Ludeke changes four for Cheetahs clash
Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke made four changes to his side to play the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday, with young guns Arno Botha and Jan Serfontein and the experienced Werner Kruger and Lionel Mapoe included in the starting team.
All four were on the bench last weekend when the Vodacom Bulls beat The Sharks in Durban, but they now replace Dewald Potgieter, Wynand Olivier, Frik Kirsten and Akona Ndungane respectively.
Potgieter and Kirsten will play off the bench, while Olivier drops out of the match 22. Ndungane did not recover from a lower leg injury in time.
Zane Kirchner will make his comeback to the Vodacom Super Rugby competition off the bench following his finger injury and Louis Fouchè has been cleared of the hip injury that saw him miss the encounter in Durban. Callie Visagie also rotates with Willie Wepener as back-up hooker.
Ludeke stressed the importance of a good performance against the Cheetahs, the other South African side currently in a play-off position.
“We can do ourselves a lot of favours by beating the Cheetahs this weekend, especially ahead of the three weeks break,” said Ludeke. “We will have a number of players involved in the Test series and you never know in what shape they will come back. We need to put ourselves in the best possible position before the break and a win in Bloemfontein will do that.”
Vodacom Bulls captain, Pierre Spies, said previous performances against the Cheetahs mean nothing.
“The fact that we have beaten them earlier in the season counts for nothing,” said Spies. “They play on their home turf and although we have done well there in the past, that is not worth any points on the scoreboard. We need to go out there, impose ourselves and play the right type of rugby we know we are capable of. It is a massive challenge, but this team thrive on those.”
The Vodacom Bulls team to play the Cheetahs (with Super Caps) is: Jürgen Visser (8), Lionel Mapoe (39), JJ Engelbrecht (28), Jan Serfontein (8), Bjorn Basson (50), Morné Steyn (118), Francois Hougaard (52), Pierre Spies (101, c), Arno Botha (21), Deon Stegmann (70), Juandré Kruger (29), Flip van der Merwe (58), Werner Kruger (87), Chiliboy Ralepelle (64), Dean Greyling (33). Replacements: Callie Visagie (19), Frik Kirsten (26), Grant Hattingh (18), Dewald Potgieter (62), Jano Vermaak (100), Louis Fouché (20), Zane Kirchner (77).
Note:
The most capped Vodacom Bulls players in each position are:
Fullback: Zane Kirchner (77); Wing: Akona Ndungane (94); Centre: Wynand Olivier (109); Flyhalf: Morné Steyn (118); Scrumhalf: Fourie du Preez (112); Loose Forward: Pedrie Wannenburg (113); Lock: Victor Matfield (116); Prop: Werner Kruger (87); Hooker: Gary Botha (87).
Ludeke span Botha, Serfontein en Kruger in
Die Vodacom Bulls-afrigter, Frans Ludeke, het vier skuiwe gemaak vir sy span se Vodacom Super Rugby-wedstryd teen die Toyota Cheetahs Saterdag in Bloemfontein, met Arno Botha, Jan Serfontein, Werner Kruger en Lionel Mapoe almal in die opdrafspan.
Al vier was plaasvervangers in die Vodacom Bulls se sege oor die Sharks in Durban verlede week, maar is bevorder ten koste van Dewald Potgieter, Wynand Olivier, Frik Kirsten en Akona Ndungane.
Potgieter en Kirsten skuif bank toe en Olivier kry ruskans, terwyl Ndungane nie van ‘n skeenbeenbesering herstel het wat hy in Durban opgedoen het nie.
Zane Kirchner maak sy terugkeer na ‘n vingeroperasie en is ‘n plaasvervanger, terwyl Louis Fouchè van sy heupbesering herstel het en weer sy rol as tweede losskakel oorneem. Callie Visagie roteer as tweede haker met Willie Wepener.
Ludeke het die belangrikheid van ‘n goeie vertoning teen die Cheetahs, die enigste ander Suid-Afrikaanse span wat tans in die uitspeelstryd betrokke kan wees, beklemtoon.
“Ons kan onsself baie gunse bewys deur goed te doen teen die Cheetahs, veral voor die drie week lange onderbreking inskop. Ons gaan baie spelers in die toetsreeks met die Springbokke betrokke hê en mens weet nooit in watter toestand hulle gaan terugkeer nie. So ons moet onsself in die beste denkbare posisie kry en ‘n sege sal dit verseker,” het Ludeke laat blyk.
Die Vodacom Bulls se kaptein, Pierre Spies, het gesê die vorige sege vanjaar oor die Cheetahs of sy span se vertoningslys in Bloemfontein beteken niks.
“Hulle speel op hul tuisveld en moet die gunstelinge wees, al het ons goed gedoen daar in die verlede. Vorige vertonings beteken nie punte op die telbord nie en ons sal moet seker maak ons speel die regte rugby op die regte plekke van die veld en speel die tipe spel waartoe ons weet ons in staat is. Dit gaan ‘n groot uitdaging wees, maar die span het gewys hy gedy op sulke uitdagings.”
Die Vodacom Bulls-span wat teen die Cheetahs speel (met Super-wedstryde) is: Jürgen Visser (8), Lionel Mapoe (39), JJ Engelbrecht (28), Jan Serfontein (8), Bjorn Basson (50), Morné Steyn (118), Francois Hougaard (52), Pierre Spies (101, k), Arno Botha (21), Deon Stegmann (70), Juandré Kruger (29), Flip van der Merwe (58), Werner Kruger (87), Chiliboy Ralepelle (64), Dean Greyling (33). Plaasvervangers: Callie Visagie (19), Frik Kirsten (26), Grant Hattingh (18), Dewald Potgieter (62), Jano Vermaak (100), Louis Fouché (20), Zane Kirchner (77).
Nota:
Die mees ervare Vodacom Bulls spelers in elke posisie is:
Heelagter: Zane Kirchner (77); Vleuel: Akona Ndungane (94); Senter: Wynand Olivier (109); Losskakel: Morné Steyn (118); Skrumskakel: Fourie du Preez (112); Losvoorspeler: Pedrie Wannenburg (113); Slot: Victor Matfield (116); Stut: Werner Kruger (87); Haker: Gary Botha (87).
Related Posts
« 2013 Boland u18 Craven Week & Academy Week teams announced Toyota Cheetahs Team announced »
