Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke will look at his next generation Vodacom Bulls players to deliver the goods in the Vodacom Super Rugby season after he named a youthful looking side to face the Cell C Sharks in the season’s opener in Durban on Saturday.
Regular captain Pierre Spies will lead a team on the field with a number of players on debut and a number of others with only a handful of caps, but will also have the luxury of Victor Matfield on the bench.
Matfield will join former Sharks AJ Venter and John Smit in becoming the most capped South African Vodacom Super Rugby players and will play in his 125th match at this level.
Media Release
Deon Stegmann (groin) failed a fitness test on Wednesday and was not considered, which will give Jono Ross a starting opportunity in the number 6 jersey. His fellow flanker, Jacques du Plessis, will play in the number seven jersey for the first time after an appearance at lock in his Super Rugby debut in 2013.
Springbok scrumhalf Piet van Zyl, who joined from the Toyota Cheetahs, will play off the bench, as will Jacques Engelbrecht, who joined from the Southern Kings.
Ludeke was confident that he picked the right combinations for the opening match.
“We have identified certain areas where we will have to dominate and I think we have the right combinations in place to achieve that. This is going to be a typical South African derby with a lot of focus on the breakdown and to dominate the advantage line,” he predicted.
“We respect the Sharks, but if we are accurate and play our rugby in the right areas of the field, we should get some reward for that. Our focus will be to execute and to make sure that we protect our ball, as the Sharks will be keen to counter whenever we turn over possession.”
On Matfield’s inclusion, Ludeke said: “We all know what Victor is capable of. He showed in training and our friendly match that he is still right up there amongst the best and I am confident that he will make a telling contribution when called upon.”
Vodacom Bulls captain Pierre Spies said his side does not mind the ‘underdog’ status in Durban.
“The Sharks should be one of the pre-tournament favourites. They have a lot of Springboks in their team, have loads of experience in the decision-making positions and will be playing in front of a very passionate crowd. This is exactly the type of challenges we like as a team and will go to Durban with a lot of determination and motivation.
“We have some goals to achieve and worked hard to make sure we are ready to compete against any team at any venue. The younger guys in our team bring a lot of energy to our effort and I am pretty pleased to have them in my side, rather than playing against them,” Spies said.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser (11), 14 Akona Ndungane (96), 13 JJ Engelbrecht (33), 12 Jan Serfontein (12), 11 Bjorn Basson (55), 10 Louis Fouchè (21), 9 Francois Hougaard (56), 8 Pierre Spies (Captain, 102), 7 Jacques du Plessis (1), 6 Jono Ross (4), 5 Flip van der Merwe (63), 4 Paul Willemse (5), 3 Werner Kruger (92), 2 Callie Visagie (23), 1 Dean Greyling (38).
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi (2), 17 Frik Kirsten (31), 18 Marcel van der Merwe (3), 19 Victor Matfield (124), 20 Jacques Engelbrecht (14), 21 Piet van Zyl (32), 22 Handrè Pollard (0), 23 Ulrich Beyers (0).
Notes:
- If they take to the field, Handrè Pollard, Piet van Zyl, Jacques Engelbrecht, Ulrich Beyers and Marcel van der Merwe will all make their Vodacom Bulls debuts. Van Zyl (Cheetahs, 32 caps), Van der Merwe (Cheetahs, 3 caps) and Engelbrecht (Kings, 14 caps) have played for other franchises.
- If he takes to the field, Victor Matfield will become the second most capped Bulls player in VSR history (117 matches), only behind Mornè Steyn (123). He will also equal John Smit and AJ Venter (125 matches) as the most experienced South African player in VSR (117 Bulls, 8 Cats).
- Francois Hougaard is one try away from 100 VSR points.
- Coach Frans Ludeke (116 matches) will extend his record as the most experienced South African Super Rugby coach. He will also be the most experienced coach in the competition across all franchises.
