Blue Bulls rugby coach Frans Ludeke, will rely heavily on young players who have made their mark in the Vodadom Cup series, when the Absa Currie Cup series kicks off later this month.
Report courtesy News24.
Ludeke announced his Currie Cup group at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday, and included a large number of the youngsters who won the Vodacom Cup in his squad and it is to be expected some of the SA under 20-players that are currently in France, will get an opportunity at senior level on their return to South Africa.
The Bulls started their preparations for the Currie Cup at Loftus on Monday and will play their compulsory friendly against the SWD Eagles in George on Friday.
Blue Bulls Currie Cup group: Fullbacks: Zane Kirchner, Tiger Mangweni, Gerhard van der Merwe; Wings: Akona Ndungane, John Mametsa, Gerhard van den Heever, Trompie Nontshinga, Danwel Demas; Outside centres: Marius Delport, Braam Gerber; Inside centres: Wynand Olivier, Dewald Pretoruis, Luvuyo Mhlobiso, Divan Kotze, Ruan Boshoff; Flyhalves: Derick Hougaard, Morne Steyn, Burton Francis; Scrumhalves: Heini Adams, JP Joubert, Ruan Snyman; Number 8s: Dewald Potgieter, Okkie Kruger; Flankers: Wikus van Heerden, Deon Stegmann, Pedrie Wannenburg, Jacques Burger, Vincent Gwavu; Locks: Wilhelm Steenkamp, Fudge Mabeta, Wouter Moore, Juandre Kruger; Props: Jaco Engels, Werner Kruger, Rayno Gerber, Dean Greyling, Rassie Jansen van Vuuren; Hookers: Derick Kuhn, Bandise Maku, Chiliboy Ralepelle, James van der Walt, Brett Sharmann.

Also no Mox…
@robdylan (Comment 1) :
But your buddy Wouter is there…
@robdylan (Comment 1) :
Who is Mox?
@Hmmm (Comment 3) :
Who is JP Nel for that matter?
@Hmmm (Comment 3) : Sangoni Mxoli. Just realised he’s with the Emerging Boks
@robdylan (Comment 5) :
And JP Nel?
@Dive Pass (Comment 2) : yeah… funny that he wasn’t considered good enough to play Vodacom Cup for them… Not exactly taking a step forward
I don’t care much for JP Nel. π
@ra-cheltjie deβ be-er (Comment 8) : no. Not a huge fan either
rumour has it that even though JP Nel signed for the bulls for next year he has requested to play in Japan until then.
Something about not wanting to play CC anymore. π
This is about as big headed as it get’s IMO. I want to play S14 but the CC is beneath me.
Well Vuilgat, I think the S14 is way ABOVE you.
@KSA Shark Β© (Comment 10) : intersting rumour… where did you hear it?
Pity… having Nel in the team is a guaranteed ten minutes against 14 men, at least once every second game.
Maybe he misses jesus vd westhuizen? π
@ra-cheltjie deβ be-er (Comment 12) : Oh dear π Oh dear π Oh dear π
He doesn’t want to play currie cup but wants to play in Japan? Japan doesn’t strike me as the sort of place where you go to further your rugby career.
@robdylan (Comment 11) :
The secret agent was mentioning it on the dark side a few days ago.
@ra-cheltjie deβ be-er (Comment 14) :
He is obviously not THAT thick. He has seen the writing on the wall and is going to make his pension
@KSA Shark Β© (Comment 16) : Maybe, would surprise me if he can point to Japan on a world map.
Than again, I don’t know him. He might be a mensa member. π
@KSA Shark Β© (Comment 10) : LoL
@KSA Shark Β© (Comment 15) : Secret Agent? π
@robdylan (Comment 20) :
Well everyone knows he is a player agent yet he tries to be 007 about it all the time. Maybe he thinks it will costed him an account or two if it became even more public knowledge.
@ra-cheltjie deβ be-er (Comment 18) : I would think that’s unlikely π
@KSA Shark Β© (Comment 21) : he he. Let me rather not say anything further
From Rugby 365
Emerging Boks make three changes
SA Rugby has confirmed three changes to the South African Emerging squad who will defend the International Rugby Board (IRB) Nations Cup in Romania.
