Vodacom Bulls
After watching a program on Kyknet (Kwela) I learned that one of Loftus Versveld’s biggest heroes will retire at the end of this season. I feel that this is the biggest loss the Bulls could ever imagine. Come on Bully boys do it for the Manager. I read this old article and decided to share it here.
Will Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke elevate young Handre Pollard to his match squad for Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby showdown with the Sharks?
That’s the big question this week as the Bulls prepare to rumble on against a dangerous Sharks team who still believes it can make the playoffs.
It is becoming more and more difficult for the Bulls faithful not to start comparing this year’s team to the Super Rugby winning sides of 2007, 2009 and 2010.
The Vodacom Bulls secured first place in the South African Conference and booked their place in the Vodacom Super Rugby Finals Series with an emphatic win over the Southern Kings at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.
At the same time, The Sharks and the DHL Stormers kept alive their slim mathematical chances of reaching the playoffs when they beat the Blues and the Toyota Cheetahs respectively.
Bulls (31) 48 / 18 (13) Kings (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and Southern Kings did battle in Super Rugby at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Experienced loose forward Dewald Potgieter will captain the Vodacom Bulls for the first time this weekend and will shift to No 8 in place of regular skipper Pierre Spies, who has been ruled out for the remainder of 2013 with a bicep injury.
Vodacom Bulls captain Pierre Spies will be out for the rest of the 2013 rugby season after tearing a bicep muscle on Saturday while playing for the Springboks against Samoa in the Castle Lager Incoming Series.
Vodacom Bulls players Pierre Spies, Jano Vermaak and Francois Hougaard are all injured and in danger of not playing in Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Southern Kings at Loftus Versfeld.
The Blue Bulls Company on Thursday confirmed the departure of scrumhalf Jano Vermaak and flanker Dewald Potgieter.
Potgieter decided not to renew his contract which expires at the end of the current Vodacom Super Rugby competition and instead will join the Yamaha Rugby Club in Japan, whilst Vermaak has asked to be released from his contract to join Toulouse in France.
The Western Force scored a major coup the the unveiling of Bulls lock Wilhelm Steenkamp as their latest signing.
Springbok loose forward Arno Botha has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2013 season after rupturing ligaments in his knee during the Castle Lager Incoming Series victory over Scotland in Nelspruit on Saturday.
The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd announced on Thursday that Vodacom Bulls and Vodacom Blue Bulls hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle did not accept an offer to extend his contract past October 31st, 2013. The hooker indicated that he will instead take up an offer with the French club Toulouse.
Vodacom Bulls player Lionel Mapoe will miss the remainder of the Vodacom Super Rugby season due to a shoulder injury. The versatile outside back sustained the injury on Saturday during his side’s 30-25 win over the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
Cheetahs (10) 25 / 30 (17) Bulls (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and Vodacom Bulls did battle in Super Rugby at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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In the war of words Naka Drotske said “It’s our season for firsts”
French club Montpellier have snapped up the signatures of two top SA midfielders – Vodacom Bulls veteran Wynand Olivier and DHL Western Province centre JP Du Plessis among their acquisitions ahead of the new European season.
Die Vodacom Bulls-afrigter, Frans Ludeke, het vier skuiwe gemaak vir sy span se Vodacom Super Rugby-wedstryd teen die Toyota Cheetahs Saterdag in Bloemfontein, met Arno Botha, Jan Serfontein, Werner Kruger en Lionel Mapoe almal in die opdrafspan.
The South African Rugby Union has confirmed that Rohan Janse van Rensburg will replace his Blue Bulls team mate Jan Serfontein in the South Africa Under-20 squad for the Junior World Championship (JWC).
Bulls wing Bjorn Basson has been cited for a dangerous tackle during Saturday’s 18-16 win over the Sharks at Kings Park.
Sharks (3) 16 / 18 (9) Bulls (Final Score)
The Sharks and Vodacom Bulls did battle in Super Rugby at Kings Park, Durban at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Vodacom Bulls scrumhalf Jano Vermaak will make a 100th Vodacom Super Rugby appearance on Saturday if he takes to the field in his side’s match against The Sharks in Durban.
The former Cats (11 caps) and MTN Lions (62 caps) player will represent the Vodacom Bulls for the 28th time and become South Africa’s 22nd centurion at that level.
Springbok flank Jacques Potgieter is set to leave the Bulls for good after requesting a release from his contract.
The Vodacom Bulls are set to announce a two-year contract extention to head coach Frans Ludeke’s contract on Wednesday.
There was a clean bill of health to the Vodacom Bulls squad that conquered the Highlanders on Saturday, but a number of players from that match are recovering from bruises and light strains, team doctor Org Strauss confirmed on Monday.
Now we are into the business part of the Super Rugby season! Before the TEST Window break each South African team has 2 games left (Sharks have only 1).
Bulls (23) 35 / 18 (6) Highlanders (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and Highlanders did battle in Super Rugby at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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It will be a special day for Vodacom Bulls stalwarts Pierre Spies and Mornè Steyn at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday when their team takes on the Highlanders in a Vodacom Super Rugby clash.
Zane Kirchner, Callie Visagie, Jan Serfontein and Marcel van der Merwe should all be available for selection when the Vodacom Bulls take on the Highlanders at Loftus Versfeld in two weeks’ time, after their bye weekend.
The Vodacom Bulls recorded their 100th Vodacom Super Rugby victory in some style and consolidated their position at the top of the SA Conference on a weekend where their countrymen struggled.
The three-time champions from Pretoria took the Hurricanes apart at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening, after the DHL Stormers, The Sharks and the Southern Kings came up short against Australasian opposition.
Bulls (27) 48 / 14 (0) Hurricanes (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and Hurricanes did battle in Super Rugby at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The DHL Stormers were the only Vodacom Super Rugby team to win away from home this weekend as the Vodacom Bulls and Toyota Cheetahs opened up a slight gap at the top of the South African Conference.
Die beseringslysie van die Vodacom Bulls word al korter. Dit is die nuus uit die Bulls kamp na die naweek se wedstryd teen die Waratahs.
Bulls (12) 30 / 19 (5) Waratahs (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and Waratahs did battle in Super Rugby at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Dean Greyling will make his first start for the Vodacom Bulls this season, when the Pretoria-based side take on the Waratahs in a Vodacom Super Rugby clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Vodacom Bulls lock Paul Willemse will be out of action for three months following a knee injury sustained in Saturday’s win over the Southern Kings, but there is a green light to the fitness of Wynand Olivier and Dewald Potgieter.
A MRI scan on Monday revealed a MCL injury to the big lock, ruling him out of action for the next nine weeks. He will undergo an operation on Wednesday.