Vodacom Blue Bulls to take on DHL Western Province
Vodacom Blue Bulls prop Werner Kruger will on Saturday become the first player at the union to play 100 matches for both the Vodacom Bulls (Vodacom Super Rugby) and Vodacom Blue Bulls (Absa Currie Cup). Kruger played his 100th match for theVodacom Bulls in April 2014 and will become an Absa Currie Cup centurion for the Vodacom Blue Bulls when the side take on DHL Western Province this weekend.
Kruger made his Vodacom Blue Bulls debut in 2007 as a replacement against the Golden Lions and has since been one of the most consistent performers the Loftus Versfeld faithful have seen.
Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Nollis Marais named Kruger in the side that show three changes to the one that beat Griquas a week ago. William Small-Smith and Deon Stegmann have been ruled out due to injury and will be replaced by Dries Swanepoel and Roelof Smit respectively.
Marais also decided to start with Bandise Maku at hooker, with Jaco Visagie swopping roles with the former Springbok and will start on the bench.
Dan Kriel will move onto the bench in place of Swanepoel.
“Werner has been a true Blue Bulls stalwart and deserves this unique honour,” Marais said.
“He has a wonderful attitude towards life and towards this team and we are privileged to share such an occasion with Werner. That said, the ball is now in our court to make sure we make it a memorable occasion for him. To do that, we need to be accurate and aggressive in the way we approach WP. We are slowlyfinding our feet as a squad, but we may lack in rhythm and momentum, we must back up with courage and guts.”
Vodacom Blue Bulls captain Lappies Labuschagne confirmed that determination.
“We have now played together and the cobwebs are gone. We can now focus on our execution, precision and desire to win the Currie Cup and to give our supporters something to be proud of. This starts this weekend against WP.”
As part of the Woman’s month celebrations that have been sweeping the country, the Vodacom Blue Bulls would like to use the opportunity on Saturday to also pay tribute to the ladies in our lives, the behind the scenes heroes that go the extra mile in making it possible for us to live our dreams and seldom get the credit they deserve. With this in mind, we’re running a ‘50% OFF’ tickets special for the game. We will also be hosting a number of national female athletes from various sporting codes including cricket, showjumping and hockey as well as charities, Pea’s in a Pod and Women & Beyond.
The team to play WP is: Warrick Gelant, Travis Ismaiel, Dries Swanepoel**, Burger Odendaal, Jamba Ulengo, Tian Schoeman, Francois Hougaard, Hanro Liebenberg, Roelof Smit, Lappies Labuschagne (c), Marvin Orie, Jacques du Plessis, Werner Kruger***, Bandise Maku, Dean Greyling. Replacements: Jaco Visagie, Dayan van der Westhuizen, RG Snyman, Jannes Kirsten*, Ivan van Zyl, Louis Fouché, Dan Kriel*.
*On debut for Vodacom Blue Bulls
**Run-on debut for Vodacom Blue Bulls
*** Hundred Absa Currie Cup matches for Vodacom Blue Bulls
Werner Kruger in unieke eerste vir Blou Bulle Rugby Unie
Die Vodacom Blou Bulle se Werner Kruger word Saterdag die eerste speler om beide 100 wedstryde vir die Vodacom Bulls (Vodacom Super Rugby) en die Vodacom Blou Bulle (Absa Curriebeker) te speel as hy op Loftus Versfeld vir die tuisspanteen die DHL Westelike Provinsie uitdraf.
Kruger speel in sy 100ste Absa Curriebekerwedstryd vir die Ligbloues nadat hy reeds in April verlede jaar die mylpaal vir die Vodacom Bulls behaal het.
Die vaskop het in 2007 sy debuut as plaasvervanger teen die Xerox Goue Leeus gemaak en sederdien ‘n ware steunpilaar vir die Vodacom Blou Bulle en die ondersteuners op Loftus Versfeld geword.
Die Vodacom Blou Bulle se afrigter, Nollis Marais, het Kruger ingesluit in die span vir Saterdag, wat drie veranderinge toon van die een wat verlede week teen die ORC Griekwas gewen het.
Die beseerde William Small-Smith en Deon Stegmann word deur onderskeidelik Dries Swanepoel en Roelof Smit vervang. Marais het ook vir Bandise Maku op haker gekies, met Jaco Visagie wat rolle ruil met die gewese Springbok en die keer van die bank af speel. Saam met hom daar is Dan Kriel, wat van die o.21-span opgeskuif het om Swanepoel te vervang en ook sy debuut sal maak as hy speelkans kry en Jannes Kirsten.
“Werner het diep spore in Blou Bul-rugby getrap en verdien hierdie unieke eer,” het Marais gesê.
“Hy het ‘n wonderlike gesindheid teenoor die lewe en teenoor hierdie span en dit is ‘n groot eer vir ons almal om iets so spesiaal met Werner te deel. Dit gesê, die verantwoordelik rus nou op ons skouers om seker te maak die span maak dit ‘n wedstryd om te onthou vir hom. Om dit reg te kry moet ons aggressief en akkuraat wees in die manier hoe ons die WP gaan pak. Ons begin stadig ons voete vind as ‘n groep, maar wat ons dalk nog kortkom in ritme en momentum, moet ons mee opmaak in durf en daad,” het Marais gesê.
Die Vodacom Blou Bulle se kaptein, Lappies Labuschagne, het dit beaam.
“Ons het nou al twee wedstryde saamgespeel, so die spinnerakke is weg. Ons kan nou fokus op ons uitvoering, doelgerigtheid en ons passie om die Curriebeker te wen en ons ondersteuners trots te maak op ons. Dit begin hierdie naweek teen die WP.”
Labuchagne het ook ‘n verdere motivering uitgestip.
“As deel van die maandlange hulde aan vroue wil die Vodacom Blou Bulle ook graag Saterdag erkenning gee aan die vroue in ons lewens. Dit is immers hulle wat die ondersteuning weg van die kollig verskaf sodat ons rugbydrome nagestreef kan word. Daarom is daar ‘n 50% korting op kaartjies vir die wedstryd en gaan ons ‘n paar spesiale vroue atlete van krieket, perdespring en hokkie, sowel as verteenwoordigers van vroue-organisasies nooi om die dag met ons te deel.”
Die span wat teen die WP speel is: Warrick Gelant, Travis Ismaiel, Dries Swanepoel**, Burger Odendaal, Jamba Ulengo, Tian Schoeman, Francois Hougaard, Hanro Liebenberg, Roelof Smit, Lappies Labuschagne (k), Marvin Orie, Jacques du Plessis, Werner Kruger***, Bandise Maku, Dean Greyling. Plaasvervangers: Jaco Visagie, Dayan van der Westhuizen, RG Snyman, Jannes Kirsten*, Ivan van Zyl, Louis Fouché, Dan Kriel*.
*Debuut vir Vodacom Blou Bulle
**Opdraf-debuut vir Vodacom Blou Bulles
*** Honderd Absa Curriebekerwedstryde vir Vodacom Blou Bulle.
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