Maku, Van Zyl to face Toyota Free State Cheetahs

Apr 13 • General News • 1935 Views • Comments Off on Maku, Van Zyl to face Toyota Free State Cheetahs

Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Hendré Marnitz named former Springbok hooker, Bandise Maku, and former Junior Springboks scrumhalf, Ivan van Zyl, into his starting team to play the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in the Currie Cup Qualifying tournament at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Maku and Van Zyl featured in the Vodacom Bulls Super Rugby win over the Kings last weekend, but has been released to play for the Vodacom Blue Bulls this weekend.

Van Zyl will start at scrumhalf in one of two changes at the back, with Andre Warner moving to the bench. JT Jackson has been cleared from training camp duties by the Junior Springboks to play this weekend and will play at inside centre in place of Franco Naude, who was not released.

In the pack, Nic de Jager takes over at flank from Deon Stegmann, who was called into the Vodacom Bulls squad and Maku’s return means that Callie Visagie will play off the bench. Abongile Nonkontwana is also included on the bench in place of Le Roux Roets from the team that lost against DHL Western Province.

The team is: Manie Libbok, Luther Obi, Dries Swanepoel, JT Jackson, Jade Stighling, Tony Jantjies, Ivan van Zyl, Hanro Liebenberg (c), Freddy Ngoza, Nic de Jager, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Irne Herbst, Entienne Swanepoel, Bandise Maku, Nqobisizwe Mxoli.

Replacements: Callie Visagie, Hencus van Wyk, Abongile Nonkontwana, Tapiwa Tsomondo, Andre Warner, Joshua Stander, Kefenste Mahalo.