behoorlik inspan as jy sukses in die kompetisie wil behaal,” het Ludeke gesê.
Pierre Spies, wat die span vir die 38ste keer sal aanvoer, glo nie sy span sal die Reds onderskat nie.
“Moenie na hulle posisie op die puntelys kyk nie. Hulle sal desperaat wees om hul seisoen om te draai en sulke spanne is altyd gevaarlik. Boonop is die span vol spelbrekers van internasionale gehalte wat jou in ‘n oogwink kan omdop. Ons sal moet seker maak ons bepaal die tempo en aard van die spel, iets wat dissipline en toewyding van al 23 spelers gaan verg,” het Spies gesê.
Die Vodacom Bulls se vaskopstut, Trevor Nyakane, speel in sy 50ste Vodacom Super Rugby-wedstryd, met die eerste 42 daarvan wat in die kleure van die Toyota Cheetahs was.
Vodacom Bulls (met Super Rugby wedstryde): 15 Jesse Kriel (8), 14 Francois Hougaard (79), 13 JJ Engelbrecht (56), 12 Burger Odendaal (2), 11 Bjorn Basson (78), 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter (57), 9 Rudy Paige (14), 8 Pierre Spies (Kaptein, 110), 7 Arno Botha (24), 6 Deon Stegmann (86), 5 Grant Hattingh (41), 4 Jacques du Plessis (22), 3 Trevor Nyakane (49), 2 Callie Visagie (42), 1 Dean Greyling (60)
Plaasvervangers: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Morné Mellett (31), 18 Marcel van der Merwe (24), 19 Flip van der Merwe (72), 20 Hanro Liebenberg (4), 21 Piet van Zyl (50), 22 Tian Schoeman (1), 23 Jurgen Visser (27).
Mylpale:
- Trevor Nyakane sal in sy 50ste Vodacom Super Rugbywedstryd speel, met die 1ste 42 daarvan in die kleure van die Cheetahs.
- Afrigter Frans Ludeke sal in beheer wees van sy 140ste Super Rugbywedstryd (13 as afrigter van die Cats), wat sy eie toernooi rekord verder rek.
Datum: Saterdag 11 April
Afskop: 19:10 SA Tyd (17:10 GMT, Sondag 03:10 AEST)
Plek: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Skeidsregter: Jaco Peyper
Assistent Skeidsregters: Quinton Immelman, Pro Legoete
TWB: Shaun Veldsman