Dewald Potgieter to captain Vodacom Bulls against Southern Kings
Experienced loose forward Dewald Potgieter will captain the Vodacom Bulls for the first time this weekend and will shift to No 8 in place of regular skipper Pierre Spies, who has been ruled out for the remainder of 2013 with a bicep injury.
The Vodacom Bulls face the Southern Kings at Loftus Versfeld at 17h05 on Saturday as Vodacom Super Rugby resumes after the break for the June Tests. In total, the starting team shows eight changes from the side which beat the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein earlier this month.
Potgieter’s namesake, Jacques Potgieter, returns to the loose trio at blindside flank for the injured Arno Botha, where he will partner Deon Stegmann, who starts at openside. Versatile loose forward Jono Ross will make his debut for the Bulls should he get gametime off the bench.
At lock, Grant Hattingh comes in for Juandré Kruger, who will start off the bench.
Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke made a number of changes in the backline. Springbok fullback Zane Kirchner is back in the starting team after a long injury lay-off, while Akona Ndungane, Wynand Olivier and Louis Fouché will start against the Kings.
Ndungane replaces the injured Lionel Mapoe at right wing. Morné Steyn (flyhalf) and JJ Engelbrecht (centre), two of the Springboks’ stars in their recent clean-sweep of the Castle Lager Incoming Series, will both get a break from the bench.
It’s Olivier’s last game for the Vodacom Bulls before he leaves for Montpellier in France and he will partner new Springbok centre Jan Serfontein, who moves from inside to outside centre, for the first time in the midfield. Fouché gets his second start of the year.
“It’s good to have a few of our front-line players back as we head into the business end of the competition, especially since we’ve lost a few players to injury,” said Ludeke.
“This is a massive game for us – each game in Super Rugby is – but we’ve set our goals for the season and now is the time to make sure we achieve them. The Kings will not be an easy opponent, as there is no such thing in this competition.
“We simply need to ensure we stick to what has been working for us thus far this year and the guys who are getting opportunities need to put their hands up on Saturday.”
The Vodacom Bulls team to face the Kings:
Zane Kirchner, Akona Ndungane, Jan Serfontein, Wynand Olivier, Bjorn Basson, Louis Fouché, Francois Hougaard, Dewald Potgieter (captain), Jacques Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Grant Hattingh, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Dean Greyling. Replacements: Willie Wepener, Frik Kirsten, Juandré Kruger, Jono Ross, Rudy Paige, Morné Steyn, JJ Engelbrecht.
Dewald Potgieter is Vodacom Bulls se nuwe kaptein
Die ervare losvoorspeler Dewald Potgieter sal die Vodacom Bulls hierdie naweek vir die eerste keer aanvoer en skuif na agtsteman in die plek van die gereelde kaptein Pierre Spies, wie die res van die 2013-seisoen weens ‘n besering sal misloop.
Die Vodacom Bulls pak die Southern Kings om 17h05 Saterdagmiddag op Loftus Versfeld. Vodacom Super Rugby is weer terug op die spyskaart ná die blaaskans tydens die Junie-toetse. Daar is agt veranderinge aan die beginspan van die span wat die Toyota Cheetahs vroeër vandeesmaand in Bloemfontein geklop het.
Potgieter se van-genoot, Jacques Potgieter, is terug in die lostrio op toekantflank vir die beseerde Arno Botha. Hy sal saam met oopkantflank Deon Stegmann speel, terwyl die veelsydige losvoorspeler Jono Ross sy Bulls-debuut van die bank af sal maak as hy speelkans kry.
Op slot vervang Grant Hattingh vir Juandré Kruger, wat ook op die bank sal begin.
Die afrigter van die Vodacom Bulls, Frans Ludeke, het ook ‘n hele paar skuiwe in die agterlyn gemaak. Die Springbok-heelagter Zane Kirchner is terug in die beginspan na ‘n lang tyd uit weens ‘n besering, terwyl Akona Ndungane, Wynand Olivier en Louis Fouché almal teen die Kings gaan uitdraf.
Ndungane vervang die beseerde Lionel Mapoe op regtervleuel. Morné Steyn (losskakel) en JJ Engelbrecht (senter), twee van die Springbokke se uitblinkers in hul onlangse reekssege in die Castle Lager Inkomende-reeks, kry albei ‘n blaaskans vanaf die bank.
Dit sal Olivier se laaste wedstryd vir die Vodacom Bulls wees voor hy sy tasse pak vir Montpellier in Frankryk en hy speel vir die eerste keer saam met die nuwe Springbok-senter Jan Serfontein in die middelveld. Serfontein skuif van binne- na buitesenter. Fouché is vir die tweede keer vanjaar in die beginspan ingesluit.
“Dis goed om ‘n paar van ons eerstekeuse-spelers terug te hê met die kompetisie wat nou einde se kant toe begin staan, veral omdat ons ‘n hele paar spelers weens beserings verloor het,” het Ludeke gesê.
“Hierdie is ‘n baie belangrike wedstryd vir ons – elke Super Rugby-wedstryd is – maar ons het ons doelwitte vir die jaar gestel en dis nou die tyd om hulle te haal. Die Kings sal geensins ‘n maklike teenstander wees nie – daar is eenvoudig nie so-iets in hierdie kompetisie nie.
“Ons moet seker maak ons hou by wat tot dusver vanjaar vir ons gewerk het en die manne wat nou speelkans kry moet Saterdag hand opsteek.”
Die Vodacom Bulls span teen die Kings is:
Zane Kirchner, Akona Ndungane, Jan Serfontein, Wynand Olivier, Bjorn Basson, Louis Fouché, Francois Hougaard, Dewald Potgieter (kaptein), Jacques Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Grant Hattingh, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Dean Greyling. Plaasvervangers: Willie Wepener, Frik Kirsten, Juandré Kruger, Jono Ross, Rudy Paige, Morné Steyn, JJ Engelbrecht.
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