Die Vodacom Bulls se afrigter, Frans Ludeke, het sy troewe in die hande van verskeie opkomende Vodacom Bulls sterre geplaas toe hy sy span vir hul openingswedstryd in die Vodacom Super Rugby kompetisie komende Saterdag in Durban teen die Cell C Sharks gekies het.
Die gereelde kaptein en agtsteman, Pierre Spies, sal ‘n span op die veld lei met verskeie spelers wat hul debuut vir die Bulls gaan maak of slegs ‘n handvol wedstryde op die vlak gespeel het.
Spies het darem die luukse van Victor Matfield as plaasvervanger. Matfield kan hom by AJ Venter en John Smit aansluit as die land se mees ervare Super Rugby speler sou hy in sy 125ste wedstryd uitdraf.
Deon Stegmann is weens ‘n liesbesering nie oorweeg nie en Jono Ross sal die belangrike nommersestrui dra, terwyl sy mede-kantman, Jacques du Plessis, vir die eerste keer die nommersewe op die rug gaan hê. Du Plessis het verlede seisoen sy Super Rugby debuut op slot gemaak.
Die Springbok-skrumskakel Piet van Zyl, wat van die Toyota Cheetahs aangesluit het, sal van die plaasvervangerbank af speel, soos Jacques Engelbrecht, wat verlede seisoen vir die Southern Kings in die kompetisie uitgedraf het.
Ludeke meen hulle het die regte kombinasies gekies vir die wedstryd.
“Ons het sekere aspekte van die spel uitgeken waar ons wil domineer en ek meen ons het die regte kombinasies gekies om dit reg te kry. Dit gaan ‘n tipiese Suid-Afrikaanse derbystryd wees met fisieke konfrontasies en ‘n fel stryd rondom die afbreekpunt en die voordeellyn,” glo hy.
“Ons het baie respek vir die Sharks, maar as ons akkuraat is en die regte rugby in die regte areas van die veld kan speel, is daar nie ‘n rede waarom ons nie suksesvol kan wees nie. Ons fokus sal beslis op goeie balbehoud moet wees, want die Sharks gaan daarop uit wees om van omgekeerde besit aan te val.”
Hy meen Matfield se insluiting was ‘n gegewe. “Ons almal weet waartoe hy in staat is en hy het in die oefensessies en in ons opwarmingswedstryd gewys die vaardighede is nog daar.”
Die Vodacom Bulls kaptein, Pierre Spies, meen dit pas sy span dat die Sharks as gunstelinge beskou word.
“Hulle kan met reg as een van die toernooi-gunstelinge beskryf word. Daar is ‘n klomp ervare Springbokke in hul span, hulle het baie goeie spelers in die besluitnemingsposisies en sal voor ‘n toegewyde skare speel. Dit is egter juis sulke tipe uitdagings wat ons as ‘n Bulls-span wil aangryp en bemeester,” het hy gesê.
“Ons het sekere doelwitte wat ons wil bereik en het hard gewerk om seker te maak ons kan kompetered wees teen enige span op enige veld. Die jonger spelers in die span bring ongelooflike energie en dit spoor almal aan. Ek is bly ek speel saam met hulle, eerder as teen hulle.”
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser (11), 14 Akona Ndungane (96), 13 JJ Engelbrecht (33), 12 Jan Serfontein (12), 11 Bjorn Basson (55), 10 Louis Fouchè (21), 9 Francois Hougaard (56), 8 Pierre Spies (Kaptein, 102), 7 Jacques du Plessis (1), 6 Jono Ross (4), 5 Flip van der Merwe (63), 4 Paul Willemse (5), 3 Werner Kruger (92), 2 Callie Visagie (23), 1 Dean Greyling (38).
Plaasvervangers: 16 Bongi Mbonambi (2), 17 Frik Kirsten (31), 18 Marcel van der Merwe (3), 19 Victor Matfield (124), 20 Jacques Engelbrecht (14), 21 Piet van Zyl (32), 22 Handrè Pollard (0), 23 Ulrich Beyers (0).