Carel Hoffman, Hilton Lobberts and Robert Kruger are all unavailable and will not travel to Bucharest.
Their replacements, Ashley Johnson, Francois Prinsloo and Nico du Plessis, have already joined the squad in Newlands where it is training for the upcoming tournament.
A capping ceremony is scheduled for Thursday in Tokai and the squad leaves late on Friday for Europe.
The international representative tournament, which features a blend of A-teams from top unions and full Test teams from developing unions, will be played in Bucharest from 11 to 20 June.
365 again
Bok Lobberts reappears for Blue Bulls
Frans Ludeke has announced his Blue Bulls Currie Cup team to play in the compulsory friendly against South Western Districts (SWD) Eagles in George on Friday.
This match serves as a warm-up match for the upcoming Currie Cup, and coach Ludeke will get the opportunity to try out new combinations.
The selected team is without the Springboks, SA Emerging Bok Players, SA Sevens and the SA Under-20 players.
Several injured players or players still on leave have also been ruled out for this match.
This includes players like Richard Bands, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Fudge Mabeta, Dewald Potgieter, Heinie Adams, Derick Hougaard, Wynand Olivier, Akona Ndungane, Wikus van Heerden, Danwel Demas, Zane Kirchner, Pedrie Wannenburg and new recruit, Jacques Burger.
Hilton Lobberts has been included in the team after SA Rugby decided to withdraw him from the Emerging Boks team due to the fact of his Springbok status.
Blue Bulls: 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 John Mametsa, 13 Braam Gerber, 12 Ruan Boshoff, 11 Marius Delport, 10 MornΓ© Steyn, 9 JP Joubert, 8 Okkie Kruger, 7 Deon Stegmann, 6 Hilton Lobberts, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 JuandrΓ© Kruger, 3 Rayno Gerber, 2 Derick KuΓΌn (c), 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Wouter Moore, 19 Vincent Gwavu, 20 Ruan Snyman, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Gerhard van Heerden, 23 Dewald Pretorius.
Hilton Lobberts has been included in the team after SA Rugby decided to withdraw him from the Emerging Boks team due to the fact of his Springbok status.
Pressure from the Bulls or from the IRB?
@KSA Shark Β© (Comment 26) : Bulls, I reckon
Could be, but i think the IRB may have given SARU a little nudge in the “don’t bring a team that is 100% assured of a win it is not very sporting” direction.
@KSA Shark Β© (Comment 28) : so you think the team we sent last year might not have gone down too well?
@robdylan (Comment 29) :
Yip.
And in line with the discussions we had a few days ago. it should really be an EMERGING bok side not a SA “A” side.
@KSA Shark Β© (Comment 24) : I Tokai? i wonder if i can smokkel me in
I think JP is the one of the best rugby players we have ever had…
I can’t wait for JP Nel to come back to SA to play again..
@Daisy (Comment 34) : I’ve seen this trick before. Welcome, friends π
@robdylan (Comment 11) : Thats no rumour, that was one of the statements he made when he left.Im gonna be playing in Japan but holler at me Super 14 time.That’ll be all thanks.
@PJLD (Comment 36) : Oh snap this is an old thread π³
@Daisy (Comment 34) :
Talking to me yet?? π
Hey Diasy, I agree with you I think peeps are jealous of JP π
@PJLD (Comment 37) :
@Ice (Comment 40) : Ice, just so by the way , you are the devil.
@PJLD (Comment 41) :
GHOUW!!?? π― fOR wHY??
Not the devil, just evil, ha ha ha ha ha
@Ice (Comment 38) : Ice… tell me you know what’s going on here…
@Ice (Comment 42) : Trying to lead me to a life of cigarette smoke and alcohol!Shame on you π
@PJLD (Comment 45) :
@robdylan (Comment 44) :
i have an idea – but could be wrong – sure you will know better than me!! β π
@Patsy (Comment 43) :
Evil?? Sweet little me?? π― π
This is like an episode of lost… π
@McLovin (Comment 47) : I’ve never ever watched one.
@PJLD (Comment 48) : Probably for the better. π
@McLovin (Comment 47) : are those #%^$^&*%@ still lost?
