Bulls bring back experience by Brenden Nel 01 May 2013, 14:28
The Vodacom Bulls returned to their most experienced line-up, bringing back veterans Wynand Olivier and Deon Stegmann for their Vodacom Super Rugby clash against the Hurricanes at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Olivier replaces rising star Jan Serfontein, who had to withdraw injured, while Stegmann is over his rib injury and replaces the impressive Arno Botha in the loose trio.
There are other changes as well, with Jurgen Visser returning to the starting line-up after withdrawing shortly before the 30-19 win over the Waratahs last week, meaning Ulrich Beyers, who made his debut, drops out of the 22-man squad altogether.
Olivier will resume his partnership with JJ Engelbrecht and it is his first game in more than six weeks after returning home early in the tour to Australasia with a knee injury.
Olivier has been fit for a week already but the impressive form of Serfontein, the 2012 IRB Junior Player of the Year, kept him out of the side.
“We gave him the whole week and the medical team worked on him, trying to get him ready for the game, but he is still complaining from the rib injury he picked up on the weekend and we decided it was better not to take a chance,” coach Frans Ludeke said about Serfontein.
“Still, it’s lekker to have Wynand back. He was ready last week with Hougi but we decided to keep him another week. He will add a lot to the team and adds a lot of experience.”
Stegmann’s return in Botha’s place may raise a few eyebrows, but the Bulls like to have a specialist fetcher to attack the rucks and to slow down ball, and this figured heavily in their preparations this week. Botha, though, can feel rather hard done by after displaying exceptional form during the past few matches.
Werner Kruger also got the nod ahead of Frik Kirsten, who is back from injury, despite struggling a bit in the scrums last week while Grant Hattingh’s return to fitness means he finds himself in the 22 with Wilhelm Steenkamp dropping back to the Vodacom Cup side.
Francois Hougaard, despite a strong second-half performance, finds himself on the bench again, as Jano Vermaak’s good form is rewarded again, although it may well work to the Bulls' advantage, with some real firepower on the bench.
VODACOM BULLS TEAM: Jurgen Visser, Akona Ndungane, JJ Engelbrecht, Wynand Olivier, Bjorn Basson, Morne Steyn, Jano Vermaak, Pierre Spies (capt), Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Juandre Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Dean Greyling.
Reserves: Willie Wepener, Frik Kirsten, Grant Hattingh, Arno Botha, Francois Hougaard, Louis Fouche, Lionel Mapoe.
