Steyn, Spies milestones for Highlanders clash

May 15 • General News, Super Rugby, Super Rugby News • 2034 Views • Comments Off on Steyn, Spies milestones for Highlanders clash

It will be a special day for Vodacom Bulls stalwarts Pierre Spies and Mornè Steyn at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday when their team takes on the Highlanders in a Vodacom Super Rugby clash.

Spies will play in his 100^th Super match for his team, becoming the seventh player from the franchise to reach that mark. His debut for the team was against the self-same Highlanders, but in Dunedin and on the wing way back in 2005.

Steyn will become the most capped Vodacom Bulls player in Super Rugby, playing in his 117^th match for the franchise and will move past Victor Matfield and Danie Rossouw’s 116 match mark.

The milestones will be celebrated away from the field as the real business on it will be to secure a good win over a very dangerous opponent, Spies said on Wednesday when the Vodacom Bulls team was announced for the clash.

“These milestones are special, but there is a place for that. My focus and that of the team is fully set on the Highlanders and what we need to do to beat them. We did very well against the Hurricanes two weeks ago, had a week’s break and now need to find that rhythm and momentum again.”

There have been five changes to the starting side that scored the bonus point win over the Hurricanes. Three of those are in the backline and two in the front row.

Jan Serfontein returns to inside centre ahead of Wynand Olivier, Lionel Mapoe swops his place on the bench with Bjorn Basson and will play left wing and Jano Vermaak and Francois Hougaard also do swop the number nine and number twenty jerseys.

Up front Frik Kirsten and Mornè Mellett take over the propping duties from Werner Kruger and Dean Greyling.

In a change on the bench, Callie Visagie takes over from Willie Wepener.

The team (with number of Super caps) is: Jürgen Visser (6), Akona Ndungane (90), JJ Engelbrecht (26), Jan Serfontein (7), Lionel Mapoe (37), Morné Steyn(116), Francois Hougaard (50), Pierre Spies (99, c), Dewald Potgieter (60), Deon Stegmann (68), Juandré Kruger (27), Flip van der Merwe (56), Frik Kirsten (24), Chiliboy Ralepelle (62), Morné Mellet (8). Replacements: Callie Visagie (18), Werner Kruger (85), Grant Hattingh (15), Arno Botha (19), Jano Vermaak (98), Louis Fouchè (19), Bjorn Basson (48).

Milestones:

• Pierre Spies will play in his 100^th Vodacom Super Rugby match for the Vodacom Bulls. The other centurions for the franchise are Bakkies Botha (100), Wynand Olivier (108), Fourie du Preez (112), Pedrie Wannenburg (113), Danie Rossouw (116), Victor Matfield (116) and Mornè Steyn (116).

• Mornè Steyn (116) will pass the mark for most appearances for the Vodacom Bulls, currently shared between him, Danie Rossouw and Victor Matfield. Steyn could also improve on a number of scoring records in Super Rugby – (1349 points, 251 penalties, 228 conversions and 25 drop goals). He has also scored 13 tries.

Steyn, Spies bereik mylpale teen Highlanders

Dit sal Saterdag op Loftus Versfeld ‘n spesiale dag vir die Vodacom Bulls se Pierre Spies en Mornè Steyn wees as hulle in ‘n Vodacom Super Rugby wedstryd teen die Highlanders uitdraf.

Spies speel in sy 100ste wedstryd vir die franchise en word daarmee die sewende speler om die mylpaal te bereik, terwyl Steyn in sy 117de wedstryd uitdraf, ‘n nuwe rekord vir ‘n enkele speler in die Bulls-trui.

Spies het toevallig sy debuut vir die Bulls teen die Highlanders gemaak toe hy in 2005 in Dunedin op regtervleuel vir hulle uitgedraf het.

Die mylpale sal egter eerder in ‘n private hoedanigheid gemaak word eerder as op die veld, want dààr is veel belangriker dinge wat bereik moet word, het Spies tydens Woensdag se spanaankondiging gesê.

“Dit is spesiale dag ja,maar my fokus is op die span en wat ons as ‘n eenheid moet bereik,” het Spies gesê.

“Ons moet kyk hoe ons die Highlanders kan klop. Hulle is gevaarlike teenstanders en ons sal op ons beste moet wees as ons hulle wil klop. Die ouens het ‘n week gerus na ons goeie sege oor die Hurricanes, so dit gaan belangrik wees dat ons dadelik weer daardie momentum en ritme kry.”

Daar is vyf veranderinge aan die span wat die Hurricanes geklop het, drie in die agterlyn en twee voorlangs.

Jan Serfontein is weer fiks en vervang Wynand Olivier as binnesenter, Lionel Mapoe ruil plekke met Bjorn Basson en Francois Hougaard begin op skrumskakel, met Jano Vermaak wat bank toe skuif.

Die voorry verander ook, met Frik Kirsten en Mornè Mellett wat die wedstryd begin in die plek van Werner Kruger en Dean Greyling.

Die span (met getal Super wedstryde) is: Jürgen Visser (6), Akona Ndungane (90), JJ Engelbrecht (26), Jan Serfontein (7), Lionel Mapoe (37), Morné Steyn(116), Francois Hougaard (50), Pierre Spies (99, c), Dewald Potgieter (60), Deon Stegmann (68), Juandré Kruger (27), Flip van der Merwe (56), Frik Kirsten (24), Chiliboy Ralepelle (62), Morné Mellet (8). Plaasvervangers: Callie Visagie (18), Werner Kruger (85), Grant Hattingh (15), Arno Botha (19), Jano Vermaak (98), Louis Fouchè (19), Bjorn Basson (48).

Mylpale:

• Pierre Spies speel in sy 100ste wedstryd vir die Bulls, die sewende speler om dit reg te kry. Die ander was: Bakkies Botha (100), Wynand Olivier (108), Fourie du Preez (112), Pedrie Wannenburg (113), Danie Rossouw (116), Victor Matfield (116) en Mornè Steyn (116).

• Mornè Steyn (116) word die mees ervare speler in die gekiedenis van die franchise en steek Danie Rossouw en Victor Matfield verby. Hy kan ook verskeie punterekords verbeter – 1349 punte, 251 strafdoele, 228 doelskoppe en 25 skepdoele. Hy het ook 13 drieë agter sy naam.