Jan Serfontein

Marcel van der Merwe

Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais named Springbok prop Marcel van der Merwe in his starting front-row and added Springbok midfielder Jan Serfontein to his bench for Friday’s ABSA Currie Cup match against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld.

Marais also has Francois Hougaard back in the starting team after the scrumhalf missed last week’s win over the ORC Griquas due to personal reasons. He replaces Ivan van Zyl who moves back to the bench.

Hougaard’s return is the only change in the backline, but Marais made 3 changes in the pack. Van der Merwe comes in for Werner Kruger, who is rested and a fit-again Roelof Smit comes in for Jannes Kirsten at flank, with the latter moving to the bench. In the other change, Dean Greyling will be replaced by Pierre Schoeman. Greyling has a knee strain and with Schoeman fit and ready to go following a long injury lay-off, Marais decided to give Greyling a break.

Under 21 regular Schoeman will make his debut in the competition, but has played for the Blue Bulls in the Vodacom Cup.

Serfontein comes in for Dan Kriel, who will return to the Under 21 team.

“Jan will certainly add some class to our backline. He is in need of game time and there is no need to rush him back, so he will contribute off the bench,” Marais said.

Vodacom Blue Bulls captain, Lappies Labuschagne, is happy to have the Springboks back in the team.

“Both Marcel and Jan were very unlucky to miss out on a World Cup spot, so we are very pleased that they are back to play for us. They will be keen to show why they should have been in the squad and that motivation will spur us on. The Cheetahs are dangerous and have their tails up, so we will need to be sharp on Friday.”

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

• The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd would like to confirm that Flip van der Merwe has been released to join French club Clermont Auvergne.

Die Vodacom Blou Bulle-afrigter, Nollis Marais, het Springbokvaskopstut Marcel van der Merwe in sy beginspan en Springboksenter Jan Serfontein op die plaasvervangerbank ingesluit vir sy span wat Vrydag teen die Toyota Vrystaat Cheetahs in ABSA se Curriebekerkompetisie op Loftus Versfeld speel.

Marais het nog ‘n Springbok, Francois Hougaard, in sy beginspan gekies nadat die skrumskakel nie verlede week beskikbaar was om teen ORC Griekwas te speel nie.

Hy speel in die plek van Ivan van Zyl, wat weer bank toe skuif, in die enigste verandering in die agterlyn. Voorlangs is daar 3 skuiwe.

Van der Merwe begin op vaskopstut in die plek van Werner Kruger, wat ‘n ruskans kry, ‘n fikse Roelof Smit neem weer oor by Jannes Kirsten op flank en die beseerde Dean Greyling word deur Pierre Schoeman op loskop vervang.

Greyling se knie lol en met Schoeman weer fiks na ‘n kniebesering, het Marais op die gewese Junior Springbok se nommer gedruk. Schoeman maak sy debuut op Curriebekervlak, maar het reeds vir die Blou Bulle se Vodacombekerspan gespeel.

Serfontein vervang Dan Kriel, wat terugkeer na die Onder 21’s.

“Jan gaan beslis ‘n nuwe dimensie agterlangs toevoeg. Hy kort bietjie wedstrydfiksheid en aangesien daar geen rede is om hom te vinnig terug te bring nie, sal hy genoeg speeltyd van die bank af kry,” het Marais verduidelik.

Kaptein Lappies Labuschagne is baie bly om die terugkerendes in die span te sien.

“Beide Jan en Marcel kon netsowel in die groep gewees het wat Engeland toe gaan, so ons is baie bly dat hulle nou vir ons speel. Hulle sal gretig wees om te wys waarom hulle in die groep moet wees en ons moet daardie energie benut. Die Vrystaat is ‘n baie gevaarlike span en hulle gaan stert in die lug wees na verlede naweek.”

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

• Die Blou Bulle Maatskappy (Edms) Bpk het bevestig dat Flip van der Merwe van sy kontrak vrygestel is om by Clermont Auvergne aan te sluit.