Notas:
- As hulle speelkans kry, sal Handrè Pollard, Piet van Zyl, Jacques Engelbrecht, Ulrich Beyers en Marcel van der Merwe hul Super Rugby-debuut vir die Vodacom Bulls maak. Van Zyl (Cheetahs, 32 wedstryde), Van der Merwe (Cheetahs, 3) en Engelbrecht (Kings, 14) het vir ander spanne in die toernooi gespeel.
- As hy opdraf sal Victor Matfield die Vodacom Bulls se tweede mees ervare speler in Super Rugby word. Dit sal sy 117de wedstryd wees, met slegs Mornè Steyn (123) wat meer gespeel het. Matfield kan hom by AJ Venter en John Smit aansluit as die land se mees ervare Super Rugby speler sou hy in sy 125ste wedstryd (117 Bulls, 8 Cats) uitdraf.
- Francois Hougaard is een drie weg van 100 Vodacom Super Rugby punte.
- Afrigter Frans Ludeke (116 wedstryde) sal die rekord as mees ervare Suid-Afrikaanse afrigter in Super Rugby verbeter. Hy is ook die mees ervare van die 15 afrigters in die kompetisie.
Phweeew, very worried about THIS Bulls team!
Should have had Frik Kirsten at No 3 (tighthead), Wiaan Liebenberg at No 6 (openside flank), Jacques “Vleis” Engelbrecht at No 7 (blindside flank)!
Let’s hope Frans Ludeke knows something we don’t know….
@ grootblousmile:
Echoing my thoughts exactly. It is going to be hard enough to win, but to make it more difficult for themselves by not picking the right personnel…
I just hope du Plessis and Ross have improved since last year. This is the time to put your hand up and say – I belong.
die sharks losvoorspelers gaan ons absoluut verniel.
Dis die eerste game. Een van twee dinge kan gebeur. Bulle kook of Bulle word heeltemal oordonner.
Ek pick no. 1.
Ons gaan hard en met mening begin, amper soos die Kings laasjaar.
Hel ek moet n paar rand try op n briljante Bulls wen. Dink net daardie opskudding.
Hulle sal skoon daai omgevalde Voldy site moet regop trek om die Sharkies n veilige tuiste te gee.
eish n vleuel op senter twee stutte wat nie kan scrum nie en dup die lomppert op flank,shit dit gaan verhel gaan
@ superBul:
haha ja ALLES binne my se die sharks gaan ons ‘n pakslae gee, maar tog wil ek R100 op die game sit vir die bulls teen 2.25, R10 op ‘n gelykop uitslag teen 25.
Oooooohhhhh, not the best choice of team.
I really hope that they smash the Sharks.
In reality the only good thing about this Bulls about this team is the midfield combination.
As much as I hate to say it, the Springok laden Sharks team should smash this Bulls team by 20 points.
I have never seen a Bulls team lie down and accept defeat, this team will be no different. It will be a tough uncompromising match. Home advantage should favour the Sharks, but it will be closer than some people think.
Why, oh why, did the draw pick the Cheetahs vs Lions as our opening match. I would have loved to have seen the inexperienced Lions side against this Bulls combo.
