Gone, it seems, are the days when in the week after a Bok test, the Blue Bulls should expect to be boosted by a host of returning stars to strengthen their Currie Cup team. While the likes of Western Province and the Sharks have soared even without those Boks – and have this week been bolstered by five or more big names each – the Bulls’ own “Bok boost” looks a little apologetic by comparison.
While the likes of Morne Steyn, Juandre Kruger and Zane Kirchner move back to European clubs this week, only centres Jan Serfontein and JJ Engelbrecht have made their way forlornly back to Pretoria, where they’ll slot in as a combination to try and do the impossible; the Blue Bulls need to pick up five log points in Bloemfontein, without conceding any themselves, to sneak into the semi-finals in fourth place at the expense of the Cheetahs.
The Bulls’ other Bok – Flip van der Merwe – is out of action with a knee injury this week. It’s unclear how he sustained the injury whilst being suspended, but they’re a special lot, these Bulls, so anything can really happen.
A loose forward reshuffle sees captain Jono Ross named on the open side this week, with former King Vleis Engelbrecht preferred at number 8.
Blue Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Rudi Paige, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Jono Ross (captain), 5 David Bulbring, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Grant Hattingh, 19 Jean Cook, 20 Lohan Jacobs, 21 Francois Venter, 22 Clayton Blommetjies.
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Scary thought if you’re a Bulls supporter.
Take this side, add Flip van der Merwe, pierre Spies and Francois Hougaard….
And that’s your Super Rugby starting team.
DAAI LEPEL WAG VIR JULLE!
So bulls by 50?
@robdylan (Comment 1) : Also Arno Botha and Callie Visagie.
@robdylan (Comment 1) : @war1 (Comment 3) : Also Mellet would be fit and Piet van Zyl is also joining us.
@robdylan (Comment 1) : Our main weakness will be flyhalf. Stegman also returning.
If we do overcome our flyhalf crisis, I will take you back to this post next year July.
So you’re looking at a first choice team of:
1. Morné Mellet
2. Bandise Maku
3. Werner Kruger
4. Paul Willemse
5. Flip van der Merwe
6. Deon Stegman
7. Arno Botha
8. Pierre Spies (c)
9. Piet van Zyl
10. Handré Pollard
11. Bjorn Basson
12. Jan Serfontein
13. JJ Engelbrecht
14. Akona Ndungane
15. Jurgen Visser
16. Callie Visagie
17. Marcel van der Merwe
18. Frik Kirsten
19. Grant Hattingh
20. Jacques du Plessis
21. Francois Hougaard
22. Francois Venter
23. Waylon Murray
Still not great… might be able to come out on top against the Lions.
@David12246 (Comment 6) : lol. Werner Kruger 🙂
@David12246 (Comment 6) : Switch Kirsten with Kruger and Vleis Engelbrecht for du Plessis.
Venter going to Cheetahs so Small-Smith would probably be reserve centre.
The flyhalf-issue really should have been solved during the cc in preparation for Superrugby.
@Blue Centurion (Comment 8) : but wait – what about Waylon Murray?
@robdylan (Comment 9) : Don’t tease. If they REALLY have to use him, I’d prefer him at wing, that way you at least minimise the damage as he doesn’t have to receive a ball.
Still baffles me why they bought him.
@robdylan (Comment 7) : @Blue Centurion (Comment 8) : Did I miss something? Did something happen with Kruger?
@David12246 (Comment 11) : Not yet, he’s just not rated that high.
Not much in any case.
Ok, not at all.
His performance over the last 3 years is shocking. I think he’s consistently the most penalised prop in SA. Although both Coenie and Greyling have enjoyed attentions from refs.
Louis Fouche still in the mix?
@Son Of Mayhem (Comment 13) : Yes, but he’s still injured until early Feb. Being a year out of it, he would probably play Vodacom cup.
@Blue Centurion (Comment 14) : is he good enough for Vodacom?
@robdylan (Comment 15) : Well, he was out for almost a year, maybe he learned something, or am I clutching at staws?
@robdylan (Comment 1) : But on the positive side (for the Bulls, that is), at least they have at least 5 schoolboy players per position on their books, I’m sure 😆
@Culling Song (Comment 17) : 😈
@Blue Centurion (Comment 16) : did he leave Pretoria during that time? 🙂
(ok, I’m being nasty, I know)
@David12246 (Comment 6) : Possibly the most unintelligent looking group of forwards to ever have graced South African soil 😆 Will Arno Botha be back ?
Not looking good for the Bulls ,I must say.
@Talent (Comment 20) : @robdylan (Comment 19) : Nah you not,he couldn’t find his way out,Intelligence is the least of the bullarinas problem ,with the credit crunch they no longer are able to influence ref’s in away games either