The two South African franchises that aren’t competing in the Neo Africa Tri-Series will both play warmup games this weekend against local opposition.
The Bulls, having lost badly against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, will head off to Nelspruit with a team that far more closely resembles their strongest lineup. Their opponents will be the “Premier XV”, a composite outfit comprising mostly Pumas players. Captain Victor Matfield won’t be there – he is still recovering from a neck strain that doctor Org Strauss insists won’t keep him out of the tournament proper – meaning a start in the second row for Danie Rossouw and a go at the captaincy for fit-again scrumhalf Fourie du Preez. Tighthead prop Wener Kruger is missing for “personal reasons”, but otherwise the team contains all the names we’d expect, including Bakkies Botha, Pierre Spies, Morne Steyn and Wynand Olivier.
Recently cleared Bok duo Bjorn Basson and Chiliboy Ralepelle are both in the mix, with the former set to make his first start for the Bulls on the left wing.
The Cheetahs are next to face the Kings gauntlet and they will have learned a lesson from the Bulls defeat. Coach Naka Drotske has named his strongest available side in an effort to avoid going down to Alan Solomons’ team, like the Bulls did last week. While few will question the suitability for Super Rugby of the Pretoria outfit, the Cheetahs are less fortunate and their dismal record in the international competition will not stand them in good stead should they too conspire to lose to the plucky southerners.
Drotske has a completely new lock pairing, in former Bull Wilhelm Steenkamp and WP cast-off Martin Muller. Andries Strauss and Philip Burger will both make their return to the Cheetahs, although the latter will need to pass a late fitness test first.
Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez (captain), 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Danie Rossouw, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Rossouw de Klerk, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements (from): Chiliboy Ralepelle, Dean Greyling, Frik Kirsten, Fudge Mabeta, Ruan Snyman, Stefan Watermeyer, Francois Brummer, Akona Ndungane, Gerrit-Jan van Velze, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Derick Kuün.
Cheetahs vs. Kings: Hennie Daniller; Philip Burger/Philip Snyman, Robert Ebersohn, Andries Strauss, Ryno Benjamin; Naas Olivier, Sarel Pretorius; Kabamba Floors, Juan Smith(captain), Frans Viljoen, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Martin Muller, WP Nel, Ryno Barnes, Coenie Oosthuizen. Reserves: Skipper Badenhorst, Kobus Calldo, Waltie Vermeulen, Philip van der Walt, Ashley Johnson, Tewis de Bruyn, Sias Ebersohn, Corné Uys, Riaan Viljoen.
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I see the Bulls aren’t making the same mistake twice 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) : they are too good side to be phased out by loss to the Kings.
wonder what’s up with Kruger
Go Premier XV ❗
Go Kings ❗
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 4) : )
Cheetahs side not looking that bad..we need to take them serious..