Vodacom Bulls calls on Stegmann and Olivier

May 1 • General News, South Africa, Super Rugby, Super Rugby News • 4001 Views • Comments Off on Vodacom Bulls calls on Stegmann and Olivier

The return to fitness of flanker Deon Stegmann, fullback Jürgen Visser and midfielder Wynand Olivier prompted Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke to make three changes to his side for their clash against the Hurricanes at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Stegmann recovered from bruised ribs and will again wear the number 6 jersey in this Vodacom Super Rugby match, with Dewald Potgieter moving to the other side of the scrum where he replaces Arno Botha.

Botha moves to the bench, where he will find two new faces. Frik Kirsten is back from his elbow strain and replaces Hencus van Wyk and Grant Hattingh’s broken thumb has healed. He will take Wilhelm Steenkamp’s place on the bench.

Kirsten only missed last weekend’s action, but Hattingh last played for the Bulls against the Reds in Brisbane.

Olivier has recovered from a knee injury sustained against the Crusaders during the Australasian tour and will replace Jan Serfontein, who has a niggle and will be rested.

Jürgen Visser was a late withdrawal from the Bulls side to beat the Waratahs last weekend and was replaced by Ulrich Beyers. He has now being declared fit and will start at fullback in place of Beyers.

Coach Frans Ludeke was looking for a solid performance ahead of the team’s bye next week.

“We are in control of our own destiny at this stage and that is exactly where we want to be. This means that we are doing some things right, but we all realise that we are also not accurate enough in other phases.”

Ludeke was happy with the work done this week in the set-pieces and acknowledge this as an area where they traditionally attacked the Hurricanes.

“They are a very dangerous side when there is broken field and open play, so we need to make sure we dominate territory and possession and win the gain line battle.”

Vodacom Bulls captain Pierre Spies said that their defence will hold the key.

“We will have to be strong in defence. We leaked some unnecessary tries last weekend and we are not happy about that. The Hurricanes are known for their fantastic attack, so we need a very disciplined and determined approach on defence.”

The Vodacom Bulls team (with number of Super Rugby caps) is: Jürgen Visser (5), Akona Ndungane (89), JJ Engelbrecht (25), Wynand Olivier (107), Bjorn Basson (47), Mornè Steyn (115), Jano Vermaak (97), Pierre Spies (98, c), Dewald Potgieter (59), Deon Stegmann (67), Juandrè Kruger (26), Flip van der Merwe (56), Werner Kruger (84), Chiliboy Ralepelle (61), Dean Greyling (32). REPLACEMENTS: Willie Wepener (60), Frik Kirsten (23), Grant Hattingh (14), Arno Botha (18), Francois Hougaard (49), Louis Fouchè (18), Lionel Mapoe (36).

Milestones:

•Mornè Steyn will equal the career record of most appearances for the Vodacom Bulls in Super Rugby. The record of 116 matches is held by Victor Matfield and Danie Rossouw. Steyn is already the most experienced Vodacom Bulls backline player of all times.

•Steyn could also extend a number of his 1333 Vodacom Super Rugby career points. Already the second highest points’ scorer of all time in the competition and the second player past 1300 career points, the flyhalf could improve on his South African records of 249 penalties, 223 conversions and the tournament record of 25 drop goals. He has also scored 13 tries.

•Francois Hougaard will play in his 50^th match for the Vodacom Bulls if he takes the field

•Flip van der Merwe will play in his 50^th match for the Vodacom Bulls. He also played six times for the Toyota Cheetahs

Vodacom Bulls kies Stegmann, Olivier

Die Vodacom Bulls baljagter Deon Stegmann, heelagter Jürgen Visser en senter Wynand Olivier is weer fiks en gekies om Saterdag teen die Hurricanes in ‘n Vodacom Super Rugby-wedstryd op Loftus Versfeld te speel.

Stegmann het verlede week se wedstryd teen die Waratahs weens seer ribbes misgeloop, maar is terug in die nommersestrui, met Dewald Potgieter wat terugskuif na die ander kant van die skrum. Potgieter vervang Arno Botha, wat as troefspeler van die bank gebruik sal word.

Botha vervang Jacques Potgieter op die plaasvervangerbank, en is een van drie nuwe gesigte daar.

Grant Hattingh, wat sy duim teen die Reds gebreek het, is reg en vervang Wilhelm Steenkamp, terwyl Frik Kirsten van sy elmboogbesering herstel het en by Hencus van Wyk oorneem as plaasvervanger-stut.

Jürgen Visser moes onttrek voor die Waratahs-wedstryd omdat sy lamboud nie genoegsaaam herstel het nie en is deur Ulrich Beyers vervang.

Hy is fiks verklaar en speel heelagter.

Olivier, wat sy knie teen die Crusaders tydens die Bulls se toer in Australasië beseer het, speel in Jan Serfontein se plek. Serfontein het ‘n ligte skeet of twee en kry ruskans.

Die Vodacom Bulls-afrigter, Frans Ludeke, glo die span is in beheer van sy vordering in die kompetisie.

“Ons is in ‘n goeie posisie op die punteleer en dit sal van onsself afhang of ons dit kan behou. Dit beteken dat ons sekere dinge reg doen, maar die spelers is die eerste om te erken dat daar areas is waaraan ons harder moet werk.”

Volgens Ludeke is harde werk vandeesweek ingesit om seker te maak die span se vaste fasette werk seepglad.

“Ons het in die verlede baie sukses teen die Hurricanes in die afdeling van die spel gekry, so sal weer so wil maak. Ons sal hulle van balbesit moet ontneem,ons rugby in die regte areas van die veld moet speel en seker maak ons gee hulle nie enige kanse in gebroke spel nie, want dit is waar die Hurricanes op hul gevaarlikste is.”

Die Vodacom Bulls span (met getal Super-wedstryde) is: Jürgen Visser, Akona Ndungane (89), JJ Engelbrecht (25), Wynand Olivier (107), Bjorn Basson (47), Mornè Steyn (115), Jano Vermaak (97), Pierre Spies (98, k), Dewald Potgieter (59), Deon Stegmann (67), Juandrè Kruger (26), Flip van der Merwe (56), Werner Kruger (84), Chiliboy Ralepelle (61), Dean Greyling (32). PLAASVERVANGERS: Willie Wepener (60), Frik Kirsten (23), Grant Hattingh (14), Arno Botha (18), Francois Hougaard (49), Louis Fouchè (18), Lionel Mapoe (36).

Mylpale:

•Mornè Steyn ewenaar die Vodacom Bulls rekord vir meeste verskynings in Super Rugby. Danie Rossouw en Victor Matfield het 116 keer vir die Bulls uitgedraf. Hy kan ook verskeie punterekords verbeter. Steyn (1333 punte) is slegs die tweede speler om 1300 punte in Vodacom Super Rugby aan te teken en kan sy Suid-Afrikaanse rekords vir strafdoele (249), doelskoppe (223) en die toernooirekord van 25 skepdoele te verbeter. Steyn het ook 13 drieë op sy kerfstok.

•Francois Hougaard sal in sy 50ste wedstryd vir die Vodacom Bulls speel as hy speelkans kry.

•Flip van der Merwe speel in sy 50ste wedstryd vir die Vodacom Bulls. Hy het ook ses wedstryde vir die Toyota Cheetahs gespeel.