Marais change four in Bulls starting team for Cape clash

Sep 16 • General News • 1618 Views • Comments Off on Marais change four in Bulls starting team for Cape clash

Photo: Anton Geyser

Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais named flyhalf Louis Fouché in his starting team to play DHL Western Province in Cape Town on Friday. The inclusion of Fouché, who swops places with Tian Swanepoel (to the bench) is one of three similar tweaks Marais made following last weekend’s defeat to the Golden Lions.

The other tweaks see Burger Odendaal swopping places with Jan Serfontein in the midfield and Deon Stegmann swopping with Arno Botha, who moves to the bench. Stegmann is included as a flank though, with Lappies Labuschagne moving to no8, where Botha started last weekend.

In the other change, Pierre Schoeman was named at loosehead prop, with Dean Greyling dropping out of the match day squad.

“We needed to make some small adjustments as we will approach the WP match different from the one against the Lions last weekend. I have brought in Louis, Burger and Deon for a particular reason, while I think Pierre will front up come scrum time. We need to be competitive in the scrums if we want to get a result against WP, so I made a change,” Marais said.

Labuschagne is happy with the switch to the back of the scrum.

“For us to beat WP, we will have to play well as individuals as well as combinations. I think the loose trio are all capable of slotting into any of the three positions, so we should really complement each other well. Defence will probably have to win this for us, as WP remains the most attacking team in the competition,” Labuschagne said.

“We have some serious players on the bench as well, which will be important. This will take a 23 man effort to go down to Newlands and beat WP.”

The team is: Warrick Gelant, Travis Ismaiel, Dries Swanepoel, Burger Odendaal, Jamba Ulengo, Louis Fouché, Francois Hougaard, Lappies Labuschagne (c), Roelof Smit, Deon Stegmann, Marvin Orie, Jacques du Plessis, Marcel van der Merwe, Bandise Maku, Pierre Schoeman. Replacements: Jaco Visagie, Werner Kruger, RG Snyman, Arno Botha, Ivan van Zyl, Tian Schoeman, Jan Serfontein.

Marais verander vier vir WP stryd

Die Vodacom Blou Bulle se afrigter, Nollis Marais, het losskakel Louis Fouché in sy beginspan gekies vir Vrydagaand se belangrike Absa Curriebekerwedstryd teen die DHL Westelike Provinsie in Kaapstad.

Fouché is een van drie spelers wat van die bank af na die beginspan opskuif vir die wedstryd op DHL Nuweland en plekke ruil met spelers wat verlede naweek teen die Xerox Goue Leeus op Loftus Versfeld begin het.

In die ander skuiwe begin Burger Odendaal op senter met Jan Serfontein wat van die bank speel en is Deon Stegmann in die opdrafspan. Hy vervang Arno Botha in die beginspan, met die agsteman wat van die bank speel. Stegmann begin egter as steelkantflank, met Lappies Labuschagne wat die span uit die agtstemanposisie aanvoer.

Pierre Schoeman is weer terug in die span nadat hy sy debuut teen die Griekwas gemaak het. Hy begin op losskap en vervang Dean Greyling, wat ‘n ruskans kry.

“Ons moes ‘n paar goedjies verander en hier en daar dinge liggies verander om by WP en die manier hoe ons teen hulle wil speel, aan te pas,” het Marais laat blyk.

“Ons benader die wedstryd teen WP anders as die een teen die Leeus en daarom het ek spelers soos Louis, Burger en Deon in die beginspan gekies. Ons sal ook meer kompeterend in die skrums moet wees teen die WP en ek dink Pierre behoort puik rekenskap van homself te gee.”

Labuschagne het geen probleme om met die nommeragtrui op die rug uit te draf nie.

“Ons lostrio kan mekaar enige tyd aanvul omdat ons baie dieselfde speel. Elkeen sal as indiwidu moet opdaag, maar hoe jy as kombinasie gaan saamspeel, gaan deurslaggewend wees en ek dink ons lostrio behoort lekker saam te jag. Uiteindelik sal verdediging dit vir ons moet, want WP is die beste aanvallende span in die kompetisie,” het hy gesê.

“Ons het boonop lekker diepte op die bank, so niemand hoef enige iets terug te hou nie en kan alles op die veld los.”

Die span is: Warrick Gelant, Travis Ismaiel, Dries Swanepoel, Burger Odendaal, Jamba Ulengo, Louis Fouché, Francois Hougaard, Lappies Labuschagne (k), Roelof Smit, Deon Stegmann, Marvin Orie, Jacques du Plessis, Marcel van der Merwe, Bandise Maku, Pierre Schoeman. Plaasvervangers: Jaco Visagie, Werner Kruger, RG Snyman, Arno Botha, Ivan van Zyl, Tian Schoeman, Jan Serfontein.