Lappies Labuschagne

Lappies Labuschagne will on Friday play in his 50^th ABSA Currie Cup match when he leads the Vodacom Blue Bulls on the field in Durban for their clash against the Cell C Sharks.

The flanker reverts back to the side of the scrum due to the wrist injury to Roelof Smit (see below), with Arno Botha, who started on the bench against DHL WP last week, back in the No 8 jersey.

This is the only change to the pack made by Vodacom Blue Bulls coach, Nollis Marais, with 2 rotational switches in the backline made for the Durban clash.

Tian Schoeman and Jan Serfontein will start at flyhalf and centre respectively, switching places with Louis Fouché and Dries Swanepoel, who both move to the bench for this clash.

Ruan Steenkamp is on the bench for Botha, in what could be a Vodacom Blue Bulls and ABSA Currie Cup debut, should the former Junior Springboks captain take to the field.

“I feel for Roelof who will miss this match, as he has played very well over the last couple of weeks,” Marais said. “That said, Arno is a Springbok and coming back to his best after a long time out of the game and I predict a strong game from him.”

Marais also tweaked his inside backs with the Sharks in mind.

“We wanted to play a particular way in Cape Town and selected a team accordingly. The same applies with this match in Durban. We need to get back into a winning rhythm again and I believe this team will be able to take us there.”

Labuschagne does not worry about his milestone too much, but is rather focused on a good team performance.

“It is nice to play 50 matches in the ABSA Currie Cup. It remains 1 of the best competitions to be involved in, but to be honest, the team comes before that. We need to step up to the mark we left earlier in the season. We slipped off the pace in the last 2 weeks, so everyone is aware of the urgency and accuracy we need if we want to beat the Sharks in Durban.”

Vodacom Blue Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Lappies Labuschagne (Captain), 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 RG Snyman, 19 Ruan Steenkamp, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Dries Swanepoel.

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant Referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Jaco Pretorius
TMO: Marius Jonker

Notes:

• Lappies Labuschagne will play in his 50^th ABSA Currie Cup match, of which 42 came in the colours of the Toyota Free State Cheetahs.
• If he takes to the field, Ruan Steenkamp will make his debut for the team and in the competition.
• Roelof Smit underwent an operation on Tuesday to repair torn wrist ligaments and will be out for 4 weeks.
• Jannes Kirsten had an operation on Wednesday to repair torn ankle ligaments. He will be out for 3 months.

Lappies Labuschagne draf Vrydag in sy 50ste ABSA Curriebekerwedstryd op die veld wanneer die Vodacom Blou Bulle teen die Cell C Haaie speel.

Die kantman skuif van agtsteman, waar hy verlede week teen DHL WP gespeel het, na die kant van die skrum en lei ‘n beginspan met 3 nuwe gesigte in Durban op die veld.

Met Roelof Smit beseer (sien onder), skuif Labuschagne terug flank toe en dra Arno Botha die Nr 8 trui op Growthpoint Kings Park.

Botha het verlede week die bank op DHL Nuweland gedeel met Tian Schoeman en Jan Serfontein, wat altwee in die beginspan opgeneem is. Hulle speel in die plekke van Louis Fouché en Dries Swanepoel, wat beide as troefspelers ingespan sal word.

Die Vodacom Blou Bulle-afrigter, Nollis Marais, het ook vir Ruan Steenkamp as plaasvervanger gekies om Botha se plek op die bank te vul. Sou hy opdraf, sal dit die voormalige Junior Springbok kaptein se 1ste verskyning vir die Vodacom Blou Bulle en in die ABSA Curriebekerkompetisie wees.

“Ek voel jammer vir Roelof, want hy het lekker rugby gespeel die afgelope paar weke,” het Marais gesê. “Dit gesê, Arno is ‘n Springbok en kom nou mooi terug nadat hy lank uit rugby was. Ek verwag ‘n stewige vertoning van hom Vrydagaand.

Die breier se taktiese skuiwe agterlangs is gedoen met die teenstander in gedagte. “Ons het ‘n span gekies wat ‘n spesifieke taak teen die WP moes uitvoer en het dieselfde benadering teen die Haaie. Ons moet vinnig terugkom in die wêngewoonte en ek dink die span kan dit regkry.”

Labuschagne slaan nie veel ag op die vyftigtal nie.

“Dit is lekker om 50 wedstryde te kan speel in die Curriebeker, want dit bly steeds een van die beste kompetisies wat mens kry, maar hierdie gaan oor die span en wat ons moet doen om ‘n goeie vertoning te lewer. Ons moet weer die standaarde van vroeër in die seisoen bereik. Ons het die laaste 2 weke pas verloor, so almal is deeglik bewus van die dringendheid en akkuraatheid wat ons in spel gaan nodig kry om ‘n gedugte teenstander soos die Haaie te kan verslaan.”

Vodacom Blou Bulle: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Lappies Labuschagne (Kaptein), 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Plaasvervangers: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 RG Snyman, 19 Ruan Steenkamp, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Dries Swanepoel.

Skeidsregter: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistent Skeidsregters: Lourens van der Merwe, Jaco Pretorius
TWB: Marius Jonker

Notas:

• Lappies Labuschagne draf in sy 50ste ABSA Curriebekerwedstryd op die veld, met 42 daarvan in die kleure van die Toyota Vrystaat Cheetahs.
• As hy speelkans kry, sal dit Ruan Steenkamp se 1ste verskyning vir die Vodacom Blou Bulle en in die ABSA Curriebekerkompetisie wees.
• Roelof Smit het Dinsdag ‘n operasie ondergaan om geskeurde polsgewrigligamente te heg en hy sal vir 4 weke buite aksie wees.
• Jannes Kirsten was Woensdag geopereer om geskeurde enkelligamente te heg en sal 3 maande buite aksie wees.