Vodacom Blue Bulls change three for WP

Sep 11 • General News • 2428 Views • Comments Off on Vodacom Blue Bulls change three for WP

Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar made three changes to his side that will play DHL Western Province in an Absa Currie Cup Premier Division match at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.

Ulrich Beyers is back in the starting team at outside centre, swopping places with Waylon Murray, who moves to the bench. At scrumhalf, Rudy Paige start in place of Ruan Snyman, who has moved to France.

Lohan Jacobs is the replacement nine. Pienaar also swopped Jacques Engelbrecht and Jacques du Plessis, with the latter now starting and Engelbrecht being used as impact player.

Dean Greyling will also make his first appearance in the competition and was picked as replacement prop.

“We did well last weekend and would like to build on that momentum,” Pienaar said.
“As we had real no injuries, it made sense to play with the same group of players, but I have made some tweaks that I believe will create the necessary spark for us,” Pienaar said.

Captain Jono Ross added: “We gave ourselves a chance to get into a play-off spot last week, but that will only be worthwhile if we can repeat that type of performance. We lacked consistency this far, so will have to be very focused on starting well and building a decent performance.”

The team is: Jürgen Visser, Sampie Mastriet, Ulrich Beyers, Francois Venter, Akona Ndungane, Handré Pollard, Rudy Paige, Jono Ross (c), Jacques du Plessis, Wiaan Liebenberg, Grant Hattingh, Paul Willemse, Frik Kirsten, Mbongeni Mbonambi, Marcel van der Merwe. Replacements: Bandise Maku, Dean Greyling, David Bullbring, Jacques Engelbrecht, Lohan Jacobs, Waylon Murray, Clayton Blommetjies.

Drie skuiwe vir Vodacom Blou Bulle
Die Vodacom Blou Bulle se afrigter, Pine Pienaar, het drie skuiwe aan sy span gemaak wat Saterdag in Absa se Curriebekerkompetisie teen die DHL WP op Loftus Versfeld te speel.

Op twee na sal dieselfde groep wat dus verlede naweek die Toyota Vrystaat Cheetahs geklop het weer uitdraf, maar Ulrich Beyers en Jacques du Plessis is die keer in die beginspan en Waylon Muray en Jacques Engelbrecht is plaasvervangers.

Met Ruan Snyman se vertrek Frankryk toe is Rudy Paige terug in die beginspan en Lohan Jacobs die nuwe plaasvervanger-skrumskakel. Dean Greyling is ook vir die eerste keer in vanjaar se reeks in aksie en sal as plaasvervangerstut speel.

“Ons het verlede week goed gedoen en dit is belangrik om daardie momentum te behou,” het Pienaar Woensdag gesê.

“Daar is geen ernstige beserings nie, so dit maak net sin om dieselfde groep spelers weer ‘n kans te gee. Ek het egter hier en daar spelers omgeruil en ek dink dit gaan die span baat om sy tempo te behou en ons spelpatroon te vestig.”
Die Blou Bulle-kaptein, Jono Ross, het beklemtoon dat sy span hulle goeie vertoning met ‘n soortgelyke een wil opvolg.

“Verlede week se sege het ons weer ‘n voet in die deur gegee wat betref die uitspeelfase. As ons nie hierdie week daardie vertoning met nog ‘n goeie een opvolg nie, is ons terug waar ons was en was daardie werk verniet. Dit kan ons nie bekostig nie,” het Ross gesê.

Die span is: Jürgen Visser, Sampie Mastriet, Ulrich Beyers, Francois Venter, Akona Ndungane, Handré Pollard, Rudy Paige, Jono Ross (k), Jacques du Plessis, Wiaan Liebenberg, Grant Hattingh, Paul Willemse, Frik Kirsten, Mbongeni Mbonambi, Marcel van der Merwe. Plaasvervangers: Bandise Maku, Dean Greyling, David Bullbring, Jacques Engelbrecht, Lohan Jacobs, Waylon Murray, Clayton Blommetjies.