@Kal-El (Comment 50) : They are. Kind of. π
Anyone watch Californication?
@PJLD (Comment 52) : Watch the first few episodes.
Its freaking entertaining π
@Ice (Comment 38) :
Clearly Not!
π
@PJLD (Comment 52) : I’m watching Prison Break S8
@ra-cheltjie deβ be-er (Comment 18) : Jessica Simpson is a MENSA member and thought Chicken of the Sea Tuna was actually chicken. I’ve my doubts about that organisation. π
@McLovin (Comment 53) : watch = watched.
@Kal-El (Comment 56) : me too. kind of. but it’s getting a bit tedious.
@klempie (Comment 57) : she is? π―
Kal-El – brudda where art thou?
@McLovin (Comment 59) : Are they still locked up?
Patsy and Daisy suddenly reminded me of the danie and 2ndstringer show from the bad old days…
@PJLD (Comment 62) : No. But they’re not ‘free’. I actually stopped watching but the missus still watches so I watch with her.
They’re starting to remind me of the A-Team.
@robdylan (Comment 63) : OI!
@McLovin (Comment 60) : Amazingly yes. Just google it.
@PJLD (Comment 65) : you disagree?
@klempie (Comment 66) : Has she actually taken the test? I can only find that her mother says she has an IQ of 160.
Maybe I should get my mom to ring mensa….
@McLovin (Comment 68) : Not only has she taken the test but she is something of an ambassador for them too.
http://www.pugbus.net/artman/publish/112505_simpsonsplit.shtml
@klempie (Comment 69) : what in the name of all that is pure and holy are we actually talking about?
@robdylan (Comment 70) : lol. Someone made a comment about someone being a Mensa member and in my typical cynical fashio I pointed out that someone as daft as Jessica Simpson can qualify and therefore I question the integrity of the organization. π
@klempie (Comment 69) : http://www.aceshowbiz.com/celebrity/jessica_simpson/biography.html
@klempie (Comment 71) : organisation *
In the words of that shrimp think in Finding Nemo, “I am ashamed!” π³
@klempie (Comment 73) : thing * π³
@klempie (Comment 69) : ‘Because Simpson’s IQ is reported to be unmeasurable, Mensa chose her as the female mind of its 2006 recruitment campaign.’
π π π
Mensa should be ashamed.
I’m still not convinced she took the test.
or that she’s all that bright.
@McLovin (Comment 75) : Well she must’ve. Otherwise why would they use her as a representative?
@klempie (Comment 77) : If you say so. π
@klempie (Comment 71) : aaah – right. That chick surely cannot possibly be as dumb as she comes across, can she?
@robdylan (Comment 79) : Like I said, she thought Chicken of the Sea Tuna was chicken… π
@klempie (Comment 77) : Right, my final word on this as I’ve spent far too much time on this simpson woman. π
I found on website that states there is no evidence that she took the test. This was in Nov 07.
And there’s an article in the Birminham weekly that claims she is definitely not a member of mensa.
And I now know far too much about this person.
good grief the S14 better start soon. Never in all my life thought I’d have a conversation on a rugby blog about whether some airhead nobody is a member of mensa or not. π π π
@McLovin (Comment 81) : Well, looks like there is conflicting anecdotal evidence. I’m still falling on the side of she is and Mensa is a joke.
Right I’m outta here. Ciao!
@klempie (Comment 84) : buh bye
@klempie (Comment 84) : adios.
@klempie (Comment 84) : tot siens… (That’s Tshwane-speak for goodbye)
Just saw Biff arriving back in SA on the news and there were tons of people at the airport to welcome him. π
a better headline would be “where in hell is jp nel?”
@try time (Comment 89) : hello TT… long time π
@robdylan (Comment 90) : hoesit broer. went on a anti rugby sabbatical. came back to find barritt is being wasted up north and the sharks chances are in plums decision between steyn or ruan at flyhalf.
@klempie (Comment 83) :
Nothing wrong with Mensa – I dont believe that she is a member.
@Big Fish (Comment 92) :
by that comment, I come to the conclusion that my clever friend might be a member?? π