ABSA Currie Cup player of the month for July, former Lions scrumhalf Jano Vermaak, has been rushed straight into the Blue Bulls lineup for this weekend’s game against the Pumas. Having stuttered to only a single win in their opening four games, Pine Pienaar’s men are already rooted to the foot of the table and fighting for their lives in the domestic competition.
Pienaar has made seven changes to the side that lost badly to the Lions at the weekend. Both of last week’s halfbacks are gone and one feels that in particular, flyhalf Francois Brümmer may now have used up his last chance to impress the coaches. Over the course of three Currie Cup campaigns, Brümmer has failed to take the step up and assert his dominance and Marnitz Boshoff will now have the opportunity to stake a claim for the number 10 jersey, alongside Vermaak.
In other changes, Bok discards Bjorn Basson and Wynand Olivier have been brought back into the starting lineup, while Zane Kirchner will look to add some penetration as he moves into the unfamiliar outside centre position. Jurgen Visser comes back in at fullback, with Deon Stegmann replacing Derrick Kuün at open-side flank. Centres Stephan Dippenaar and Stefan Watermeyer both appear to have cooked their Currie Cup geese, along with lock Fudge Mabeta as all three drop out of the match-day 22 entirely. Under 21 players Louis Fouche and Arno Botha have been rewarded with places on the reserve bench his week.
The match kicks off at Mbombela Stadium at 17h05 on Friday.
Blue Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Zane Kirchner, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Dewald Potgieter (captain), 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Gary Botha, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Dustin Jinka, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Francois Venter.
im very tempted to pick the Pumas for this game ….
Im pissed that Brummer is dropped, Im short on flyhalves for the Fantasy League.
How many of the changes are just rotation based that they are playing the Pumas? (risky move if they rest player against the Pumas in Nelspruit!!)
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) : I think Brummer is gone
@robdylan (Comment 3) :
That is a problem..
Looks like I might have to use a trade..
Go Pumas!!
This is a great signing for the bulls..!
Just wonder where was straeuli?
I heard the Bulls planned to be at the bottom of the log all along – to make Vermaak feel more at home at his new union….
@Ice (Comment 8) :
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) : I share your pain, He is one of my FL halves as well.
@bergshark (Comment 7) : Why do we need vermaak??
@KSA Shark © (Comment 11) :
I concur..
We cannot purchase every single player that has half an inch of talent..
Does this signal a change in management style at the Lions? In the past they would have fought tooth and nail to prevent Vermaak playing for the Bulls, even though they weren’t going to use him themselves.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 13) :
Maybe they have grown up and feel invincible at the top of the log..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 12) : Why not? Some people think we can.
My neighbour’s kid sidestepped the garden tap the other day. I’ve forwarded his name to the Sharks Academy.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 15) :
Maybe we will recruit the tap to play inside centre?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 15) :
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 16) :
Hopefully this Boshoff change is permanent. I think he’s a better player than Brummer. He just needs to up his place kicking game.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 16) :
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 16) : Careful, ‘Tapping’, a phrase used in English football, refers to the practise of approaching a player, with a view to obtaining his services, outside of the transfer window. The penalty can be a reduction in log points.
@Greg (Comment 21) :
Lets hope none of our players get tapped then..
Although I wouldn’t mind seeing the back of certain players..
@Greg (Comment 21) : When I say “I’d tap that” it means something COMPLETELY different.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) : I just hope you have no intention of tapping the neighbour’s kid, though
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) :
Hahaha!!
@Greg (Comment 24) :
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) : like SharonvanWyk, yo “i’d tap that”?
@richardferguson:”can’t purchase every player who has half an inch of talent..” .. And this pertains in which way to jano vermaak?
@ksashark:weren’t the sharks looking at signing jano vermaak last season…?
And doppies le grange…?
You’ve mentioned the neighbour’s kid who side-stepped the tap and you having fwd his name to sharks academy ,on an earlier comment on another post.