Dean Greyling

Jan Serfontein

Jan Serfontein will start at inside centre for the Vodacom Blue Bulls when they take on the Xerox Golden Lions in an ABSA Currie Cup match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Serfontein earns a 1st start in the competition and teams up with Dries Swanepoel in the midfield, swopping places with Burger Odendaal, who moves to the bench.

Prop Dean Greyling is also fit again following a knee strain and he slots back into the starting line-up, replacing Pierre Schoeman, who swings back into Under 21 action. It will be Greyling’s 50th appearance for the Vodacom Blue Bulls in the ABSA Currie Cup competition.

Another player returning is Werner Kruger, who will play off the bench and replaces Dayan van der Westhuizen, with the young prop also moving back to the Vodacom Blue Bulls Under 21’s.

In the 3rd change to the squad that fronted up against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs last weekend, Deon Stegmann returns from a cheekbone injury in place of Jannes Kirsten.

“We have a massive challenge this weekend. The Lions have played great rugby for a while now and is not top of the Log for nothing. We are building nicely as the season progresses and we are starting to find our feet and each other, but we are far from the finished product. It will mean that we will have to be at our very best to stay in this one,” Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais said.

Vodacom Blue Bulls captain Lappies Labuschagne said the team is keen to play in this match.

“We have the intensity of a derby match, but also the knowledge that we are playing the team on form in the competition. These types of matches are the ones that test character and we will have to show we have what it takes.“

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

Date: Saturday 12 September
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-Off: 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT)
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant Referees: Jaco Pretorius, Jaco Kotze
TMO: Johan Greeff

Notes:

• Tian Schoeman is the leading points’ scorer in the competition with 86 points (1 try, 15 conversions and 17 penalties). Golden Lions ace Marnitz Boshoff is 2nd with 74.
• Jamba Ulengo is the leading try scorer in the competition (6) alongside Golden Lions flanker Kwagga Smith.
• Dean Greyling will play his 50th match for the Vodacom Blue Bulls in the ABSA Currie Cup competition.

Jan Serfontein sal Saterdag vir die Vodacom Blou Bulle op binnesenter uitdraf wanneer die span die Xerox Goue Leeus in ‘n ABSA Curriebekerwedstryd op Loftus Versfeld pak.

Serfontein begin vir die 1ste keer in vanjaar se kompetisie, nadat hy verlede week teen die Toyota Vrystaat Cheetahs van die plaasvervangerbank gespeel het. Hy ruil plekke met Burger Odendaal, wat nou as troefspeler ingespan word.

Stut Dean Greyling is terug in die voorry nadat ‘n kniebesering hom uit die laaste wedstryd gehou het. Greyling maak sy 50ste verskyning vir die Vodacom Blou Bulle in die ABSA Curriebekerkompetisie en speel in die plek van Pierre Schoeman, wat terugskuif na die Vodacom Blou Bulle Onder 21 span.

Dieselfde gebeur met Dayan van der Weshuizen, wat weer vir die junior span uitdraf, terwyl Werner Kruger terugkeer as 3de stut. Kruger het verlede week gerus.

‘n Derde skuif voorlangs is Deon Stegmann wat terugkeer na sy wangbeenbesering. Stegmann sal van die plaasvervangerbank kom en vervang Jannes Kirsten.

Die Vodacom Blou Bulle se afrigter, Nollis Marais, is deeglik bewus van die kwaai taak wat op sy span wag.

“Hierdie gaan ‘n groot uitdaging wees. Die Leeus speel al ‘n geruime tyd uitstekende rugby en is nie verniet bo-aan die punteleer nie. Ons, daarenteen, begin nou eers mekaar vind en is nog vêr van die finale produk. Dit gaan dus noodwendig beteken dat ons op ons absolute beste sal moet wees om mededingend te wees.”

Die kantman en kaptein, Lappies Labuschagne, glo sy span is reg vir die fel stryd.

“Ons het die intensiteit van die plaaslike derby wat ons sal aanspoor, maar ook die wete dat ons die vormspan in die kompetisie pak, sal verseker die beste uit ons bring. Hierdie wedstryde toets karakter en ons sal hope daarvan moet hê om die Leeus hok te slaan.”

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

Datum: Saterdag 12 September
Plek: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Afskop: 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT)
Skeidsregter: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistent Skeidsregters: Jaco Pretorius, Jaco Kotze
TWB: Johan Greeff

Notas:

• Tian Schoeman is tans die voorste puntemaker in die reeks, met 86 punte (1 drie, 15 doelskoppe en 17 strafdoele). Die Goue Leeus se Marnitz Boshoff is 2de op die lys met 74 punte.
• Jamba Ulengo is saam met die Goue Leeus se Kwagga Smith die voorste driedrukker in die reeks met 6 drieë elk.
• Dean Greyling speel in sy 50ste wedstryd vir die Vodacom Blou Bulle in die ABSA Curriebekerkompetisie.