After being accused of picking a B-side to face the Blues last week, Bulls coach Frans Ludeke seems to have inadvertently stumbled upon his best lineup, with the realisation dawning that Bok players such as Chiliboy Ralepelle, Werner Kruger and Francois Hougaard aren’t currently his best options in their respective positions.
The team named to face the Crusaders in Chirstchurch, another venue ripe for a first-ever Bulls win after they finally got the Eden Park monkey off their back on Sunday, shows only one injury-enforced change.
Utility back Jurgen Visser, more usually seen at fullback, has been selected on the left wing in his first Super Rugby start. Visser comes in as an injury replacement for Lionel Mapoe, with the spare place on the bench going to promising Jan Serfontein, who’ll wear the number 22 jersey.
Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Jürgen Visser, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Arno Botha, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Juandrè Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Morné Mellett.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Grant Hattingh, 19 Jacques Potgieter, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Jan Serfontein.
This is the best time to play the Crusaders, they’re really struggling. They look soft in defense and unorganized with ball in hand.
If the Bulls play the same game they did last week, they’ll be in with a shot.
Looking forward to seeing a good 10 to 20 min from Serfontein. He’s a young player that I don’t mind talking up.
Bulls are gonna get a hiding imo.
Saders should never have lost last week.
Bulls will be beaten ,they wont be able to bully the Saders forwards with mauls ,and then they will run out of ideas in the back-line where the Saders will have the edge
@Letgo (Comment 1) : I also look forward to seeing Serfontein in action. Exciting prospect.
Not sure who I will back for the win. The Crusaders have had a couple of 3 match losing streaks over the last couple of years, so the argument of not losing three in a row goes out the door… I reckon this is going to be one worth watching!
@Letgo (Comment 1) : They did score 4 tries against the Hurricanes, it was more ill discipline that cost them that match. I would be wary of underestimating the Crusaders at home.
I never had a doubt that he did not pick a “b-team”, Jano and Wepener is very good players and would play a lot more games at other teams. Give the coach credit for picking the players and winning the game.
@JD (Comment 6) : sorry, giving Frans “Ludicrous” Ludeke credit for anything simply isn’t in my DNA.
@robdylan (Comment 7) : “Ludicrous” has two super trophies in his cupboard – so he must be doing something right.