Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais named flanker Lappies Labuschagne as captain of the Vodacom Blue Bulls team to face Japanese outfit Canon Eagles, in Machida, Tokyo on Friday.
The starting team is packed with players who have played in the Vodacom Super Rugby tournament this year, with only former Springbok Sevens speedsters, Warrick Gelant (fullback), Jamba Ulengo (wing) and former Junior Springbok Dries Swanepoel, who have not played at that level before.
Marais included Springboks Deon Stegmann, Werner Kruger, Arno Botha, Francois Hougaard and Dean Greyling, with Bandise Maku playing off the bench.
“This is a great opportunity for us to get into the thick of things in an unfamiliar environment. We have been treated wonderfully well and I want to thank our hosts, but come Friday, we will not be treated with gloves anymore. We are expecting a tough encounter from a team packed with quality players. This is a final test to our preparations and we need to make the most of it,” Marais said.
Vodacom Blue Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Louis Fouché, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Lappies Labuschagne (Captain), 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling
Replacements – from: Bandise Maku, Andrew Beerwinkel, Rudolph Snyman, Roelof Smit, Ivan van Zyl, Tian Schoeman, Willam Small-Smith, Nqoba Mxoli, Hanro Liebenberg, Dan Kriel, Jannes Kirsten, Kefentse Mahlo.
Date: Friday 31 July
Venue: Machida Athletic Stadium, Tokyo
Kick-Off: 12:05 SA Time (19:05 Tokyo Time, 10:05 GMT)
Match Officials: TBC
Die Vodacom Blou Bulle-afrigter, Nollis Marais, het flank Lappies Labuschagne aangewys as die kaptein van die span wat Vrydag in Machida, Tokio teen die Canon Eagles op die veld sal draf. Die beginspan is gepak met spelers wat Vodacom Super Rugby-ervaring het, met slegs Warrick Gelant (heelagter), Jamba Ulengo (vleuel) en Dries Swanepoel (senter) wat nog nie op daardie vlak uitgedraf het nie.
Marais het die Springbokke Deon Stegmann, Werner Kruger, Arno Botha, Francois Hougaard en Dean Greyling in die beginspan en Bandise Maku op die bank gekies.
“Hierdie is ‘n uitstekende én laaste geleentheid vir ons om onder vreemde omstandighede en omgewing onder druk geplaas te word. Ons is fantasties behandel en ek bedank graag ons gashere daarvoor, maar Vrydag op die veld gaan dit ‘n ander storie wees. Ons verwag ‘n taai wedstryd teen ‘n teenstander met klomp ervare en bewese rugbyspelers. Dit is die finale toets in ons voorbereidingsfase en ons moet die meeste maak daarvan,” het Marais gesê.
Vodacom Blou Bulle: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Louis Fouché, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Lappies Labuschagne (Kaptein), 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling
Plaasvervangers – vanuit: Bandise Maku, Andrew Beerwinkel, Rudolph Snyman, Roelof Smit, Ivan van Zyl, Tian Schoeman, Willam Small-Smith, Nqoba Mxoli, Hanro Liebenberg, Dan Kriel, Jannes Kirsten, Kefentse Mahlo.
Datum: Vrydag 31 Julie
Speelveld: Machida Athletic Stadium, Tokyo
Afskoptyd: 12:05 SA Tyd (19:05 Tokyo Tyd, 10:05 GMT)
Wedstrydbeamptes: Sal aangekondig word