Vodacom Blue Bulls named for Currie Cup opener (Toyota Free State Cheetahs v Vodacom Blue Bulls)
Vodacom Blue Bulls coach, Pote Human, named an experienced team for Friday night’s opening match of the Currie Cup – sponsored by Nashua and DirectAxis – against the Toyota Free State in Bloemfontein.
No 8 Hanro Liebenberg leads the side that will include one Currie Cup debutant, lock Ruan Nortje, in the run-on side at Toyota Park. Flanker Thembelani Bholi will make his Vodacom Blue Bulls debut in the competition, and so will Theo Maree and Earll Dowrie if they take to the field off the bench.
Human said there will be little room for error because there is only one round of fixtures.
“It is going to be tough to come back if you have a slow start in the competition, so every win will be crucial if you have ambitions to win the Currie Cup this year. It is going to be a very interesting and tense competition this season and we are looking forward to the challenge. Our preparations have gone well and I think this squad will be very competitive.”
Human feels that the experience gained by the players in the Vodacom Super Rugby tournament this year will help in the Currie Cup.
“Most of the players have been involved at that level, so should be able to cope with the pressures they will experience in Bloemfontein on Friday. That said, Toyota Park can become a very lonely place for a visiting team if you don’t front up to a Free State side that will be very motivated to do well at home.”
Liebenberg said the squad are keen to start on a winning note. “We have the ability, no doubt, so the challenge will be to make sure we play according to that. There are some really good players in both teams and I think we are in for a great game. That is exactly what we want as a group, to be tested against the best out there.”
The team is:
Divan Rossouw, Jade Stighling, Johnny Kotze, JT Jackson, Jamba Ulengo, Manie Libbok, Andre Warner, Hanro Liebenberg ©, Thembelani Bholi, Ruan Steenkamp, Ruan Nortje, Ruben van Heerden, Conrad van Vuuren, Edgar Marutlulle, Matthys Basson.
Replacements:
Jan-Henning Campher, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Hendre Stassen, Jano Venter, Theo Maree, Tony Jantjies, Earll Douwrie.
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