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Bulls team announced for Saturday:
Vodacom Bulls:
15. Zane Kirchner
14. Gerhard van den Heever
13. Jacques-Louis Potgieter
12. Wynand Olivier
11. Francois Hougaard
10. Morné Steyn
9. Fourie du Preez
8. Pierre Spies
7. Dewald Potgieter
6. Deon Stegmann
5. Victor Matfield (capt)
4. Bakkies Botha
3. Werner Kruger
2. Gary Botha
1. Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Substitutes:
16. Bandise Maku
17. Bees Roux
18. Danie Rossouw
19. Derick Kuün
20. Heini Adams
21. Stephan Dippenaar
22. Pedrie Wannenburg.
Danie Rossouw drops to the bench to give Bakkies Botha his first Super 14 start since the Final last year.
Jacques-Louis Potgieter combines with his blonde twin Wynand Olivier in the centres for his first start in a Blue jersey as Jaco Pretorius is out with yet another injury.
Francois Hougaard returns to the side after Wednesday morning’s drama at the practice session where Akona Ndungane’s comeback was stunted as he broke his leg for the second time in less than a year. Hougaard missed the Lions game after he pulled a hamstring in the captain’s run last Friday night and was replaced by Sello Mametsa.
The only other change is the rotation between Derick Kuün and Deon Stegmann as the Stegmann starts this week.
Mametsa will turn out for the Vodacom Cup side in their semi-final against the Sharks on Loftus’ C field earlier on Saturday.
Well Bulls must respect the Sharks to have brought Bakkies back for this game
Our backs just don’t match theirs, except Ruan and Lambie. Hoping for a big game from Mvovo.
Our Forwards have no problems we are a good match for the Bulls.
Good luck Sharks.
Rob, have you heard anymore news about Ruan and Alberts injuries? Will they start? Hoping like crazy they over those injuries.
@Puma (Comment 1) : Agreed! It shows what they are expecting from us if they rush him back.
Our backline better be working on their tackling ahead of this game!
Go Sharks!!
GO SHARKS !!!
Die Bulle is nogal lekke banggat vi die Sharks !!!
Terrible news re: Akona.
According to Voldy it might be a career ending injury!!
@wpw (Comment 6) : Read that, it is a shame. Broke his leg I think.
@Puma (Comment 7) :
Yep. And what makes it worse is that the ‘break’ is in the exact same place as the last one. EINA!!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 3) : They respect us for sure.
Their centres are just way, way better than ours also their FH. UNLESS Ruan starts at FH then that is a good match there. Lambie is as good as Zane, actually think young Lambie just edges Zane. The rest of our backs are going to struggle. We need first time tackles on Saturday. Every Lineout we have to get and our kicking at must be spot on. Alberts, Deysel and Botes have to be at their very best. There we match them for sure.
Now hoping that Alberts and Ruan are over their injuries if they are not. Then don’t see us winning this game. As it is think it will be a very tough game for us to win. We can but we need every player to be at their best. Stefan must not kick away our ball or drop it either, must pass as well when he has too.
Our front row think we have the edge. Bissie must just keep his cool NO yellow cards on Saturday, nothing. Keep the penalties down. Must keep the discipline. We have a chance we can do it so hoping, really hoping. This is a fantastic Bulls side.
SOS to Frans Steyn, needed for inside centre, come home for the last 3 S14 games.
@wpw (Comment 8) : That is serious then. Don’t see him coming back after that. Look how long it has taken Jantjes. Still has not come back after he broke his leg. Shame feel for these players.
@Puma (Comment 9) : Fully agree man!
If we can play the entire 80 minutes with 15 men, we stand a real good chance. It’s going to be a tight game, just hope Pienaar brings his kicking boots!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 11) : I see you have attempted to play a master stroke on LMS
how long has it been since our last yellow card? I can remember plumtree saying after the crusaders game that cards cost us the first few games and that he will be strict on anyone who gets any cards from then on in… must have helped…
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 12) : Its worth a shot hey! Its a winner takes all game.. Lions vs Force. Quite a few picks on that game already.
Lets see who is the man standing after this game!!
I agree that it is in the backline where they will dominate. Up front I think we can match them if not beat them. Will be a good game thou and I hope that Pienaar and Alberts will be fit come Saturday.
Sad to hear about Akona… I guess the fact that he is not the youngest player anymore counts against him. I just hope that this won’t have a negative effect on Odwa (mentally anyway).
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 11) : Agree no yellow cards and keep the discipline, the less penalaties we give away it makes it a whole lot easier.
Hope Ruan has his kicking boots on. Not sure with his knee, he wont take the kicks. Probably Goode, then is he not injured too? Probably Rory. Have no problems with Rory if he can kick those big ones like he done on Saturday.
@Puma (Comment 16) : sorry typo there. Penalties
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 14) : Well you are a man to listen to …you after all have a Cup above your avatar.
There definitely will be blood this weekend !
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 18) : Respect! Looking forward to this weekend, but I can’t say that I can be too confident with a Lions pick, it just doesn’t feel right!!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 19) : If it comes off it’s a winning call.
My gut feeling is the Cheetahs have a better chance next weekend.
Then it’s Cheetahs v Lions
….where i am forced (like i imagine a few other are) into picking the Lions.
Will be an interesting table after this weekend !
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 20) : I had planned to pick the Cheetahs this weekend, but with the Blues having a win one, lose one, win one, lose one run going, its their weekend to win, so I will have to wait with the Cheetahs until next weekend.
I have left the Sharks until last, thats if I’m still in the game by then.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 21) : I think you had not choice then really.
I’ve been banging the Blues drum all year….and i think you are wise not to back the Cheetahs until next weekend.
Cheetahs have a chance against the Force….but only a chance.
It would be a crime if you were dead with the Sharks still in the bank
Brainwave….No actually if i was you i would play my Sharks card next week against the Stormers and then you will have Cheetahs v Lion left.
If you lose this weekend i’m sure you will be alive without a lifeline at the end
Your only worry is will anyone be alive with a life line.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 22) : To be honest, I think the Sharks dream might come crashing down this weekend, and then next weekend they will roll over and give the Stormers their Semi spot. I’m hoping to be proved wrong, but it’s a gut feel.
Sharks best bet for a win in the last 3 games is against the Force.
The lions will either kill everybody by not winning a single game, or they will give us one chance only, its just getting that pick right. I’m going against myself in SuperBru this weekend, so either way, I get points.
You guys believe Ludacris with this team? According to IOL there might be some ” mind games” involved here.
Look for Daan to start not Bakkies.
The fact that Plum had something to say about Ruan and Fourie won`t help our cause much, well unless the Bulls get completely distracted but they`re a professional outfit, it won`t happen.
It`s gonna be huge and I predict we might come frustratingly close . . .
We’re going to have our work cut out against that team. If we keep the ball we’ll be OK, but if we’re forced to defend for long periods it’ll end in tears.
But I still reckon Sharks by 6.
That’s one hell of a team! Sharks are gonna have to bring it on Saturday.
Jacques-Louis Potgieter looks in great touch at the mo.
Sharks by 4.
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