Marais changes four as Vodacom Bulls face DHL Stormers
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Vodacom Bulls coach Nollis Marais made four changes to his starting team to face the DHL Stormers in Pretoria on Saturday.
Marais named Travis Ismaiel (wing), Francois Brummer (flyhalf), Piet van Zyl (scrumhalf) and Arno Botha in the team, with Grant Hattingh fit again and included on the bench.
Hattingh last played for the team in the Vodacom Super Rugby competition in April, but has recovered from the injury that kept him on the sidelines.
Ismaiel and Botha did not play against the Waratahs last weekend in Sydney and replaces Bjorn Basson and Hanro Liebenberg respectively.
Brummer and Van Zyl started on the bench in Sydney and swop places with Tian Schoeman and Rudy Paige.
“It is good to be back at Loftus Versfeld again,” Marais said.
“We had mixed fortunes in Australia and unfortunately dropped our standards in the last two matches. We have no option but to get back on the horse immediately, as the Stormers are playing some great rugby. We need to beat them to move past them on the log as well. So we have a lot to play for and a lot to prove,” Marais said.
Vodacom Bulls captain, Adriaan Strauss, predicts an arm wrestle and typical local derby.
“We always have massive clashes with the Stormers. It is one of those matches everybody want to play and to be part of. This team have a great opportunity to deliver a proper performances in front of our fans against a formidable foe. We will be ready,” Strauss said.
The team (with Super Rugby caps) is: SP Marais (41), Jamba Ulengo (5), Jesse Kriel (26), Jan Serfontein (46), Travis Ismaiel (13), Francois Brummer (15), Piet van Zyl (63), Arno Botha (41), Jannes Kirsten (10), Lappies Labuschagne (45), RG Snyman (10), Jason Jenkins (8), Marcel van der Merwe (43), Adriaan Strauss (c, 128), Lizo Gqoboka (8). Replacements: Jaco Visagie (6), Trevor Nyakane (68), Pierre Schoeman (4), Grant Hattingh (51), Deon Stegmann (93), Rudy Paige (30), Tian Schoeman (17), Dries Swanepoel (3).
•The Blue Bulls Company (Pty) Ltd is pleased to announce the re-signing of Springbok loose forward, Jacques Potgieter. The 30-year old loose forward has signed a two year deal with the BBC (2017 and 2018 Super Rugby) and already started training with the team.
Potgieter has played for the Vodacom Bulls in 2012 and 2013 before two seasons with the Waratahs in Sydney.
According to the BBC’s High Performance Manager, Xander Janse van Rensburg, the flanker will be available for selection next month.
“Jacques is two weeks away from returning to the field and is doing his final rehabilitation. It is great to have him back in the Bulls family. He brings massive energy, physicality and go forward to the team and is versatile, so can cover loose trio and lock. It is also pleasing to know that top class players still see the Vodacom Bulls as a preferred team to express their talents. We are building a team and Jacques is part of that plan,” Janse van Rensburg said.
Potgieter was pleased to be back at Loftus Versfeld.
“I got my break into Super Rugby here at the Vodacom Bulls and earned my Springbok caps as a Bulls player. That is something I will never forget and is keen to get back to that form and repay the faith the Bulls has put in me as a player. There is something special about the Bulls and I immediately felt at home. Now I can’t wait to go out there and play for the team again,” he said.
The BBC also confirmed that another loose forward, Nic de Jager, has signed an extension till the end of October 2017.
“We have also signed Jacobie Adriaanse till October 2018,” Janse van Rensburg said. “Jacobie will join us from August this year.”
Adriaanse played Vodacom Super Rugby for the Emirates Lions and currently for the Southern Kings, following a stint overseas where he played Heineken Cup rugby for the Scarlets in Wales.
“Quality tight heads are in high demand and we are pretty pleased to get someone with the experience and quality of Jacobie to join us,” Janse van Rensburg said.
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