Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke made five changes to his starting line-up to face the Force in Perth on Saturday, with suspension, rotation and injury forcing his hand.
Three changes are at the back.
Jurgen Visser has recovered from the foot injury that ruled him out of the Waratahs clash shortly before kick-off and slots in at fullback, where he replaces Ulrich Beyers. Francois Hougaard moves back to the base of the scrum following the knee-injury sustained by Piet van Zyl and a fit-again Akona Ndungane returns to his regular spot on the wing.
Bulls Media Release
Ludeke made two changes to his pack as well.
Flip van der Merwe has been suspended for three weeks following a citing for striking an opponent in last weekend’s match against the Waratahs and will be replaced by Paul Willemse. Victor Matfield will take over the captaincy.
In the other change, Ludeke gave Bongi Mbonambi a first start at hooker, will regular Callie Visagie rested. Bandise Maku will make a first appearance on the bench.
Ludeke also re-jigged his bench, where Wimpie van der Walt will get a first run in Vodacom Bulls colours if he takes to the field. Beyers replaces William Small-Smith as utility back.
“We have to get back to winning ways and this is a final opportunity to turn our tour into a positive. If we can bag a win here and add the losing bonus points we collected earlier on tour, the reward would justify the hard work we have put in,” Ludeke said.
Vodacom Bulls (with Super caps): 15 Jurgen Visser (19), 14 Akona Ndungane (102), 13 JJ Engelbrecht (42), 12 Jan Serfontein (21), 11 Bjorn Basson (64), 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter (49), 9 Francois Hougaard (65), 8 Grant Hattingh (28), 7 Jacques du Plessis (10), 6 Jono Ross (12), 5 Victor Matfield (132, Captain), 4 Paul Willemse (13), 3 Werner Kruger (101), 2 Bongi Mbonambi (9), 1 Dean Greyling (47)
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku (49), 17 Mornè Mellett (17), 18 Marcel van der Merwe (12), 19 Wimpie van der Walt (15), 20 Jacques Engelbrecht (21), 21 Rudy Paige (5), 22 Handrè Pollard (7), 23 Ulrich Beyers (8).
Milestones:
- Victor Matfield will extend his South African record for Vodacom Super Rugby caps to 133 and his record as captain for a franchise to 79. He will also extend his record as most experienced Vodacom Bulls player to 125 matches.
- Bongi Mbonambi will make his first start for the Vodacom Bulls, having made his all appearances off the bench.
- Bandise Maku, should he takes to the field, will play in his 50th Vodacom Super Rugby match. Of those 19 were for the Vodacom Bulls, 14 for the Lions and 16 for the Southern Kings. This will also be his first appearance for the Vodacom Bulls in 2014.
- Jacques-Louis Potgieter will also play in his 50th Vodacom Super Rugby match. He will represent the Vodacom Bulls for the 23rd time, having also played for the Toyota Cheetahs 17 times and for the Cell C Sharks 10 times.
- Wimpie van der Walt, should he takes to the field, will make his Vodacom Bulls debut. He has played 15 times for the Southern Kings in 2013.
The backline is fine… apart from the fact that I would bring in William Small-Smith at No 13… but be that as it may, it is the preferred backline of Ludeke, as is.
The freegin Loose Trio worries me no end… in particular ONE freegin position, Openside flank, where we have bloody Jono Ross again, disturbing the whole balance to the trio!!
We have seen time and time again how the real fetchers make a difference… Hooper this past weekend, Heinrich Brussow this past weekend, Marcell Coetzee the whole season… and so we can continue!
The Force are no joke in 2014, and they sport many South Africans who WILL turn it up a notch against fellow South Africans… like Wilhelm Steenkamp (who went to the Force from the self-same Bulls!
Strange, but Hougaard at 9 is a far better prospect than van Zyl.
Not at all convinced with van Zyl so far. He mustn’t come her with his Free State tendencies and try quick taps and any such funny business.
@ nortierd:
Yes people were worried he would have to sit on the bench, but he is lucky to even be there.
@ grootblousmile:
No cover for lock on the bench either.
Ross should be 8th man, Hattingh should be on the bench to replace matfield in the match and Wimpie should get a chance.
3 @ MacroBull:
Grant Hattingh covers lock and would move from No 8 to the covering lock position if needs be, with Vleis Engelbrecht then coming on to play No 8.
In a dramatic situation with Hattingh also injured, Jacques du Plessis could move to lock too.
I have no problem that they have the tall chaps fully covered… the problem I have is playing Jono Ross at all!
@ grootblousmile:
I would prefer Hattingh on the bench – as lock cover only. He’s the weak link in the pack. Ross can play 8 and Wimpie or Vleis 6. Ideally I would go with Wimpie, Vleis and du Plessis with Ross on the bench.
@ nortierd:
@ 2
“Strange, but Hougaard at 9 is a far better prospect than van Zyl”
You might be right Nortried, V Zyl is too fast for the slow thinking Bulls while Hougaard is just a meaningless mayhem at 9
😉
The Bulls certainly threw the towel in with this selection, Chilliboi took them out of contention single hand in 2011-2013 seasons, and now this
Like I said before about Ludeke and Ackers: ‘ Life is hard, it even HARDER when you are a fool’
🙂
@ Blue Traveller:
Ross SHOULD play at 8 because the Bulls have no one else who has the position’s directional play required at 8, and then he is no open side for sure
As a whole the Bulls loose forwards’ combo is too SLOW, Greyling is their fastest forward to reach the breakdown?!
😉
@ Hondo:
Directional play, you say?
The direction in question is away from one’s try line and toward the opponent’s, right?
@ kaksioek:
That is correct, Grant’s GPS is faulty
He is a mobile, high work rate lock but a lousy No8, the Bulls have enough beef without that big chunk Willemse in the Lineup.
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