Vodacom Bulls flanker, Dewald Potgieter, will start in his first Vodacom Super 14 match of the season when his side takes on the Highlanders at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Media Release by the Bulls:
Potgieter came off the bench against the Waratahs two weeks ago after a knee strain ruled him out of the Bulls first two fixtures.
He replaces stalwart Pedrie Wannenburg, who moves to the bench, from where he will earn his 102nd cap.
Captain Victor Matfield will lead the side for the 50th time and will play in his 99th game of Super Rugby.
Coach Frans Ludeke welcomed back a fit-again Pierre Spies at number eight, where he will partner Potgieter and Derick Kuün, who will start for a second consecutive week at open side. Deon Stegmann is still on the bench, along with four other forwards.
He is joined there by Flip van der Merwe, who moves down for Danie Rossouw, who shifts to lock after starting at eight against the Waratahs.
Prop Rossouw de Klerk is on the bench for the first time after a training ground accident ruled out Bees Roux.
Heini Adams drops out of the match 22 to gain playing time for the Vodacom Blue Bulls.
“We have Francois Hougaard who can cover at nine, should anything happens to Fourie du Preez,” coach Frans Ludeke explained.
“Heini needs a full game and we both felt that it will be best served if he plays for the Vodacom Cup side this weekend, “Ludeke said
“The selection of Derick at open side is also part of the rotational understanding we have. All the players, Deon (Stegmann) included, accept this policy,” Ludeke said.
Matfield indicated that the Highlanders will not be taken lightly.
“They did play badly against the Stormers. They have a strong set phase and with Tom Donnelly in the line-outs, can be very difficult opponents. They created enough chances against the Stormers and we realize that our A-game will be needed to beat them.”
The team is: Zane Kirchner, Gerhard vd Heever, Stephan Dippenaar, Wynand Olivier, Francois Hougaard, Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Derick Kuün, Victor Matfield (c), Danie Rossouw, Werner Kruger, Gary Botha, Gurthrö Steenkamp. Replacements: Bandise Maku, Rossouw de Klerk, Flip van der Merwe, Deon Stegmann, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Pedrie Wannenburg.
Hi Puma, GBS Tell her i am a moff or i am totally harmless and a really ou vrou.
Never is a loooooong time… last year the Highlanders drilled the Bulls in NZ
Okay going to to my picks.
I think a lot about it I pick wrong. I think less about it I still pick wrong…………so what the heck get on with it 😀
Ok guys have to start the evening feed, have a good one, and Ash enjoy the romance, us bullets dont do that stuff anymore.
#53
o flok 😯
do you guys think its safe for me to eat or drink anything?
shouldnt i just decline and go to bed early?
😯 is it even safe to go to bed early?
o flok, o flok, o flok!! 😆
62 – GBS, That was in NZ also this Bulls side now far better than then. Bulls will win but by how much?
61@ Boomninny – Hehehe
So what are your Tjarkies going to dish up for us on the weekend, ou vrou?
Hahahaha
65 – Ash, Eat and be merry 😉
hugs @ 64
thanks
puma @ 68
thanks puma
i will!!
70 – Ash, Good enjoy it.
ok cheers guys
i’m out
enjoy!!
72@ Asbak – Cheers jong, gooi mielie!
72 – Cheers Ash, enjoy your evening buddy.
Picks are hard this week.
Only certain wins should be Bulls and Reds.
The rest could go either way.
The Vodacom Bulls were forced into making a late change on the bench for Saturday’s match with the Highlanders when a freak accident in the team’s training session ruled out prop Bees Roux from the match.
Roux collided badly with the scrum machine on a hit late in the practice, and cut a deep gash into his head in the process, bringing the practice to a temporary halt.
The burly prop was rushed to hospital where stitches were inserted underneath the skin, and while no lasting damage was done, he will not see any action this weekend.
“He’s fine. The doctor put in stitches underneath the skin on his head, and the gash was very deep, but there is no cause for concern. He will, however, not be playing this weekend,” Team doctor Org Strauss told SuperSport.com
The Bulls eventually continued their practice session, but moved onto live scrums.
Coach Frans Ludeke said it was “a freak accident, something that just happened”.
“It happened as the scrum took the hit against the machine,” coach Frans Ludeke said, “We think his head hit the plate behind the cushion on the scrum machine.
“It was a clean cut which the doctors can hopefully fix up easily with no lasting damage.”
Ludeke also let on that the scrum machine, while shaken by the incident, had also survived the incident.
Hey guys…
Invest on more cushion on the scrum machine….then again we dont want to practice scrums in the same way as the Province soldiers…. 😆
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