With compliments of thebulls.co.za we give you the Bulls team for the semi-final.
The coach of the Vodacom Blue Bulls, Frans Ludeke, has included Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies and Bryan Habana in his starting XV for Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup semi-final against the WP at Newlands.
Du Preez resumes his halfback partnership with Morné Steyn and Habana, who struggled with tendons in his upper hamstring, is back in his number 11 jumper in a back three with Zane Kirchner and Francois Hougaard.
Spies had some trouble with finger ligaments but he has made a full recovery and takes over from Danie Rossouw at number 8.
Ludeke said at the weekly press conference which was held at Loftus on Tuesday that the Bulls are in a privileged position to have so many Springboks available and he added that Rossouw will have a vitally important role to play in the last 30 minutes.
“Danie has been playing excellent rugby throughout the season and he will be called upon to do something special in the last 30 minutes.”
Ludeke said that the Bulls need to be on the top of their game in the set pieces at Newlands and he is expecting something very similar to test rugby come Saturday.
“It is not without reason that the WP almost finished on top of the log.
“They have been playing quality rugby throughout the season and I expect them to follow a very tactical approach against us.
“The WP would like to stay out of their own half and once they are in our half they are going to try and put us under immense pressure, but we are ready for whatever they throw at us.
“We need to play for the full 80 minutes and we must continue to create try scoring opportunities. We also need to protect our possession better than in the previous two games.”
The captain Victor Matfield said that it doesn’t really matter whether it rain or not at Newlands, because the Blue Bulls have learned over the last few season to quickly adapt to any circumstances.
“Our game plan stays mostly the same in dry and wet conditions and our focus will only be to win the match.
“The only thing that matters is the 80 minutes on the field and we are not going to worry about the weather or the hostile crowd. We’ve got a job to do and we will not bother about the things that we can’t control.
“We have cut out all the hype and we are not going to look beyond Saturday’s match.
“We have put in some hard work to reach the semi-finals and hopefully it goes our way. We believe in ourselves and if we play to our potential, we can make it.”
Vodacom Blue Bulls: Zane Kirchner; Francois Hougaard, Jaco Pretorius, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana; Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Victor Matfield (captain), Bakkies Botha, Werner Kruger, Derick Kuün, Gurthrö Steenkamp. Reserves: Bandise Maku, Rossouw de Klerk, Danie Rossouw, Pedrie Wannenburg, Heini Adams, Burton Francis, Gerhard van den Heever.
Go BulJanne! Trap daai bergies!
Vrystaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat Janne to play against this team in the finals.
@Loosehead –
Bulls/Cheetahs finaal sal darem lekker wees!
Wouldve played Brummer on the bench instead of Francis as any gametime might help Brummer for next year.
@Supa Die Bloubul – Jy bedoel seker NOG ‘n Bulls/Cheeaths?
5@Loosehead –
Exactly what I meant…hehe
Nie ‘n te slegte span nie. Die paar keer wat ek Rossouw de Klerk sien speel het, het dit baie goed gelyk, veral sy skrumwerk. Hoop hy is reg vir die groot oomblik, indien benodig word.
@bdb –
Dis die s14 beginspan behalwe Akona. Ek sien baie uit!
oooooo dit gaan ‘n geween en gekners van tanne wees op nuweland……Mnr Kotze gaan laaaaang trane huil Saterdag middag
8@Supa Die Bloubul – nog niks gehoor van wie in Habana se plek gekontrakteer gaan word nie, het jy al enige iets gehoor ?
i think ludecrous has made a big mistake by including so many guys who havent played together for the bulls. its one thing playing together for the boks but with the youngsters there is going to be a problem. well anyway good luck
Brummer is blykbaar beseer
10@bdb –
Nee, niks. Dink nie hulle gan iemand by kry nie. Akona, VD Heever, Hougaardt en Mametsa sal seker speel.
11@Martin –
What do you mean? All these guys have played together before?!
by disrupting the team mojo man….the udder guys have gelled nicely and now the manne pitch up and play.
15@Martin –
Gelled nicely? Losing 3 games in a row is not gelling nicely…but I bet you would prefer the Bull’s Bok to sit out!
Wat het van Dean Greyling geword?
:poop: ek in my broek so bietjie toe ek daai span sien.
any news on the injured WP players for this weekend?
@Greenpoint-Gunner – 19
Yes, the team reported 22 injuries late yesterday. The wiepie coach said in an interview that the team will be announced as soon as they can enroll players for wiepie that have not heard of the BULLS.
@Greenpoint-Gunner – app Francois Louw doesnt want to face the media. Once bitten…twice shy.
Ek sien die WP-span is uit, daai agterlyntjie lyk maar kukkerig….
Come on Province eat those Blue Cows :cow2:
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