Van Velze back for Vodacom Blue Bulls
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The Vodacom Blue Bulls have recalled their regular number eight, Gerrit-Jan van Velze, to the starting line-up for their Absa Currie Cup clash against the Natal Sharks in Pretoria on Saturday.
Van Velze scored a try in the earlier Cup clash between the sides in Durban and is fit again after a leg injury ruled him out of last weekend’s match against the Pumas.
Jaco van der Westhuyzen has been picked on the wing, Jacques-Louis Potgieter is back at fly half, Ruan Snyman will start at nine and Fudge Mabeta is back at lock in the four changes to the starting team that suffered a disappointing loss in Nelspruit.
Stefan Watermeyer is back after being rested against the Pumas and will start off the bench with stalwart-prop, Jaco Engels, another who did not travel to Nelspruit.
CJ Stander, Wilhelm Steenkamp and Dustin Jinka all move to the bench, with Hayden Groepes dropping out of the match 22.
Vodacom Blue Bulls coach, Frans Ludeke, in announcing the team, admitted that this is a very important match for his side.
“The Sharks have their tails up and deserve to be on top of the log at the moment. We cannot afford to drop a home game and it is time for us to force our authority on the competition. Last weekend was very disappointing, but we get an opportunity to rectify that this weekend.”
The team to face the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld:
15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Gerhard van den Heever, 13. Jaco Pretorius, 12. Wynand Olivier, 11. Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 10. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9. Ruan Snyman, 8. Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 7. Dewald Potgieter, 6. Derick Kuün (captain), 5. Fudge Mabeta, 4. Juandré Kruger, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16. Henry Bantjes, 17. Frik Kirsten, 18. Jaco Engels, 19. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 20. CJ Stander, 21. Dustin Jinka, 22. Stefan Watermeyer.
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JL Potgieter is currently the Blue Bulls’ leading point scorer with 103 points.
Gerhard vd Heever, John Mametsa and Dean Greyling are the top try scorers with four each.
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