Bulls lock forward Bakkies Botha will not play against the Highlanders this weekend owing to a knee injury picked up against the Cheetahs in round 2. Botha will rue the missed opportunity to reacquaint himself with visiting scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan – it was a vicious headbutt on Cowan that saw Botha banned for a considerable period last season.
Fortunately for the men in blue, there is a more-than-able replacement in the form of 54-test veteran Danie Rossouw. He comes into the number 4 jersey after impressing off the bench last week, while Juandre Kruger comes into the match 22 and will – surprisingly – make his Super rugby debut if he comes off the bench. He’s a guy that it seems has been around for ages, yet has never managed to get a Super Rugby cap.
The Bulls haven’t lost at Loftus in their previous 18 Super Rugby encounters at the ground. If one includes the two “home” matches they won at Soweto’s Orlando Stadium last year, they will be chasing their 21st consecutive home win this weekend.
15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Gerhard van den Heever, 13. Jaco Pretoruis, 12. Wynand Olivier, 11. Bjorn Basson, 10. Morne Steyn, 9. Fourie du Preez, 8. Pierre Spies, 7. Dewald Potgieter, 6. Deon Stegmann, 5. Victor Matfield (captain), 4. Danie Rossouw, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1. Gurthro Steenkamp
Substitutes: 16. Derick Kuun, 17. Rossouw de Klerk, 18. Flip van der Merwe, 19. Juandre Kruger, 20. Ruan Snyman, 21. Francois Brummer, 22. Stephan Dippenaar
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Bulls to win. By quite a distance.
Bakkies is Cowan’s biatch now
Is our Blou Bliksem’s knee not coming out in a bit of sympathy here? That ban must have hurt quite a bit, and I wonder whether Bakkies is not perhaps just a tiny bit glad he’s missing this one!
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 3) : The temptation to settle the score with Cowan would have been ones Bakkies would not have been able to resist. With him being such an upstanding man of good character ofcourse.
The highlanders will be anything but an easy beat.
Ja. This must be a strategic move!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 4) : Absolutely. And I am sure he is going to sorely miss the opportunity to show Cowan and the world that he is quite a lekker chap once you get past the Glasgow kisses.
So who do you think kicked him in the kneecap? Ludeke? Ho ho ho. Sometimes the Bulls are so full of BS it’s untrue!!!
The Bulls did not good that impressive the last 2 weeks but at the end did the job. I do not think that Landers got it in them to actually beat the Bulls with or without Bakkies.
Highlanders will be jetlagged playing at altitude at Loftus. Tough assignment.
Wonder if Bakkies will be there to glare at Cowan from the sidelines?
This is a difficult one to pick….
Highlanders been surprising… Bulls been lucky to have even won 1….
The bulls played like they had jet lag the previous weeks,even though they won.
In a fight I would put my money on Alberts anytime over bakkas
Bulls should win by 12-15 I rectum.
@Speed7 (Comment 15) :
You rectum?
Is that like talking through your arse? 😛
I always do on this blog.
@Speed7 (Comment 17) : we’ve noticed 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 18) : 😆
@Speed7 (Comment 17) : Finally all is revealed! 🙂
😆 😆
@McLovin (Comment 1) : Nah, you obviously haven’t been paying attention to the Highlanders this season. They confidently dealt with both the Chiefs and Hurricanes. Bulls to pip them by a small margin.
If either Jonker or Joubert has the whistle you can throw your house on a bulls victory, if not be carefull.
That little shit will still get his day, Nonu gave him a good go, and then he pulled an oscar winning performance