The Vodacom Bulls have made a number of changes to their side ahead of the clash against the Blues at Loftus this weekend.
Jono Ross becomes the fourth man to wear the light blue number 8 jersey in as many weeks as he replaces the unlucky Grant Hattingh, who has gone from starting at lock, to starting at number 8 , to starting in the stands over the course of three roller-coaster weeks. Bok fetcher Deon Stegmann starts at 6 and will look to make a better fist of that position than Ross has in his outings to date.
The other change sees injured Frik Kirsten fall out, to be replaced by Werner Kruger at tighthead. Morne Mellet is fit again and comes onto the bench this week, with Marcel van der Merwe’s utility value seeing him switched to tighthead reserve.
The backline, featuring Jacques-Louis Potigeter at flyahlf again, is unchanged from last week. Akona Ndungane earns his 100th cap in super Rugby for the side.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Jono Ross, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Flip van der Merwe (captain), 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Morné Mellett, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Paul Willemse, 20 Jacques Engelbrecht, 21 Piet van Zyl, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Ulrich Beyers.
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That’s a much better looking Bulls side.
A proper 6, with the old one playing his natural position at 8 and no more Fouche, this side will be a lot more competitive.
Now all they need to do is find another 9.
Difficult pick this. Always risky to pick against the Bulls at Loftus….
@John Galt (Comment 1) : A new 2 would be nice too, but I’m happy with this. Also Marcel is a better tighthead than a loosehead prop – if you go by last year’s currie cup games.
@Pokkel (Comment 2) : A couple of years ago (2011 or 2012) the Bulls were the only team that lost against the Blues – and that at Loftus.
I don’t share the opinion that Stegmann will serve that 6 jersey any better than Ross did.
People cling to cliche’s, and Nick Mallets opinions, like flies to shit.
What is balance in a loose forward trio? It’s such a loosely thrown around term. Is balance generic, can we measure Luatua against Alberts, for example? Or is balance in your loose forward combination something that should compliment your game plan?
The Bulls are likely going to grind the Blue’s to death, keeping the ball in their monstrous forward pack. They wouldn’t dare get dragged into a game where they don’t have the lions share of territory and possession against the Blues, they’ll simply be run off their feet.
They are going to make sure they clean rucks, and counter ruck close to the fringes, ferociously. They are going to kick into the corners and maul the Blues to death.
Will Stegmann really be more effective in implimenting this than Ross?
There are so many ways to slow opposition ball in the absence of an out and out fetch.
I promise you, if the Bulls win, and Stegman is seen conducting himself as any flanker should around the breakdown, he will be man of the match.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 6) : Keyword is this test, other than that Smith has been a rock for Sa. Legend!
@KingCheetah (Comment 7) : Have you seen Abbott bat.
