Japan-bound Dewald Potgieter looks set to see out his Bulls career wearing both the number 8 jersey – and captain’s armband – vacated by the injured Pierre Spies.
Coach Frans Ludeke has named a somewhat weakened line-up to face the Kings this weekend, with a number of Boks, including Morne Steyn and JJ Engelbrecht, set to play off the bench.
Jan Serfontein starts in the number 13 jersey outside Wynand Olivier, another whose Bulls days are severely limited. Louis Fouche will operate at flyhalf, with Jacques Potgier also coming back in at blindside flank.
In a telling statistic for the Bulls, no fewer than 7 of this week’s match 22 have already confirmed exits from Loftus on completion of this year’s Super Rugby competition.
Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Louis Fouche, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Dewald Potgieter (capt), 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 Flip vd Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Juandré Kruger, 19 Jono Ross, 20 Rudy Paige, 21 Morné Steyn, 22 JJ Engelbrecht
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no man deserves to be screwed like chiliboy has. eish 👿
i wonder why chilliboy isnt captain?
@West Indies Cricket Board (Comment 1) : Agree!
Go Kings!!!
Another easy 5 points for the Bulls.
I think it’s the best move for Chilliboy to go and play overseas.
Meisie kind should be captain.
Why give captaincy to a player that’s leaving in 3 games (excludes playoffs)
@The Hobbit (Comment 8) : but every single one of their captaincy candidates is in exaclty the same boat 🙂
Who’s going to be Bulls captain next year? Arno Botha?
oh wait, I forgot that Spies isn’t going anywhere
@robdylan (Comment 10) : I find it very hard to believe that there isn’t one single French club that wants a show pony?!
@Blue Centurion (Comment 11) : keep on believing
Flip VDM ,most underrated forward in SA! He should get a run at captaincy -unless he is leaving?!
Wouldn’t be surprised if Kings throw a spanner in the works here 😆 .
Glad to see Jono Ross on the bench. Remember watching that guy at school. He is big ,fast and strong. He has struggled somewhat, but not a bad player imo, lets see how he does.
@robdylan (Comment 12) : No you’re right. He should play for a Jap team. That way he’s not available for the Boks either.
Think Chilliboy should have been captain for the rest of super rugby.