The Bulls have not hesitated to switch Victor Matfield’s back-room tour role for a playing one; one game and a few injuries later and the big former Bok is right back in the starting lineup.
Matfield starts in the number 5 jersey against the Highlanders this weekend, meaning a positional switch to number 4 for Flip van der Merwe, who retains the captaincy. Paul Willemse thus moves out of the starting lineup and will play off the bench this week.
The loss of both Deon Stegmann and Deald Potgieter to injury has resulted in a complete back row reshuffle. Jono Ross, who did not play at all last week, starts at openside flank, while Jacques du Plessis moves from the bench into the number 7 jersey worn by Potgieter last week. Grant Hattingh, who operated as reserve lock against the Hurricanes, comes in for his second start of the campaign at number 8, meaning a benchwards move for Vleis Engelbrecht.
The backline is unchanged for this encounter, as Jacques-Louis Potgieter and Jurgen Visser have both been cleared of injury. William Small-smith replaces Ulrich Beyers in a bench change.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Grant Hattingh, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Jono Ross, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Flip van der Merwe (captain), 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Marcel vd Merwe, 18 Paul Willemse, 19 Jacques Engelbrecht, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Handré Pollard, 22 William Small-Smith, 23 Morné Mellet.
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surely there will be some issues here considering he was touring as a coach and not a player.
Credit to Matfield, the man has clearly made a difference to the Bulls, evident from last weeks game – they missed him.
I didn’t like the idea of him coming back, but if he can still add something to the Boks, then that’s great!
Well surprise, surprise! 😈
@Dunx (Comment 2) :
He has been called up as a replacement player, but instead of flying in, he is already there as coach.
So as far as I know, there is no issue with that.
The other player called up had to fly in, so in theory, two players went home, two players joined the group..
Landers by 6 😈
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 5) : ja, I think they are ok with this. Everyone knew ahead of time that they were going to do this at some point anyway.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 5) : did not make sense for me that Vic only toured as a coach and not a player. Bulls missed him last week and paid the price. Experienced players is needed more when playing outside SA as the youngsters need their guidance in the sometimes hostile playing environment. It would have been better to “rest” him during home games.
Matfield starting is no surprise. His comeback has been super.
I like the change with Small-Smith moving onto the bench. Beyers and Pollard both cover 12, and no one 13, with Hougaard the wing replacement. Offers more on attack as well.
@Blue Centurion (Comment 9) : seeing the deference Vic made he should have played last week and not have been part of the coaching staff.
Unfortunately the Bulls have to play Matfield. He is so heavily involved that their players dont know how to make any decisions without consulting matfield first. They have not produced any leaders at the bulls. The team need their experienced big name players to start taking responsibility on the field and not always hoping matfield will give them the answer or go ahead.