Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke has resisted the urge to make any changes when naming his side to contest the 2008 ABSA Currie Cup Final on Saturday.
The Bulls team will be the same unit that dispatched the Cheetahs at Loftus Versveld ten days ago. Victor Matfield captains the side from the second row, where he will be partnered by World Cup hero Danie Rossouw. Bok prop GurthrUouml; Steenkamp will start at loosehead, with former flanker Derrick Kuün and Rayno Gerber completing the tight five. Promising openside flanker Deon Stegmann continues in the number 6 jersey, while Bok stalwarts Wikus van Heerden (playing his last match for the Bulls) and Pierre Spies will be at 7 and 8 respectively.
Fourie du Preez and Morne Steyn will look to control matter from halfback, while the in-form Wynand Olivier partners Marius Delport in the centres. Akona Ndungane has not recovered in time to take his place at right wing, meaning another start for the talented John Mametsa at right wing. Bryan Habana, as always will be on the left. Fullback Zane Kirchner will play in his first Currie Cup Final in the number 15 jersey.
Ludeke has opted for a traditional 4-3 split on the bench, with Werner Kruger and Chilliboy Ralepelle the front-row replacements. Another Kruger, the promising Juandre, joins the live wire Dewald Potgieter on the forwards bench. The exciting trio of Heini Adams, Burton Francis and Tiger Mangweni will look to add impetus as backline impact players.
Vodacom Blue Bulls:
Zane Kirchner; John Mametsa, Marius Delport, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana; Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Pierre Spies, Wikus van Heerden, Deon Stegmann, Victor Matfield (captain), Danie Rossouw, Rayno Gerber, Derick Kuün, Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Reserves:
Chiliboy Ralepelle, Werner Kruger, Juandré Kruger, Dewald Potgieter, Heini Adams, Burton Francis, Tiger Mangweni.
Tweet
Kak team 👿
Go Sharks 😀
@Sauce (Comment 1) : I actually agree… they have good players at 1,4,5,7,8,9,10,11 and 12. On the bench, 16 and 19 are pretty useful. The rest are pretty much journeymen
Kak team 👿
Go Sharks… 😀
The Sharks team sheet just feels so much classier….where is the damn Sharks team 🙄
Hardly a team worth holding a Currie Cup trophy aloft but lesser teams have done it so don’t get complacent Sharks.
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 2) : 9 11 4 and 1 are about the only shinning lights and 4 has done his best to destroy his own reputation this season
@Dive Pass (Comment 5) : Was that when the Bulls last won it?
@Pokkel (Comment 4) : apparently being released today. I stopped holding my breath about half an hour ago
@Sauce (Comment 6) : ok, also true… was trying to be nice. I don’t actually rate Steenkamp, Rossouw, Spies, van Heerden or Steyn at all. Meisiekind is good this year, though.
@Sauce (Comment 7) : he he…
Last time outright was in 2004. They shared it in 2006.
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 10) : bugger me, but the f*ckers won it three times in a row, from 2002-2004.
Sharks have got a LOT of catching up to do
Great: 9,11 – dare I say 5 without have shark supporter teeth in my head?
Very Good: 12,8
Good: 4,10,1,6,7
Journeymen: 13,15,2,3,14,coach
@Dive Pass (Comment 12) : ok – whereas on our side…
Great: 8,9,12,16,
Very Good: 1,2,5,6,7,10,11,13,14,15,17,19, coach
Good: 3,4,18,20,21,22
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 13) :
Pretty telling isn’t it…..so the only thing that can stop the Sharks from victory is BMT
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 13) : You mentioned 12 with the greats? 😯
@just blackshark (Comment 15) :
Was going to comment on that….but thought better of it and was waiting for KSA to get here but you beat him to it
@Dive Pass (Comment 16) : Maybe he meant Brad… 😆
no – I think Frans is a great. He just needs to start playing like one.
BTW, I thought his performance against the Lions was polished. Maybe this thing about settling at 12 actually has some merit after all.
@just blackshark (Comment 17) :
Must be 😉
@just blackshark (Comment 17) : you’ll note I didn’t even rate Brad among the “very goods”… I just don’t feel like arguing today 🙂
I personally think Brad moved to England, not for rugby reasons but to be closer to “his dad”….
@Dive Pass (Comment 21) : just need to find a way to get my folks out of the spare room in time…
how kak must life be in Joburg that Trompie Nontshinga would rather sign with Griquas?
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 18) :
Now That Brad is on the way north Rob has to start rating the correct guy eventually 😛
@Dive Pass (Comment 16) :
Of late I only Jump up and down when someone rates Queen Victoria. 😉
@Dive Pass (Comment 21) :
Look the Bulls are clearly the 2nd best team in the CC and have players that are capable of hurting us, so no overconfidence….but if we play our natural game we should take it and fairly comfortably.
Anyway finals are always tense affairs and it often comes down to “bottle” on the day. We can’t take anything for granted.
Just look at rugby league over here in Pomland for example. St Helens went on an 18 game unbeaten run, hammering everyone in sight..only to lose the Grand Final to Leeds! 😯 😯
@Villie (Comment 26) : I agree Villie, and if the Sharks are idiotic enough to NOT play their natural game….
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 23) : Didn’t they say he signed with the Lions ?
@just blackshark (Comment 28) :
The Lions issued a very comprehensive press release yesterday detailing everything that has happened in the Trompie going to Griquas Saga.
I will post it here as a comment in a sec.
Here is the ENTIRE STATEMENT from the Lions Website.
Player signing
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
The Golden Lions Rugby Union regrets to inform that Trompie Nontshinga did sign with the Griquas Rugby Union.
😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 29) : 😯 Oi !
Average bench from 15-22…
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