Stegmann back to lead Vodacom Blue Bulls
Regular captain and flank Deon Stegmann is back in the Vodacom Blue Bulls team to face Toyota Free State Cheetahs in an Absa Currie Cup match in Bloemfontein on Friday.
Stegmann missed last weekend’s defeat to the Cell C Sharks due to suspension, but will again wear the number six jersey and captain’s armband in place of Wian Liebenberg and Jono Ross respectively. Liebenberg moves to the bench in one of six changes to the starting team.
At the back, Ulrich Beyers replace Jesse Kriel who moves to the bench, stalwart Akona Ndungane is back at right wing, with Sampie Mastriet moving to left wing in place of Bjorn Basson. In the midfield, JJ Engelbrecht replaces injured William Small-Smith and Piet van Zyl rotate with Rudy Paige, with the latter starting off the bench.
In the other change in the pack, Bongi Mbonambi will start, with Callie Visagie on the bench.
According to Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke this match is the most crucial one of the Absa Currie Cup campaign.
“We cannot afford to lose and even a good win might not be good enough. We managed to get back on track earlier in the season, but again allowed ourselves to be side-tracked. We cannot afford it to happen again,” Ludeke said.
Stegmann concurred. “We owe it to ourselves, the coaches and the supporters out there to deliver a quality performance. We have let ourselves down too many times this season. We must now run our own race and finish strong. We still have something to play for and we must use the opportunity.”
The Vodacom Blue Bulls team to play Free State in Bloemfontein is:
15 Ulrich Beyers
14 Akona Ndungane
13 JJ Engelbrecht
12 Burger Odendaal
11 Sampie Mastriet
10 Jacques Louis Potgieter
9 Piet van Zyl
8 Jono Ross
7 Jacques du Plessis
6 Deon Stegmann ©
5 Grant Hattingh
4 Paul Willemse
3 Werner Kruger
2 Bongi Mbonambi
1 Dean Greyling
Replacements:
16 Callie Visagie
17 Morné Mellet
18 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg
19 Wiaan Liebenberg
20 Rudy Paige
21 Tian Schoeman
22 Jesse Kriel
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