Jacques du Plessis

Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais named Jacques du Plessis at lock for Friday night’s Absa Currie Cup semifinal match against DHL Western Province at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

Du Plessis was a late withdrawal to the team that out-edged Steval Pumas 25-24 in Nelspruit last weekend, but is ready to take his regular number four spot in the team.

RG Snyman, who replaced Du Plessis for the Pumas match, moves back to the bench for his regular role as impact player, but his replacement in Nelspruit, Jason Jenkins, retains his spot on the bench.

Jenkins will take over from Ruan Steenkamp as the fourth loose forward as Marais opted for more bulk and size coming from the bench.

“This is what we trained for, to put ourselves in a position where we can win the Currie Cup,” Marais said.

“A semifinal is a difficult match. You play to win and survive, but it does not mean a trophy yet. You have to go and do it all over again a week later. But, if you lose, your season is over. We are determined not for that to happen to us.”

Vodacom Blue Bulls captain, LappiesLabuschagne, feels that the Blue Bulls proved they are good enough to win this match.

“We have won one match each in our clashes this year, but I believe we got enough out of those matches to feel that we can win. They are a very dangerous side and have some of the best runners in the country in their team. That said, we also carry some big guns in our team and that is why we are able to host this match in front of our fans. We will leave nothing out there, that is a guarantee.”

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 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 Corniel Els, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 RG Snyman, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 William Small-Smith.

Date: Friday 16 October
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-Off: 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT)
Referee: Pro Legoete
Assistant Referees: Stuart Berry, Quinton Immelman
TMO: Christie du Preez

Be part of the Bulls family and get down to Loftus for the epic semifinal of the ABSA Currie Cup between the Vodacom Blue Bulls and DHL Western Province on Friday 16 October 2015 at 19:00 SA Time. Tickets are selling fast, get your tickets NOW from just R 40.00 at bulls.ticketpro.co.za or at The Loftus Ticket Office.

Die Vodacom Blou Bulle afrigter, Nollis Marais, span die slot Jacques du Plessis in sy gebruiklike Nr 4 trui in vir Vrydag se ABSA Curriebekerhalfeindstryd teen DHL Westelike Provinsie. Du Plessis het kort voor die afskop van verlede naweek se sege teen die Steval Pumas weens ongesteldheid uit die span onttrek en sy plek is deur RG Snyman ingeneem.

Met Du Plessis weer op sy pos, skuif Snyman terug na die plaasvervangerbank. Jason Jenkins, wat Snyman se plek op die bank teen die Pumas volgestaan het, bly op die bank, die keer in die plek van Ruan Steenkamp.

Volgens Marais is hierdie wedstryd die geleentheid waarvoor die span die hele seisoen al wag.

“Dit is waarvoor ons geoefen het, om onsself in ‘n posisie te kan kry waar ons kan meeding om die Curriebeker te wen. ‘n Halfeindwedstryd is ‘n taaie. Jy moet wen en dan alles oordoen vir die eindstryd, so eintlik het jy nog niks bereik nie. Maar verloor jy, is jou seisoen verby. Die span is baie gemotiveerd dat dit nie met ons gaan gebeur nie,” het Marais gesê.

Die Blou Bulle-kaptein, Lappies Labuschagne, meen sy span kan die knoop deurhak. “Ons het die WP hier geklop en daar teen hulle vasgeval, so die span weet al te goed hoe taai die wedstryd gaan wees. Die feit dat ons ‘n tuisveld semi kon losspeel, beteken wel baie, want dit was ‘n beloning vir ons getroue ondersteuners en ‘n aanduiding dat ons heelwat dinge reg gedoen het tot nou toe. Die WP het van die gevaarlikste spelers in die land, maar ons het self ‘n paar groot kanonne. Een ding is seker, ons gaan alles gee Vrydag.”

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 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 Corniel Els, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 RG Snyman, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 William Small-Smith.

Datum: Vrydag 16 Oktober
Plek: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Afskop: 19:00 SA Tyd (17:00 GMT)
Skeidsregter: Pro Legoete
Assistent Skeidsregters: Stuart Berry, Quinton Immelman
TWB: Christie du Preez

Wees deel van die Bulle-familie en ruk op Loftus toe vir die epiese ABSA Curriebeker halfeindstryd tussen die Vodacom Blou Bulle en DHL Westelike Provinsie. Die afskop is Vrydag 16 Oktober om 19:00 SA Tyd. Kaartjies verkoop vinnig, so kry joune by bulls.ticketpro.co.za of die Loftus kaartjieskantoor.