The Cell C Sharks
15. SP Marais
14. Odwa Ndungane
13. Paul Jordaan
12. Frans Steyn
11. Lwazi Mvovo
10. Patrick Lambie
9. Cobus Reinach
8. Ryan Kankowski
7. Willem Alberts
6. Marcell Coetzee
5. Pieter-Steph du Toit
4. Anton Bresler
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Bismarck du Plessis (Captain)
1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements
16. Kyle Cooper
17. Dale Chadwick
18. Lourens Adriaanse
19. Stephan Lewies
20. Jean Deysel
21. Charl McLeod
22. Heimar Williams
23. S’bura Sithole
The Cell C Sharks
15. SP Marais vs Jurgen Visser (Sharks)
14. Odwa Ndungane vs Akona Ndungane (Equal)
13. Paul Jordaan vs JJ Engelbrecht (Bulls)
12. Frans Steyn vs Jan Serfontein (Equal)
11. Lwazi Mvovo vs Bjorn Basson (Bulls)
10. Patrick Lambie vs Louis Fouchè (Sharks)
9. Cobus Reinach vs Francois Hougaard (Bulls)
8. Ryan Kankowski vs Pierre Spies (Equal)
7. Willem Alberts vs Jacques du Plessis (Sharks)
6. Marcell Coetzee vs Jono Ross (Sharks)
5. Pieter-Steph du Toit vs Flip van der Merwe (Bulls)
4. Anton Bresler vs Paul Willemse (Equal)
3. Jannie du Plessis vs Werner Kruger (Bulls)
2. Bismarck du Plessis vs Callie Visagie (Sharks)
1. Tendai Mtawarira vs Dean Greyling (Sharks)
Replacements
16. Kyle Cooper vs Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks)
17. Dale Chadwick vs Frik Kirsten (Bulls)
18. Lourens Adriaanse vs Marcel van der Merwe (Equal)
19. Stephan Lewies vs Victor Matfield (Bulls)
20. Jean Deysel vs Jacques Engelbrecht (Sharks)
21. Charl McLeod vs Piet van Zyl (Equal)
22. Heimar Williams vs Handrè Pollard (Bulls)
23. S’bura Sithole vs Ulrich Beyers (Sharks)
Starting:
Sharks – 6
Bulls – 5
Equal – 4
Bench:
Sharks – 3
Bulls – 3
Equal – 2
Close matchup in my opinion. Will a yellow to Flip or Jannie make a difference in the game?
Snoek wrote:
Equally shit!
How can these 2 be equal? – Odwa Ndungane vs Akona Ndungane (Equal) – that’s just racist
Snoek wrote:
Fixed for you!
jokes aside, disagree on a few
Cobus Reinach vs Francois Hougaard (Bulls) – equal
Pieter-Steph du Toit vs Flip van der Merwe (Bulls) – equal
Anton Bresler vs Paul Willemse (Equal) – Bulls (by some distance)
Jannie du Plessis vs Werner Kruger (Bulls) – joking right? Werner should not even be in the group
Heimar Williams vs Handrè Pollard (Bulls) – Centre vs. fly-half and Williams already had a good season and Pollard not – so Sharks on this one
Men against boys………………Sharks by 15.
Loosehead wrote:
Agree
Gena_ZA wrote:
They have been equal since birth. Blame the parents 🙂
Loosehead wrote:
Thanks, Wings would change as well. You do know a team exist apart from the front row
Gena_ZA wrote:
Cobus very eratic imo.
Pieter and Flip I might agree.
Paul is kak
Jannie is kak
Point taken on Heimar/Polard
11 @ Snoek:
Snoek that is a great Sharks side. My only complaint would be that I would rather McLeod started and also have Sweil on the bench to cover flyhalf and fullback and leave out H. Williams or Sibura as we now don’t have cover for flyhalf or Fullback. I would rather have Fred on the bench than Sweil but Fred only covers flyhalf. Other than that is a powerful team Jake has put out.
Remember as well the weather is bloody cooking hot here and the humidity is extreme right now. Saturday is forecast for hotter and humidity higher. So expecting a hard fought battle like we had against Stormers last year when the weather was similar. As long as we come out with a win I will be happy bonus points can come later.
Also like the fact that we have Deysel covering Alberts. They are like for like and one comes off we have a fresh player in the same mold. Gonna be a great game to watch just doubt we will see a lot of running. For me I think Frans Steyn and Serfontein I would give that one most definitely to the Sharks bud.
Go Sharks! 🙂
18 @ Snoek:
Kanko was absolutely brilliant for us at the end of 2012 he sorted out our lineout then and his play was out of the top drawer. So hoping to see that Kanko play on Saturday. If Jake is starting him ahead of Tera and Keegan then you know Kanko is playing well and fit and ready this year.
16 @ Gena_ZA:
Agree there.
Snoek wrote:
Biggest engine in the world is Loftus Versfeld. Every time the Blue Bulls gets a try 50,000 tappets jumps up and down!
26 @ Loosehead:
Hahahaha
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