Photo: Anton Geyser

Regular captain and number eight Pierre Spies is back at the helm of the Vodacom Bulls when they take on the Hurricanes at Loftus Versfeld on Friday in round two of the Vodacom Super Rugby competition.

Spies takes over the captaincy from Victor Matfield and the number eight jumper from Arno Botha, who picked up an injury in the Vodacom Bulls tournament opener last weekend against the DHL Stormers.

The regular Bulls leader was eased back into action off the bench, but is now fit to start in a team that shows four changes to the starting line-up and six all-together from the one that started their campaign with a disappointing loss against the Cape side.

Spies comes in for Botha, with his place on the bench taken by rookie loose forward Hanro Liebenberg, who could earn a first start should he take to the field.

The injury to Werner Kruger also resulted in a front row shuffle. Trevor Nyakane will move from the left side of the front row to the right and Morne Mellett off the bench into the number one jersey.

A fit-again Dean Greyling will take Mellett’s place on the bench.

The other change is at the back where Jesse Kriel will start with Jurgen Visser moving to the bench in a straight swop with the Junior Springbok player.

This will be Kriel’s first start after two appearances off the bench.

Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke admitted that the forced changes to his pack will add to the pressure that resulted from last week’s poor result.

“There is always pressure and the fact that we have five frontline props out with injury does not make it any easier. We have good depth though and we back our junior structures, so I am comfortable that we will be a very competitive outfit on Friday.”

Spies also backed the young guns in the team.

“Yes, we have a couple of younger guys in the team, but they are definitely good enough to play here. They bring lots of energy in the mix and we will need a healthy dose of that to compete on Friday against the Hurricanes, who will be full of confidence following their win last weekend.”

A step-up from last weekend was also not negotiable, he insisted.

“We know we were not good enough. We did not play the important moments well and made silly errors that cost us dearly. Everyone is ready to make the step-up,” the captain said.

The teams to play the Hurricanes on Friday is: Jesse Kriel (2), Bjorn Basson (72), JJ Engelbrecht (50), Jan Serfontein (29), Francois Hougaard (73), Handrè Pollard (14), Piet van Zyl (45), Pierre Spies (104, c), Lappies Labuschagne (28), Deon Stegmann (80), Victor Matfield (139), Jacques du Plessis (16), Trevor Nyakane (43), Adriaan Strauss (106), Mornè Mellett (25). Replacements: Callie Visagie (39), Dean Greyling (54), Dayan van der Westhuizen*, Grant Hattingh (35), Hanro Liebenberg*, Rudy Paige (8), Jacques-Louis Potgieter (56), Jurgen Visser (26).

Milestones:

•There are three centurions in the squad line-up. Victor Matfield 139 (Bulls 131 & Cats 8); Adriaan Strauss 106 (Cheetahs 97, Bulls 9) and Pierre Spies 104 (all Bulls)

•Coach Frans Ludeke will extend his Vodacom Super Rugby as most experienced coach ever – He has coach the Vodacom Bulls in 110 matches and the Cats in 24 for a tally of 134.

•Victor Matfield will extend his Vodacom Bulls record as their most capped Super Rugby player to 140. It also is his 16^th season of Vodacom Super Rugby, a record he shares with Tony Brown and Tana Umaga.

•Should he take to the field, Dayan van der Westhuizen will make his Vodacom Super Rugby and Vodacom Bulls debut.

•Should he take to the field, Hanro Liebenberg will make his Vodacom Super Rugby and Vodacom Bulls debut.