Wilhelm Steenkamp is going to lead the Bulls in their first Super 14 warm-up match of the season, when they play against the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Rugby 365 reports that Steenkamp is going to partner Danie Rossouw in the second row, while Pedrie Wannenburg will play at flank, where he will partner Namibian international Jacques Burger.
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke opted for the new recruit from the Boland, Dries van Schalkwyk, to wear the No.8 jersey – with Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle and Jaco Engels forming a young but very capable front row.
Youngsters such as Gerhard van den Heever, Francois Hougaard and Burton Francis will start alongside experienced players like Wayne Julies, Marius Delport, John Mametsa and Tiger Mangweni in the backline.
Star Springboks like Bakkies Botha, Bryan Habana and Akona Ndungane will get a few minutes game time in the second half.
The Bulls’ team that is going to play in the early match of the double-header consists mostly of a number of highly talented junior players who will be keen to impress Ludeke and his fellow selectors.
The South African Under-20 captain Gerrit-Jan van Velze leads the charge and he will be up against the Lions with a side that includes several of his Blue Bull Under-21 teammates – such as Okkie Kruger, Adillio Coutriers, Wynand Willis, Francois Brummer and Berend Botha.
Teams:
Bulls (for 18.00 kick-off): 15 Adillio Coutriers, 14 Wynand Willis, 13 Johan Jackson, 12 Luvuyo Mhlobiso, 11 TC Losper, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Ruan Snyman, 8 Gerrit-Jan Van Velze (captain), 7 Vincent Gwavu, 6 Okkie Kruger, 5 Bosman Grobler, 4 Berend Botha, 3 Ruan Vermeulen, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Deon Greyling.
Replacements – from: Bertie Powell, Frik Kirsten, Peet Vorster, Nico Luus, Willem Serfontein, Nico van Zyl, Marnitz Boshoff, Louis Boshoff, Chris Botha, Simphiwe Mtimkulu, Justin van Staden.
Bulls (for 20.00 kick-off): 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Marius Delport, 12 Wayne Julies, 11 John Mametsa, 10 Francis Burton, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Dries van Schalkwyk, 7 Pedrie Wannenburg, 6 Jacques Burger, 5 Danie Rossouw, 4 Wilhelm Steenkamp (captain), 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements – from: Bandise Maku, Rayno Gerber, Dean Greyling, Bakkies Botha, Deon Stegmann, Bryan Habana, Akona Ndungane, Zane Kirchner.
Date: Saturday, January 24
Venue: University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Kick-offs: 18.00 (16.00 GMT) and 20.00 (18.00 GMT)
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This looks like a pretty scrappy team IMO.
I thought that Mox was getting a look in. Guess not.
Hope they’re not charging people to watch this.
good to have wil at the helm.
@McLovin (Comment 3) : they have to pay cleaners to clean the b.llsh.t.
Waar’s Meisiekind…innie hairdresser ❓
@Charlie (Comment 6) : Bet he’s been in a few hairdressers…… 😉
@Charlie (Comment 6) :
Overseas, mos?? 🙄
LOL at number 10…doesn’t look like the rugby 365 writer know Burton Francis..
@McLovin (Comment 3) : R20 to get in….
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 9) : that’s what you get for having two first names and no surname 🙂
Good start for the Lions, the B team won 22-13 and the A-team won 44-21…not sure if I should start to look forward to the season…
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 12) :
If you don’t suffer catastrophic injuries then you guys should actually do pretty well IMO
The Lions do well? Now who’s been hogging the crackpipe?? 😆
@wpw (Comment 14) :
😆 😆
I said you were drunk! Not hogging the crack pipe.