SuperSport Rugby Challenge: Vodacom Blue Bulls team to face Steval Pumas

Apr 20 • General News • 2146 Views • Comments Off on SuperSport Rugby Challenge: Vodacom Blue Bulls team to face Steval Pumas

Strong Tukkies flavour for SuperSport Rugby Challenge opener

Vodacom Blue Bulls coach, Pote Human, named a number of UP-Tuks stars in his team to play the Steval Pumas in their opening SuperSport Rugby Challenge fixture at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Human, who coached the university side to Varsity Cup glory on Monday night, not only had the luxury of including the likes of Divan Rossouw, Joshua Stander, Rabs Maxwane, Marco van Staden, Aston Fortuin and Andrew Beerwinkel, into his starting team, but also included Vodacom Bulls regulars Ivan van Zyl, Tian Schoeman, Renaldo Bothma and Edgar Marutlulle, in the run-on team..

Corniel Els, Brian Leitch, Clyde Davids and Andre Warner, who all started on Monday, will play off the bench.

“I have no problem with those guys playing on the weekend,” Human said.

“Yes, they had a hard match on Monday, but also brings continuity and combinations to the team. We did not have that much time to prepare due to Varsity Cup commitments, so experience as a team will help a lot,” he explained.

Human was happy to have a number of senior players involved. “We are playing against a well-drilled Pumas side with a lot of experience at Currie Cup level. So to have guys with Super Rugby experience in crucial positions playing for us, is a huge benefit. A good start in this exciting new competition will be important, so I am pleased with the team we named.”

The team is Duncan Matthews, Jade Stighling, Divan Rossouw, Joshua Stander, Rabs Maxwane, Tony Jantjies, Ivan van Zyl, Renaldo Bothma, Abongile Nonkontwana, Marco van Staden, Aston Fortuin, Freddy Ngoza, AndrewBeerwinkel, Edgar Maratllule, Njabulo Gumede. Replacements: Corniel Els, IGPrinsloo, Brian Leitch, Clyde Davids, Andre Warner, Tinus de Beer, Kefentse Mahlo.