Blue Bulls make 6 changes to their starting line up

Sep 25 • General News, National, South Africa • 3617 Views • Comments Off on Blue Bulls make 6 changes to their starting line up

The recall of a fit-again Handrè Pollard, first starts to William Small-Smith and David Bullbring and returns for Sampie Mastriet and Marcel van der Merwe highlights the Vodacom Blue Bulls team announcement ahead of their Absa Currie Cup clash against GWK Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday.

In all, Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar made six changes to his starting line-up, with Jurgen Visser also returning at fullback and Clayton Blommetjies dropping to the bench.

Pollard missed last week’s clash against the MTN Golden Lions due to an ankle injury and comes in for Tony Jantjies, whilst Mastriet made way for Springbok Bjorn Basson’s cameo appearance for the team. Van der Merwe replaces injured Mornè Mellett as loose head prop.

Small-Smith and Bullbring have not started an Absa Currie Cup match for the Vodacom Blue Bulls yet. The outside centre swops places with Ulrich Beyers, who moves to the bench, whilst Bullbring comes in for Wilhelm Steenkamp, who drops out of the match 22 altogether.

A fit-again Bongi Mbonambi has also been recalled and will play off the bench, with Jaco Visagie returning to the Under-21 side.

According to Pienaar, the team has been selected with a specific plan in mind.
“I think it is fair to say that we will try and play in a particular way and for that, we will need a very strong contribution from our bench. All 22 will have to contribute if we want to beat Griquas in Kimberley. They are a very dangerous side at home and came so close in a number of their matches. This really will be our toughest challenge of the season, given our log position and the number of matches left.”

The Vodacom Blue Bulls team is: Jurgen Visser, Sampie Mastriet, William Small-Smith, Francois Venter, Akona Ndungane, Handré Pollard, Rudy Paige, Jono Ross (c), Jacques du Plessis, Wiaan Liebenberg, David Bulbring, Paul Willemse, Werner Kruger, Bandise Maku, Marcel van der Merwe. Replacements: Mbongeni Mbonambi, Frik Kirsten/Dean Greyling, Grant Hattingh, Jacques Engelbrecht, Lohan Jacobs, Ulrich Beyers, Clayton Blommetjies.

Pienaar verander ses aan beginspan
Die insluiting van ‘n fikse Handrè Pollard, ‘n eerste beginwedstryd vir William Small-Smith en David Bullbring en die terugkeer van Sampie Mastriet en Marcel van der Merwe is die vernaamste kenmerke van die Vodacom Blou Bulle se span-aankondiging vir hulle Absa Curriebekerwedstryd teen GWK Griekwas Saterdag in Kimberley.

In totaal het die Vodacom Blou Bulle-afrigter, Pine Pienaar, ses skuiwe gemaak aan sy beginspan wat teen die MTN Goue Leeus gespeel het, met Jurgen Visser terug op heelagter en Clayton Blommetjies wat terugkeer plaasvervangerbank toe.

Pollard het die Leeus-stryd weens ‘n enkelbesering misgeloop en vervang Tony Jantjies, terwyl Mastriet ruskans gekry het weens Springbok Bjorn Basson se vinnige hertoetrede. Van der Merwe vervang die beseerde Mornè Mellett as loskop.

Small-Smith en Bullbring het nog nie ‘n wedstryd vir die Blou Bulle begin nie. Die buitsenter ruil plekke met Ulrich Beyers, wat bank toe skuif en Bullbring speel in Wilhelm Steenkamp se plek.

Bongi Mbonambi is fiks verklaar en speel van die bank af in die plek van Jaco Visagie, wat terugkeer o.21’s toe.
Volgens Pienaar is die 22-tal gekies met ‘n spesifieke wedstrydplan in gedagte.

“Ons het ‘n manier van speel wat ons graag op hulle sal wil afdwing en om dit reg te kry, sal ons ‘n sterk bydrae van die plaasvervangerbank nodig hê. Trouens, al 22 spelers sal ‘n betekenisvolle bydrae moet maak as ons Griekwas in Kimberley wil klop. Hulle is ‘n bitter moeilike teenstander op hul tuisveld en het vanjaar ‘n hele paar keer net-net vasgeval. Hierdie is beslis ons taaiste uitdaging van die seisoen, veral gegewe ons benarde posisie op die punteleer.”

Die Vodacom Blou Bulle se span is: Jurgen Visser, Sampie Mastriet, William Small-Smith, Francois Venter, Akona Ndungane, Handré Pollard, Rudy Paige, Jono Ross (k), Jacques du Plessis, Wiaan Liebenberg, David Bulbring, Paul Willemse, Werner Kruger, Bandise Maku, Marcel van der Merwe. Plaasvervangers: Mbongeni Mbonambi, Frik Kirsten/Dean Greyling, Grant Hattingh, Jacques Engelbrecht, Lohan Jacobs, Ulrich Beyers, Clayton Blommetjies.