Nollis Marais

Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais opted for a youthful squad for his ABSA Currie Cup coaching debut on Saturday, when the Vodacom Blue Bulls take on the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

He also named former Free State flanker, Lappies Labuschagne, as captain for the season opener. It will be the flanker’s 1st match with the Barberton daisy on the chest, although he has played for the hosts 44 times before he moved to Pretoria.

The squad is packed with players who represented the Junior Springboks in recent years, while some seasoned Springboks add the needed degree of experience.

Making ABSA Currie Cup debuts in the backline for the Vodacom Blue Bulls are Warrick Gelant and Travis Ismaiel, with Hanro Liebenberg, Marvin Orie and Jaco Visagie also running out as Vodacom Blue Bulls Currie Cup players for the 1st time on Saturday. Amongst the replacements, Nqoba Mxoli, RG Snyman, Ivan van Zyl and Dries Swanepoel will all make a 1st Currie Cup appearance, should they be called upon.

Prop Werner Kruger will play in his 98th match in the competition.

“We have a good blend of youth and experience and I hope we can find the right mix in our playing style to add to that,” Marais said.

“I am positive that we can mix it up in our approach, and with a changed mindset we will carry the ball a bit more and use it in a positive way, but you don’t change things overnight, so I am comfortable in the knowledge that we have a good back-up plan too.”

The coach will be in charge in the ABSA Currie Cup for the 1st time, as will his counterpart, Franco Smith.

“We will both be nervous, no doubt, but it will be a positive nervous as we are keen to get this on the road. I am not too worried about the critics, it is those who support us that I am very keen not to disappoint.”

Labuschagne warned of the challenge that the Cheetahs will pose.

“Playing the Blue Bulls is always a massive game for the home side and this time will be no different. We will have to weather the storm and make sure we focus on those things we believe will make us successful. The group believe in each other, but the only way to prove that is out there on the field.”

Vodacom Blue Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Lappies Labuschagne (Captain), 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Nqoba Mxoli, 18 RG Snyman, 19 Roelof Smit, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Dries Swanepoel.

Die Vodacom Blou Bulle het ‘n span met ‘n jeugdige voorkoms gekies vir Saterdag se openingswedstryd van die ABSA Curriebekerseisoen.

Die span se afrigter, Nollis Marais, het Lappies Labuschagne as kaptein aangewys  vir hul wedstryd teen die Toyota Vrystaat Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

Die kantman het voorheen 44 keer vir die Cheetahs in die kompetisie gespeel, maar draf Saterdag vir die 1ste keer met die rooi madeliefie op die bors uit.

Die wedstrydgroep is propvol spelers wat in die onlangse verlede nog vir die Junior Springbokke uitgedraf het, maar ‘n paar Springbokke verskaf ook broodnodige ervaring.

In die beginspan se agterlyn sal Warrick Gelant en Travis Ismaiel hul 1ste verskyning in die land se oudste provinsiale kompetisie maak, terwyl Hanro Liebenberg, Marvin Orie en Jaco Visagie ook hul Blou Bulle-debuut in die toernooi maak.

Onder die plaasvervangers is Nqoba Mxoli, RG Snyman, Ivan van Zyl en Dries Swanepoel almal Curriebeker groentjies.

Daarenteen sal Werner Kruger in sy 98ste wedstryd op die vlak uitdraf.

“Ons het ‘n goeie mengsel van jeug en ervaring en ek hoop ons kan daardie mengsel ook in die manier van speel vind,” het Marais gesê.

“Ek het vertroue in ons vermoë om te kan aanpas wat ons speelstyl aanbetref. Hoewel ons ‘n kopskuif moes maak oor hoe ons die bal gaan gebruik, is daar steeds genoeg ervaring om aanpassings te maak, sou omstandighede dit vereis.”

Die afrigter, sal soos sy eweknie Franco Smith, sy debuut as afrigter op die vlak maak.

“Ons sal seker albei bietjie op ons senuwees wees, maar dit is ‘n positiewe senuweeagtigheid, want ek is gretig om aan die gang te kom. Ek is nie te veel gepla oor kritiek nie, dit is vir my veel belangriker om seker te maak ons stel nie diegene teleur wat ons ondersteun nie.”

Labuschagne ken die Cheetahs se ingesteldheid baie goed.

“Om goed te doen teen die Blou Bulle is altyd ‘n baie belangrike doelwit vir enige Cheetahs span en hierdie wedstryd sal beslis nie anders wees nie. Ons sal daardie aanslag moet verwerk en seker maak ons fokus op die aspekte van die spel wat ons glo ons suksesvol sal maak. Die groep glo in mekaar, maar die enige manier om dit te bewys sal op die veld wees.”

Vodacom Blou Bulle: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Lappies Labuschagne (Kaptein), 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling
Plaasvervangers: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Nqoba Mxoli, 18 RG Snyman, 19 Roelof Smit, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Dries Swanepoel.